The first market outside of Baden-Württemberg launched in Dobbertin. By now, there are eight markets just in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern alone. Why is this a special success story?
Heckmann: After the reunification, the new federal states of Germany were flooded with discount stores. Back then, you had a discount store on every corner, whether it was a store by Aldi, Lidl, Netto or Penny. Local suppliers were therefore scarce given the full-line grocery stores. That’s when the market in Dobbertin was created as our first site. And then we were simply lucky to have found an outstanding operating agency in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. That’s the Diakonieverein Güstrow (Deaconry Güstrow), which presently operates five CAP markets and two drugstores – based on our concept. It is truly implemented brilliantly by them.
How do employees end up with their jobs at the CAP markets?
Heckmann: We explicitly look for people with disabilities. We use community integrated services to check the availability of people with disabilities and target those who might have already been unemployed for some time. Or we approach sheltered workshops for people with disabilities that feature associates, who first complete an internship there to then potentially switch over to a job that’s subject to social security contributions and benefits.
Apart from that, we look for store managers obviously based on the same criteria also used by other employers. Having said that, our store managers have to complete an additional training during the first two years. The training strongly emphasizes and addresses teamwork with people with disabilities.
How does the work impact the lives of people with disabilities?
Heckmann: Our employees have an entirely different sense of self-worth. They are neither employed in a workshop nor are they unemployed. They are employees of a CAP market, earn their own money and are able to make their own living for the most part. Needless to say, this boosts the sense of self-worth and self-confidence of our associates enormously.
How can CAP markets foster inclusion?
Heckmann: The term inclusion has only been around for the past two years. Prior to that, it was called integration. Actually, we have practiced nothing but inclusion for the past 20 years, because our employees are part of the primary labor market – in touch with the customers. In our markets, people with and without disabilities share the same workplace. And we employ everyone, meaning people with physical disabilities, with learning disabilities – so-called "intellectual disabilities" – or with mental conditions. That’s why inclusion is nothing out of the ordinary for us, but rather something that’s normal and natural and goes without saying.
What else would you like to achieve with the CAP markets?
Heckmann: It was important for us to give people with disabilities even better job qualifications, though there are definitely still more opportunities and potential with room for improvement. Along with various Chambers of Industry and Commerce, we try to offer low-threshold vocational training options, giving us the chance to possibly place associates from the inclusive companies later on in the primary labor market and with large supermarket chains like Edeka, Rewe, Aldi or Lidl. That is our big goal.