Lindsey Bridgeman didn’t set out to build a career in the world of groceries.

But more than 20 years after taking a job decorating cakes at a Sobeys store, she now owns Niagara-on-the-Lake’s newest grocery store — a milestone that reflects both her own journey and a changing industry where more women are stepping into leadership roles, she says.

At the end of January, Foodland opened its doors to the public in Garrison Village. Foodland is a grocery store chain under the umbrella of Sobeys.

“Getting offered this store was one of the greatest honours I’ve had,” Bridgeman said.

She said the industry has seen a clear shift in the role of women during her career.

When she first began working in grocery stores, she said management and leadership roles were largely held by men. Over time, however, more women have stepped into those positions.

“Now, I would say, it could almost be turning … there’s a lot of really great females in these roles,” she said, pointing to women in management at Sobeys such as vice-president operations Krista Payne, senior vice-president Jana Sobey and district operator Nikki Unrau.

“Women are really getting ahead now.”

Bridgeman grew up in Waterford, Ont., which she described as a small town similar to NOTL in feel, though with a “much smaller population than NOTL is now.”

She grew up with her parents and a sister seven years younger than her. Her mother also worked in the grocery industry, starting as a cashier before moving into the meat department and eventually becoming a seafood manager before retiring.

Bridgeman said her mother provided a model for her and has always supported her.

“My mom has always been a really great supporter,” she said.

She described her childhood as a positive one.

“I had a really nice upbringing,” said Bridgeman, who added she also had “a lot of great teachers.”

Despite that family connection, Bridgeman did not initially plan to follow her mother into the grocery business. She studied graphic design at Niagara College but decided not to pursue the career.

“If you want to get a job really that pays well in graphic design … it’s a lot of moving to the city,” she said. “I decided that’s not something I wanted to do.”

Her grocery career began when she took a job as a cake decorator at a Sobeys store in Fonthill.

Cindy Cameron was the franchisee who hired Bridgeman and encouraged her to move forward in the company. Bridgeman called Cameron one of her mentors.

“if you’re going to be full time let’s get you up to the next level.”

Bridgeman said Cameron urged her to enter the manager training program.

“I kind of excelled really well at the career and I wanted more challenges,” she said.

Bridgeman has remained with Sobeys and Foodland ever since.

She first became a department manager, then an assistant store manager in Grimsby and later a store manager in Niagara Falls before being offered the NOTL location she now owns.

She said the key to success in the industry is showing up consistently and being willing to learn.

“Realistically, we’re selling groceries. It’s not a hard job,” she said. “You just have to be able to come in and want to learn.”

Bridgeman said women may sometimes approach the work differently, noting that attention to detail and different perspectives can shape management styles.

“The way I do things is a little boutique-y,” she said. “A lot of the times, men in the business are more like ‘This is the plan.’”

For Bridgeman, people are the most important part of the job.

She said store ownership is people-focused, and she chose to stay in small towns because they are places where people know one another. Her favourite part of the day is spending time on the store floor, talking with staff and customers.

“If I could spend my whole day on the floor and not have to do anything up here (in the office), that what be I’d do all day,” she said.

She said she greatly values her employees.

“The people make this run.”

Bridgeman and her husband, Ryan, have three children — a daughter and two sons — and live in St. Catharines. Ryan also owns a grocery store in Niagara Falls.

She said the job works well for her family life. It allows her to attend her children’s activities, such as watching her son play in a single-A hockey playoff game or seeing her daughter perform in dance.

She also spends time with extended family.

Although she no longer has much time for art, Bridgeman said she still enjoys painting.

She said she tries to raise her children, including her daughter, to be confident and to be their own people.

Bridgeman believes society has made significant progress in breaking down barriers faced by women.

“As a society, women have really come a long way,” she said.