2025 Period 13 - EN

Celebrating the Holiday Season at T&T

Dear T&T Family,

Sending warm wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season! This is the busiest time of the year as we help customers celebrate. With purses being tighter lately, many are choosing to spend more time at home and create moments around their own dinner tables. The work that you do every day helps make these moments easier and more delicious.

As you know, we recently opened our second store in the U.S. at Lynnwood, WA. At about half the size of Bellevue and with a tighter trading radius, we now know we can do both big and small stores!

At Lynnwood, we’re seeing a broader mix of ethnicities, especially customers from Southeast Asia. We’ve been learning how to best serve these customers, and so far it seems like our amazing hot food section brings everyone together, no matter their background!

Opening day was a true team effort. A special thank-you to Luna from SC Merchandising, and the incredible dancers, Minyi & Simba & Nora. With only one week to practice, they brought incredible energy and got the whole place partying before the day officially started!

We were also honoured to have Mayor Frizzel join our opening. We first met her in 2024 and she has shown T&T strong support from the very beginning. Her presence on opening day was a meaningful reminder of the partnership we’ve built with the city.

To our Lynnwood team: welcome to the big T&T family. Thank you for your hustle and your openness to working in a different kind of supermarket. We encourage everyone to stay curious, be open to training, and continue building your skills.

There is so much to learn, not just at Lynnwood but across T&T. Looking ahead, the new year brings even more opportunities to grow and make a difference. And as you build these skills, more opportunities will surely open up. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season and a successful year ahead!

Tina Lee

CEO

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FM store's 'Big Brother', a pillar of quiet dedication and versatility 

(Fairview Mall store) Store Admin Dept. Candy Li

At the FM store, there's an all-rounded General Assistant, Murphy Guo, whom everyone fondly refers to as 'Big Brother'. His actions embody diligence and versatility.

No matter how big or small of a task or which department requires support, he is always the first person to arrive and the last to leave. He's never concerned about personal gain or loss, nor does he pick and choose among tasks. He always puts the store's interests first and completes every task quietly and reliably.

From routine maintenance to last-minute tasks; from arranging shelves to equipment repairs; and even urgent assistance in various departments, "Big Brother" is skilled at everything and always gives it his all. Whenever a situation arises that requires assistance, he is always able to resolve the problem efficiently, meticulously and with professionalism, helping save the team lots of time and manpower.

He is not only reliable, but is also committed to continuously learn and improve himself, gradually becoming the indispensable "jack-of-all-trades" for every department in the store. Though English is not his strongest suit, he spends his breaks studying diligently. When the Receiving Department needed support, he stepped up under pressure and successfully completed the task, showcasing his growth and determination. 

Big Brother is a major contributor in every store event, helping with hanging displays and decorations. He is also the strongest support for the Administrative Department. Suffice to say, when Big Brother is around, we can rest easy. It's truly great to have Murphy here with us.

The warmest tasting experience, served with a smile

(Lansdowne store) Store Admin Dept. Suki Lau

Prior to taking on a role that involves inviting customers to try samples, Kim was responsible for back-end work and rarely ever interacted directly with customers. Despite this, she embraced this new challenge. Kim was not only quick to grasp the essentials, she also achieved impressive results within a short period of time. 

Everyone can see Kim's cheerful spirit and vibrant energy, but what stays with customers is the genuinely thoughtful service she provides. She will prepare beforehand, researching product features and best ways to enjoy the specific product she is working with. When recommending fruit, she will offer customers helpful tips to select the best pieces, hoping that her customers are able to bring home the best of the best.

In the sampling area, you are bound to hear her booming voice saying, "Don't miss out, come try our new product!" After tasting, customers will often ask her how she chooses fruits. Kim always patiently explains how to choose a fruit that is the perfect sweetness, and even makes suggestions on the ideal firmness based on when the customer plans to eat it. To her, these aren't considered "extra services", but the professionalism and sincerity she strives for. 

While her job might seem simple, Kim's wholehearted dedication transforms it into a warm, thoughtful service that enhances each customers' shopping experience. Kim's sincerity, passion, and strong sense of responsibility not only makes shopping more enjoyable for customers, but she also inspires the team with her boundless positive energy. 

Protecting the fairness and intended purpose of paid breaks

HR. Dept

The company encourages employees to take a brief pause amid a busy work day. A paid 15-minute break is meant for rest, a sip of water, or simply to reset your pace - a gesture of trust and appreciation. Yet as time has passed, some breaks have gradually stretched to 18, 20 minutes, or longer. Some people don't even notify their Department Head beforehand, thinking, "It's just a few extra minutes". But these seemingly small extensions accumulate, slowly eroding the fairness of this well-intentioned benefit, ultimately forcing the company to take disciplinary measures against violations.

In order to better protect this paid break benefit, the new HR attendance system has streamlined the break management process, providing clearer and fairer guidelines. According to the updated policy, employees will be required to record the start and end times of their paid breaks on the time clock. Any time exceeding 15 minutes will automatically be counted as unpaid break time. Extra break time is allowed as long as you get prior approval from the Department Head or authorized personnel and ensure the time is properly logged.

We hope everyone can adhere to the guidelines so that this 15-minute break can fulfill its original purpose and become a fair, refreshing, and enjoyable moment of rest for all.