Tim Pettingill’s career in the grocery industry began before he ever stepped into a store.
Growing up working on a fruit farm, Tim learned early what it meant to raise and harvest food. That foundation led him to apply for a produce clerk position at Macey’s South Ogden when he was young and looking for work. He got the job and started showing up at 5 a.m. each day to assemble the wet rack.
Not long after he was hired, his manager was promoted and Tim was elevated to produce manager. From there, his career with Associated Food Stores continued to grow. He moved to the warehouse in produce sales, where he spent about 12 years, then served as a produce buyer. Today, he steps into the role of produce and floral category manager.
“I have focused my whole life on understanding produce and feeding people,” Tim said. “I think my skills honed at retail, customer service and buying will all come in handy as I continue my AFS journey.”
Throughout his career, Tim has been motivated by what he sees as the larger purpose of grocery retail.
“Feeding our communities,” he said. “We are a critical component of society, and it makes me feel like I’ve guided my life to something more important than just myself.”
In his new role, Tim said his responsibilities can be boiled down to a few core priorities. With retailer input, he will help determine which items AFS brings in and which are phased out to stay competitive and relevant. He will negotiate pricing and work closely with retail partners to support their success.
One of his proudest accomplishments came during his time as a produce manager, when he created a local section at the front of the store that generated an additional $8,000 to $10,000 per week in sales. As a sales team lead at the warehouse, he and his team helped drive incremental sales while consistently delivering value deals for retail partners.
Leigh Vaughn, director of produce at AFS, said Tim’s background and mindset make him a strong fit for the category manager role.
“Tim understands produce from the ground up, literally,” Vaughn said. “He has worked at retail, in sales and in buying, and that perspective gives him credibility with our retailers. He listens, he cares and he works hard to find solutions that help stores win. We’re fortunate to have him in this role.”
The grocery industry has changed significantly since Tim started on the sales team, when orders were punched in over the phone. He has embraced those changes, saying he enjoys learning new software and adapting to evolving shopping habits. He has seen innovation accelerate in value-added produce and watched legacy items such as white grapefruit and holiday fruit baskets fade from prominence.
As he steps into his new role, Tim said he is excited about working more directly with retail partners. He plans to focus on listening and implementing programs and item lines based on their input. He is also looking forward to expanding his knowledge in the floral category.
In the coming year, he plans to work closely with Leigh to further refine his role. “Drink from a fire hose,” he said with a laugh, describing the learning curve.
He also offers clear advice to those just starting at AFS: “Approach absolutely everyone you need to for help. Do not try to lone-wolf it here at AFS. We’re much stronger as a team.”
Outside of work, Tim’s priorities are simple. He and his wife, Andrea, are approaching their 20th wedding anniversary and have two daughters, Emma, 8, and Samantha, 6. He calls them his main motivation in life.
The family enjoys vacations with swimming pools, beaches and hiking, especially trips to the Humboldt Redwoods in California. At home, Tim jokes that he has been accused of having a third child, his lawn. He enjoys yard work and building projects, including a bridge he built with his father.
His first job title was “farm boy,” and his go-to comfort food is Texas barbecue. A recent movie recommendation is “Manchester by the Sea,” which he describes as a heavy drama with beautiful cinematography and a standout performance by Casey Affleck.
After more than a decade in sales, buying and now category management, Tim’s focus remains rooted in the same principle that shaped his earliest days on the farm: helping feed people and strengthening the communities he serves.