one: How did you come to PENNY in the 90s?
Alena Bothová: I came to PENNY in the course of the merger with Plus. I was right in the middle of it when the first discount stores opened in the Czech Republic. I had previously worked in a small food retailers in Most when we heard that a Plus was opening in our town. It was only the fourth store in the country and a great opportunity for me at the time, so soon after the revolution. We had seven tills and a store full of customers. I started as an assistant and after just one year I was able to switch to the accounts department, where I also looked after the trainees, among other things.
Martina Kadeřábková: I came to PENNY after my parental leave on the recommendation of my brother-in-law and father-in-law, as they were both already working there. I joined the back office in the incoming goods department. I was quite panicked at first because I didn't know how to use a computer. And when I saw all these people, I wondered how I was going to manage. But I have to say that I received an incredible amount of support from the colleagues around me, so my familiarisation was ultimately successful.
Karel Kubista: I also joined in 2009 with the merger of PENNY and Plus. I remember coming across a job advert in the newspaper in January 1992. They were looking for the manager of the first Plus discounter in Holešovice, so I responded and ended up becoming the manager of the very first Plus shop in the Czech Republic.

Alena Bothova one: What was PENNY like back then and how has it changed since then?
Alena Bothová : Things have changed at a rapid pace. I can still remember the manual recording of goods at the tills and I have to say that scanners have made our work in the shops much easier.
Martina Kadeřábková: Things have certainly changed for the better. The company utilises all the innovations and technologies that our industry has to offer and empowers all employees. This benefits employees, customers and clients.
Karel Kubista : At the head office, we are more influenced by changes in top management, where I have noticed a very positive change in the way employees are treated in recent years. In the past, there were times when you had to grit your teeth and put up with a lot, but now, fortunately, a time has begun when management clearly cares about people.

one: Why have you remained loyal to the company for so long? What is so special about PENNY?
Alena Bothova: I think it's mainly the family atmosphere and the excellent interpersonal relationships. It's very important for me to have a great team around me in the shop, and my other colleagues are great too. I've never experienced a situation where I called for help and didn't get it. The management never lets anyone down either. PENNY also offers great benefits, such as five weeks' holiday. I think they do a lot for people.
Martina Kaderabkova Martina Kadeřábková: I know a lot of people who have been with us for twenty-five, twenty or eighteen years, we don't really have many newcomers in our team. This means that people like their job. What I like about my job is that I have access to different training programmes and many other activities and I get to know the work of other colleagues. Basically, I serve as a communication channel between our team and other departments and can contribute to making things better.
Karl Kubista: I've been with the company for so long because something new happens every day in our work. I believe that life is change and I enjoy a lot of it at PENNY. I also really appreciate our approach to Sustainability and environmental protection.

one: How has your career developed and where would you like to go next?
Alena Bothova: I started as a sales assistant and after about four years I became the manager of a larger shop, where I have been working for 25 years. Five years ago, I had a knee operation and then became the manager of a small shop in Most, my home town. I'm not planning any further career advancement. I still have a few years until I retire and I want to continue to do my best in my current position, which I love.
Martina Kadeřábková: I moved from the incoming goods office to the refrigeration department, which starts at four or five in the morning, then to the non-food department, and finally I was offered the position of deputy warehouse manager, which I have held for fifteen years. I sometimes joke that I've seen a few bosses come and go. I'll be perfectly happy with my career as long as I can keep doing what I've been doing.
Karl Kubista: After the first Plus shop in Holešovice, I managed another shop in Kladno and then moved to the purchasing department at the head office. Funnily enough, when it came to price monitoring, I observed PENNY, among others, which I joined a few years later. I've been an Obsteinkäufer for seven years and for my professional future I'm looking forward to being a reliable cog in the machinery that helps the whole company run smoothly. I don't have any great ambitions.

Alena Bothová one: Under what circumstances and in what position did you join PENNY years ago?
Alena Bothová: I joined PENNY due to its merger with Plus, where I worked at the time. At Plus, I actually experienced the very beginning of discount retail in the Czech Republic. Back then, I worked in Most in a Jednota store, and we learned that a Plus supermarket was going to open in our town. It was only the fourth branch in the country, and it was a big change for me at that time, shortly after the revolution. We had seven cash registers and a full store of people. I started as a shop assistant, but after a year I moved to the position of an accountant, where I was also in charge of training apprentices who were doing their professional practice with us.

Martina Kadeřábková: I joined PENNY after my maternity leave upon recommendation by my father-in-law and brother-in-law who already worked there at that time. I joined the backoffice, in the receipt of goods, and at first, I was pretty freaked out. I didn't know how to use a computer, and when I saw all those people around, I wondered how on earth I was going to manage. But I must say that I received amazing support from people around me and my initial training turned out well in the end.

Karel Kubista: I, too, joined in 2009 with the merger of PENNY and Plus, where I had worked from the very beginning. I remember that I came across a job offer in the newspaper in January 1992. They were looking for the manager of the first Plus discount store in Holešovice, so I answered it and eventually became the manager of the very first Plus store in the Czech Republic.

one: What was PENNY like back then and how has it changed since then?
Alena Bothová: Things have been changing at a fast pace. I can still remember registering goods manually at the cash registers, and I must say that scanners have made our work in the stores much much easier.

Martina Kadeřábková Martina Kadeřábková: A lot has certainly changed for the better. The company leverages all the innovations and technologies our industry has to offer and empowers all employees with them. This brings greater comfort for both employees and customers.

Karel Kubista: At the Head Office, we are more influenced by changes in the top management, where I have noticed a very positive shift in the approach to employees in recent years. There were times in the past when you had to grit your teeth and endure a lot, but then, fortunately, there came a period when the management clearly does care about people.

one: Why have you stayed with the company for so long? What is so special about PENNY?
Alena Bothová: I think it is mainly the family-like atmosphere and excellent interpersonal relations. For me, it's very important to have a great team around me in the store, and the other colleagues are great, too. I've never experienced a situation when I would call for help and would not get it. The management won't let anyone fall to the bottom, either. PENNY also offers wonderful benefits, such as five weeks of holiday. I think they are doing an awful lot for people.

Martina Kadeřábková: I know many people who have been with us for twenty-five, twenty or eighteen years, we don't really have many newcomers in our team. That means people like their job. What I enjoy about my job is that I have access to various training programmes and a lot of other activities and get to know the work of other colleagues. Basically, I serve as a channel of communication between our team and other departments, and I can help make things better.

Karel Kubista: I've been with the company so long because something new happens every day in our work. I believe that life is change and I enjoy a lot of it at PENNY. I also highly appreciate our approach to sustainability and environmental protection.

one: How has your career unfolded and where would you like to go next?
Alena Bothová: I started as a shop assistant and after four years or so, I became the manager of a larger store, where I have been for twenty-five years. Five years ago, I had a knee surgery and subsequently became the manager of a smallish store in Most, my hometown. I am not planning any further career advancement. I have a few years left before retirement and I want to continue doing my best at the current position, which I love.

Martina Kadeřábková: I moved from the goods receipt office to the refrigeration department, which starts as early as four or five o'clock in the morning, then to the Nonfood department, and, eventually, I was offered the position of the assistant warehouse manager, where I have been working for fifteen years. I sometimes joke that I've had a few bosses pass through my hands. I'll be perfectly satisfied with my career as long as I can keep doing what I've been doing.