June

Interview with Brian

Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with one of Rutter’s premier deli managers, Brian Anthony. I spoke with Brian about his job with Rutter’s, managing the deli at our new Wrightsville location, Rutter’s Store #4.

Me: So, Brian, what originally brought you to Rutter’s?

Brian: More opportunity for advancement… [the] company is growing and booming. (…)[Rutter’s is] very innovative, most cutting edge.

What’s the biggest surprise you had when you came to Rutter’s?

I just thought it was typical gas station food, and it’s not. Its quality food and it’s good. It makes me proud to work at a place where you’re serving good food.

How long have you been working with Rutter’s?

Almost two years now.

Deli Manager the whole time?

Yes.

Here at the Wrightsville store?

No, the Wrightsville store was being built when I was hired. So, I trained at a couple stores, and I worked as a Rover in the mean time.

Tell me about your experiences as a Roving Deli Manager.

I liked it. I got to see a lot of different people, a lot of different managers, a lot of different concepts of stores. So I did, I enjoyed it, it prepared me very well for this store.

What do you do as a deli manager?

(I) control the whole food service operations in the deli. So ordering, stocking, training, hiring, serving the products, receiving, inventory… It’s just like running a restaurant. Our deli is big enough that it’s not a “deli” to me, I came from a restaurant, so that’s what it is more like.

Have you enjoyed your time at Rutter’s?

So far I’ve loved every minute of it, I came from a company that I stayed at for 13 years and I thought I wouldn’t go anywhere else, and then Rutter’s gave me the opportunity to go somewhere else, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I really think that if you come into this with a positive fresh attitude you will really love every second of it too. Our slogan is really ‘Why Work Anywhere Else’ as well, that is true, from the top of the company to the people (gestures to his coworkers) you know. You’re not gonna find better people anywhere. They really treat you like first rate. Listening to what you have to say. A lot of companies you work for, they don’t care what the people on the front lines are thinking or saying. [Rutter’s] really respond quickly to what we think and feel, and they know we’re the ones doing it, we’re the ones operating the show.(…) We give them feedback, it’s very quick that they’re responding: ‘You’re right, that’s a better way to do it, let’s do it that way.’

What’s your favorite Rutter’s deli food?

I don’t think I have one, there is too many. I have customers that come in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; there are so many options you can’t get tired. You know, your family could come in and eat. It’s not like you have to pick one spot, you know. If you want pizza you can only go to that place, if you wanted chicken you had to go there. We have everything. (…)They can come up with any combination at all, so however they decide to put things on there, I mean I’ve seen hot dogs with 20 toppings, it’s incredible, are you going to even know there is a hot dog in there? There is pickles and relish and onions and ketchup and mustard and hot sauce… I’d don’t think anyone would want this, but we’ll give them the option… (We) defiantly beat the competition who charges you for toppings.

So you tell people you work at Rutter’s, what do they say?

The biggest thing I get when I talk to people about Rutter’s is they always have a favorite Rutter’s, a favorite food item. And they’ll go there no matter what, you know, in the middle of a snowstorm, like we had in February, people were still coming out because they had to have a Rutter’s Milk, or a Rutter’s Tea, and a breakfast sandwich to go with it. So, two feet of snow is not keeping them away. (…)The familiarity and loyalty of our customers is immense, we have a lot of regular customers.

So people you see a lot?

Absolutely

Do you know what they’re getting already?

Most of the time, until they start switching it up. We’ve actually had a couple of times where I’ve told our team: ‘This is what they get, let’s start making it.’ We start making it and when they order it, they’ve tried something different. We kinda stopped doing that, we used to try, but now they’ve switched it up. Then we have to try to talk them into getting both. ‘(…)It’s your regular, you’re a regular!’ (…)We make somebody a breakfast sandwich and they choose to get a sweet Italian sausage instead, it’s a hard sell.

Do you get any strange orders?

We have a lot of third shifters who get off work and come in to eat. And so you get geared up in the morning at 6 o’clock in the morning for breakfast. And you’re getting ready for breakfast and getting your things together for breakfast. And there is a lot of lunch and dinner—because we’re open 24 hours a day, we offer that all the time. A lot of people are getting hot dogs and cheeseburgers and dinner bowls and wok bowls at six thirty in the morning. And you’re thinking ‘Wow, that’s crazy,’ but to them that’s their dinner time, and their breakfast is at ten o’clock at night.

What surprised you most about this job?

Time flies, especially in this store, it is a busy store. You blink and your day is almost over, so you’ve gotta keep moving constantly, which is a great problem to have, business pouring in the doors. And not having to go out and try and drag in.(…) All we have to do is take care of the customers that Rutter’s has brought in for us. It is very simple.

So why do you enjoy working at Rutter’s?

Defiantly, I think it’s for the employees, the people, the customers would be my ultimate goal, I want to be around people, I love being around people. They’re different every day, even the regular customers. You get to know them, your employees get to make an impact on their lives, as well as they on you. You get to meet new people every day. And again with this company, it is family owned and they treat you like family, it is not like their family and you’re not part of it. They really incorporate, from my experience, every person into it as part of their family. And to be honest with you kinda are like part of a family, because if it wasn’t for them and their family and their grandfathers and grandfathers owning the company and passing it down, I wouldn’t have a job to support my kids and my family.

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Currently, Rutter’s is hiring for a position much like Brian’s. Roving Deli Managers are needed. If you feel you have the drive and dedication to excel in such a position please apply!

Keep your eyes peeled for a video with Brian.