Aidy Kearney, Fresh Produce Trading Manager with Musgrave Retail Partners NI, talks about his job…
What’s your job?
My job is to source the highest quality local produce and to liaise with local suppliers and our network of 275 independent SuperValu, Centra and Mace retailers. Sixty per cent of everything sold in our stores is produced or sourced in Northern Ireland. There are great growers in Northern Ireland, offering quality and value and the best fresh fruit and vegetables available – everything from potatoes, lettuces and cabbages to apples and carrots. I have worked with many of my contacts for more than 20 years, including Gilfresh, Robipak, Quinfresh and Derrykeeran and Derrylard Nurseries.
How did you get there?
My first ever job was working in a bar. I think that’s what gave me my interest in working with people and building relationships, which are absolutely key in dealing with both suppliers and retailers.
I then worked in a store, managing the fruit and vegetable offering – ordering, stock, merchandising and driving sales. After a few years I became a buyer at Wellworths, then Londonderry retailer Long’s.
When I joined Musgrave Retail Partners NI in 2002 it was initially as Fresh Food Advisor, and that entailed general merchandising, supporting and advising the retailers in SuperValu and Centra stores. I then became Fresh Food Trader, sourcing quality local salads and veg, importing fruit and continuing to work with independent retailers.
Do you have a typical working day?
No two days are the same in this job, which is great. I spend a lot of time out in stores, working closely with our retail partners and also visiting local suppliers, growers and farmers. That’s the part of my job I really enjoy, interacting with people and developing relationships. I’m constantly on the road and start very early, often finishing late.
What qualifications do you have?
I have worked my way up, doing courses as I went along to progress. I have many hygiene qualifications associated with dealing with food and the in-store preparation environment, which is something we as a company take very seriously and encourage our retailers to buy into. I also have a ‘train the trainer’ qualification for fresh produce. My main ‘training’ has been the experience I have gathered over the years, working with people, thinking like a shopper as I do my job and using my common sense – qualifications from the University of Life, you might say.
What other skills do you need in your role?
Working in retail requires you to have an understanding of what the customer wants. Shopping habits have changed over the years, none more so than the last two years and we need to keep up to date with what these are and how to respond to them. You also have to know what works for the producers commercially. So, I would say for a job like this you have to have an analytical mind, a head for marketing, and a skill for putting what you know into practice. My job is all about the relationships I have with the people I work with every day, and these can take time to cultivate. Being a ‘people person’ is a must.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I have a real passion for local produce and farming and really believe our fresh produce is amongst the best in the world. It’s great to work with such great products. The impact we have on the local economy is also really important and being able to offer local farmers and growers access to a huge network of local shops is something that has become increasingly important not only to our business, but also to me personally. It gives me great satisfaction.
And the worst?
Weather related issues are a real problem for growers and producers and yet they are the one thing we have no control over. It will come as no surprise that this year had some of the most extreme weather for decades. Sourcing fresh products locally, means this has a huge impact on our business.
Recommended jobs for you
What did you want to be when you were at school?
I would say that I always wanted to do a job like the one I’m doing now. My grandfather grew his own veg on the family farm when I was young, and that kick-started my interest in locally grown, fresh food. He was also a fruit and veg delivery driver, delivering to Wellworth’s stores throughout Northern Ireland. Of course many of the Wellworth’s stores became local SuperValu, which is funny when you think about my job now.
What advice would you give someone considering a career in your profession?
Working in retail involves being flexible, adjusting daily to the weather, annually to the season and being dedicated to delivering a first class service to our customers. I also think personality and being able to build relationships is essential as people can really pull you out of a hole sometimes.
What’s the most common question people ask when they find out what you do?
As I source fresh fruit and veg, people always ask me about going on exotic trips to plantations to visit pineapple and orange suppliers. Unfortunately, I have no such luck!
The multi award winning Irish News is Northern Ireland’s top selling newspaper with over 160,000 readers each day. Renowned for editorial excellence, the Irish News delivers news, sport and features to a huge audience across Northern Ireland and is the only title to have maintained circulation over the past two decades.