Oliver’s isn’t just a job—it’s an experience!

My name is Roxanne Abruzzo-Backman, most of my career has been in the grocery business.  Prior to Oliver’s, I worked at a major chain for 22 years as a Deli Manager and Assistant Store Director.  This business is what I grew up with…I know it well and I love it (that’s why I have stayed around). 

I started working at Oliver’s 8 years ago as the Deli Department Manager in the Cotati store.  I am currently the Food Service Coordinator and have been in this position for 3 years.  I made a life changing decision when I came to Oliver’s.  I was a single mom raising two young boys and working a ton of hours to make ends meet.  Getting a job with a regular structured work week was very appealing to me, because I felt as though I was missing too much of the important years and events in my children’s lives, due to work.  I made the best decision for my family and have never looked back.

Here at Oliver’s I wear many hats too (Michael said it first).  I coordinate the Food Service for the Deli Department.  I oversee all 3 delis, but mostly the Stony Point store, as it is the home to our Commissary Kitchen where a good portion of the delicious Oliver’s food is made from scratch daily for the other two stores.  In addition to the food service, I organize and manage the transportation & warehousing for the company, and all of the large specialty packaging buying.

As I said earlier, my family is very important to me; and it doubled in 2007 when I re-connected with my high school sweetheart and we got married.  With that union, I added two girls and another boy to the mix.  We truly are a modern day “Brady Bunch.”

Life’s events allowed me to resume a passion of mine that I let slip away…cooking and feeding the ones I love.  I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen and boy have I been busy feeding my bunch—7 people with likes and dislikes—now that’s a challenge.  Oliver’s is my shopping place when it comes to feeding my family.  You can find everything you need in one stop; whether it is specialty ingredients for an exotic recipe, fresh produce from local vendors or good wine because all those kids are driving you crazy.

I can’t finish without mentioning how awesome it is to work in such a cool place with such great food.  Every day I get to meet people just like me, or not like me at all, but they all come here for the same reason…to feed themselves or their families. I have met so many customers, that I now know on a personal basis, because they like shopping here as much as I do.  

I have learned so much about food and the importance of eating well in the  8 years here at Oliver’s than I ever did  at the other place.  Oliver’s isn’t just a job—it’s an experience!

About the Author: Roxanne Abruzzo-Bachman

Roxanne graduated from SRJC with an AA in Human Resources.  In her spare time she watches sports with her husband, is playing recreational sports for exercise, or following her kids to their year round sporting events.