Caitlin Tierney’s first introduction to the produce industry was in 2006, when she happened upon a category assistant position at SpartanNash.
Now, the senior director of produce local and innovation for Sprouts Farmers Market has parlayed that first assistant job into a true passion for the industry as a whole and for Sprouts, in particular.
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“[I’m] very passionate about our mission at Sprouts. I get to work besides incredible people that wake up every morning trying their hardest to make natural foods accessible for everyone,” Tierney said.
Orchestrating the supply of fresh produce at Sprouts is a main part of Tierney’s job, but, as she says, “there is a bigger picture to my career at Sprouts than just buying the best produce.” Her passion for produce and all things local shows in her words. At Sprouts, Tierney said she truly thrives on building relationships with local farmers and through supporting local communities. She also helps to educate consumers on “how easy it is to live a healthier life that not only helps themselves but our environment.”
She’s done a lot of relationship-building over the years, she says, stressing that asking for help when needed is essential.
“Where I can be there for the grower when they are in need and vice versa, [that’s] a huge aspect of a successful partnership,” she said. “In this crazy, ever-changing world we are living in, we can all use some help from time to time.”
Despite Tierney’s passion for her work at Sprouts, she admits that the position is not without its challenges. Time, she says, is the biggest challenge of all. The multilayered approach that is bringing an idea to fruition is time-consuming and involves many stakeholders, such as the seed company, the breeder, the grower, marketing, retail and so much more.
Describing her own leadership style, Tierney thinks of herself as a “people person.”
“I lead by example, but with [a] listening ear to understand what makes work enjoyable for my team, what are key drivers for each person and focus strongly on being a goal-oriented leader,” she said.
One aspect Tierney says she enjoys the most is just the people with whom she works, as well as the daily social interaction that comes along with that. A major lesson Tierney learned from the COVID-19 pandemic was the necessity for interaction with others in day-to-day life.
“I have always thought of myself as independent, but when we were cooped up in the house for weeks on end, I struggled more than I thought I would have,” she said.
If you were to ask Tierney for advice on making your own mark on the produce industry as she has, the karaoke and oil painting enthusiast said the best advice she could give would be to always just “be yourself.”
“You don’t have to prove anything to anyone except yourself,” she said.
