VIDEO: Tops Markets' Brad Franklin talks Retail Produce Manager Award

Brad Franklin, produce manager for the Tops Friendly Markets store in Towanda, Pa., lists merchandising, the challenges of perishable inventory management, and interaction with shoppers among the favorite elements of the job.

He started his produce career in 1994 as a part-time clerk, and by 1996 he was running the department. This year, the United Fresh Produce Association recognized him as part of its 2020 Retail Produce Manager Awards program.

“Brad has a lot of the classic attributes of a fantastic produce manager," said Jeff Cady, director of produce and floral for Tops. "He’s very passionate, committed. He also is very detail-oriented, good with people.

"A big part of it, his team is strong underneath him," Cady said. "Merchandising, creativity, all those things come into play.”

Franklin said he was thrilled to find out he'd received recognition from Tops and from United Fresh.

"Our company has a very large footprint, and I’m pretty much the guy on the opposite end of the earth, and it really was great that people do recognize us people out here," Franklin said.

Tops makes it a point to recognize good work being done by its produce managers, and it takes seriously the opportunity to nominate employees for the United Fresh award.

“We go through a vigorous process here of screening," Cady said. "This isn’t just by chance. We whittle it down, we go through districts, we go through regions, and just really proud of (Brad) and it’s well-deserved.”

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