by Tides of Change
At Whole Foods Market our buyers don’t just sit behind a desk all day! Cultivating true expertise means getting out there and visiting our suppliers in person, whether that’s across the street or halfway around the world. Travel along with Annamaria Friede, our Director of Merchandising, as she and her team visit South Korea alongside the team from Ocean’s Halo. Staying ahead of trends in the food industry requires immersive experiences; sampling street food, visiting grocery stores and food markets, and visiting our suppliers.
“Being able to grab a piece of seaweed, touch it, smell it, even taste it, that is an experience that you will never get anywhere else. Becoming a subject matter expert is something that we encourage our merchants to do. We want them to be leaders in the industry. We want them to continue innovating.”
Anamaria Friede, Director of Mechandising – Center Store
