Striving for Greatness: A Q&A With Mike Tipton, Vice President of Produce and Floral, Schnuck Markets

When I connected with Mike Tipton in June 2024 to put together a fun little feature we here at The Snack call the IF List, I knew we were only seeing the tip of the iceberg regarding the ambitious, passionate, and multifaceted retail executive.

While our IF List uncovered his affinity for professional bass fishing and the Dallas Cowboys, my latest conversation with Schnuck Markets’ Vice President of Produce and Floral digs into industry evolution, retail strategies, and a life-long dedication to fresh produce.

Stepping into a leadership role in produce directly after graduating high school, Mike has been a firsthand witness to decades of innovation as the fresh industry has continued to reinvigorate itself after each dynamic year.

I’ll let Mike take it from here…

Peggy Packer: Mike, I’d love to know more about your introduction to fresh produce. How did you get your start in the industry?

Mike Tipton, Vice President of Produce and Floral, Schnuck Markets: I am not sure if I caught the produce bug at the age of six going to see my dad as a Produce Manager, or at the age of 17 stocking produce shelves after school. I was six weeks from graduating high school, and I barely knew the difference between an apple and an orange, but my store leader must have seen potential in me that I didn’t yet realize. He asked me if I wanted to be a Produce Manager when I graduated. I had plans to be an IT guy and work on computers, but it was words from my mom that drove my produce career, and I have carried them with me ever since. She said, “Michael, I don’t care if you are a ditch digger or the President, just be the best at whatever you do.”

PP: Guided by this sage advice from your mom, what are some of the elements of the business that solidified your passion for fresh produce?

MT: Produce challenges you. It’s never the same, and it rewards you whether you’re in a store pulling pallets off a truck, building a soft fruit display, or in the produce office writing ads. Being able to watch how customers react to what you have created leaves a sense of satisfaction that you want to build on to see how much better you can make it the next time.    

PP: Having been in the industry since your teens, how have you witnessed the retail sector—and overall produce industry—evolve over the past few decades?

MT: That is what has made the produce business so rewarding over the years. From watching packaged salads dominate in the ’90s to cut fruit and veggies exploding in the early 2000s, or when Honeycrisp apples, Clementines, specialty grapes, berries, and snacking tomatoes arrived on the scene—these developments, just to mention a few, are what have kept consumers excited about buying produce.

PP: How has Schnuck Markets embraced this constant evolution to uphold its strong status in the fresh produce department?

MT: Schnucks has always valued and continues to value produce as a key differential advantage, and we are not afraid to try new things to maintain Schnucks as the destination for fresh produce.

Produce challenges you. It’s never the same, and it rewards you whether you’re in a store pulling pallets off a truck, building a soft fruit display, or in the produce office writing ads.”

Mike Tipton, Vice President of Produce and Floral, Schnuck Markets

First, it’s about our mission: Nourishing People’s Lives. Whether it’s giving our teammates the tools they need to be successful or aligning ourselves with supply-side partners to help us deliver the best produce possible, we pride ourselves on doing what is right for our customers to nourish their lives. We will continue to focus on educating new department managers and being the Best in Fresh. That is the key to making a good produce department a great produce department. We have to work harder to create a strong group of next-generation leaders to carry the business forward.   

PP: What is your favorite thing about your role as Vice President of Produce and Floral?

MT: I love being out in stores with my team, listening and coaching. I come from the belief that respect is earned, not given, and I pride myself on being a good listener. By listening, not only do you learn, but you show that you care about what is going on. Seeing teammates get excited about the art they create to entice customers is an awesome thing.

PP: In our interview for last year’s IF List, you relayed the wise advice from your mother and urged our readers to strive to be the best at whatever they do. What additional tips would you give to up-and-comers looking to establish a career in fresh?

MT: Learn how to be a people person by figuring out how to be relational and intentional. Anyone can learn the fundamentals of produce procurement. It’s the ones that leave a mark on others who set themselves apart from the pack.

From watching packaged salads dominate in the ’90s to cut fruit and veggies exploding in the early 2000s, or when Honeycrisp apples, Clementines, specialty grapes, berries, and snacking tomatoes arrived on the scene—these developments, just to mention a few, are what have kept consumers excited about buying produce.”

Mike Tipton

The more I learn about industry pros like Mike Tipton, the more I understand the importance of having an experienced and energetic leader at the helm—one whose passion extends to both the produce and the people who keep the department running.

Whether that passion was ingrained at six or 17, it is clearly alive and thriving for Mike today, guiding the fresh VP on a mission to nourish consumers’ lives with a premium produce destination.