Milo’s was founded as a restaurant in 1946 by Milo and Bea Carlton after Milo returned from serving our country in World War II. Milo’s philosophy was simple: use high quality, real ingredients, listen to your customers, and never sacrifice taste. This vision still guides us today as we source real ingredients and never add colors or preservatives. Seventy-eight years later, Milo’s is still a family-owned business and also a Certified Women Owned Business with corporate headquarters in Bessemer, Alabama. Milo’s is also a Platinum-Certified Zero Waste Manufacturer devoted to sustainable practices and the stewardship of local communities and the environment.
3112 Dublin Lane, Bessemer, AL
Employees at our company have a positive vision for the future because the vision is developed with them and shared among them. During annual and quarterly strategic planning, each team is asked to share their collective recommendations for corporate and team priorities. This is reviewed by the Executive Team, which incorporates suggestions into a set of priorities which is shared back with the team for review and amendment. All of this is reinforced through weekly thought leadership videos from our CEO, monthly leadership gatherings, and quarterly Town Hall meetings hosted by the Executive Team.
Our company values are aligned with our employees’ because we are a People First company, valuing people over profits. Our Corporate Values – Quality, Integrity, Responsibility, and Safety – ensure that we are doing right by our associates, our customers, and our fans. Our Team Values – working Hungry, Agile, and Together (Wearing the Milo’s HAT) – ensure that we lift each other up and hold each other accountable to winning together. Milo’s is committed to uplifting our associates, customers, and fans without regard to gender, race, or creed.
Our CEO serves as a model of our company values by being transparent, approachable and accessible. Tricia Wallwork models our HAT values, displaying a Hunger for growth, existential Agility as we navigate exponential growth, and working Together with leaders at every level to achieve goals. She shares successes generously, and brutal facts quickly and transparently. She also models our commitment to people and planet by championing internal DIB and sustainability efforts and personally supporting community causes that uplift others.
We show respect and ensure all voices are heard, and ideas are valued through:
• Quarterly eNPS surveys. Leaders meet with teams to review results and develop action plans. Results are also discussed at town halls.
• Pulse surveys are conducted between eNPS surveys to understand progress against action plans.
• Employees are encouraged to nominate Values Champions – corporate and operations associates recognized monthly for commitment to our corporate values of working Hungry, Agile, and Together, which we call “wearing the HAT”.
• Associates give “Hats Off” acknowledgements to colleagues through our intranet, Unite, and are encouraged to use Unite’s “Ask Milo’s Anything” feature.
Employees collaborate throughout our company through daily team huddles, weekly function team meetings, monthly leadership gatherings, and quarterly strategic planning sessions. This is part of an enterprise operating system known as Milo’s Growth System, or MGS. In addition to Function Team structures, we have many ad hoc and standing cross-functional groups advancing projects and workflows. As a hybrid organization, we value the daily use of online communications platforms including Microsoft Teams, Monday.com, and Salesforce to plan and execute work.
• 100% employer paid medical premiums for all associates.
• Paid parental leave for all associates. Full-time associates may take up to four (4) weeks of paid parental leave after the birth of his or her child, whether the associate is the birth parent or non-birth parent, or in connection with your adoption of a child.
• Gym Stipend, we offer a gym stipend to positively support our associates in the pursuit of their personal health. The ability to achieve our goals depends upon the well-being of our employees. As part of our Best Place to Work initiative, we seek to create a culture focused on improving our physical, social, emotional, and financial health. Our Milo’s Invests in Me Wellness Program seeks to address all aspects of wellness by providing a wide variety of programming that values and enhances the health and wellbeing of all employees.
• Live online lunchtime group fitness & yoga sessions attended by CEO and associates.
• Employee Resource Groups. Associate Belonging Groups are voluntary employee TEAms united by shared characteristics or aspirations. They are designed to help all associates feel connected, to increase engagement and advance Milo’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) commitment.
• Access Perks. This program offers discounts and coupons just for being a TEAmmate!
• Financial wellness webinars to encourage financial literacy covering everything from holiday spending to preparing for retirement
• Burn Along. This program offers FREE fitness, health, and wellness resources for you and your family! There are a ton of classes, programs, and even playlists to choose from to support your wellness journey. You can even add up to FOUR of your friends/family members for free!
• Com Psych. Milo’s offers a Guidance Resource Program through ComPsych that includes EAP for all associates and dependents, starting with a confidential assessment, referral, and short-term counseling services for various behavioral health-related problems.
