Maggie Morris

Q. Can you tell us a bit about your upbringing and how it has shaped you?

I am Spanish and growing up, food was at the center of all family events, big or small. My great-aunt commonly watched me when I was off from school and my parents needed to work. The memories I have of spending time in her kitchen, learning to cook empanadas and tostones, are very dear to me.

While she and I had the opportunity to make food from scratch, I recognize that is not always possible in today’s fast-paced culture. Therefore, taking care to make sure I am putting the best version of an item in front of our customers is very front of mind when I’m developing a new item.

Q. What were some of the pivotal moments that led you to where you are today?

I grew up a musician and went to college for music, receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field, and even started work on a Ph.D. in music theory and analysis. Digging into the why a particular piece of music sounded a certain way or elicited a reaction from an audience was a core part of my academic studies — my earliest data deep dives.

While in graduate school, I worked for a large clothing chain for several years. I encountered a pivotal point in my academic studies as I completed my coursework but was still several years away from defending a dissertation, where I was offered a full-time job as an associate store manager. This opportunity was unexpected but offered stability and a career change that was very welcome.

Q. How has your career evolved over the years?

I began my retail career working for the large clothing chain mentioned above. I started as a store associate while in graduate school and worked my way up to assistant store manager. I needed to quickly learn how to manage a business, while prioritizing customers in store, keeping shelves and racks full, leading a team, and many other critical tasks. As a store manager, I had the opportunity to listen to corporate strategy meetings, learning more about the “why” behind assortment and design decisions. I found this side of the business to be quite intriguing and set out to move into a strategic merchandising role.

My path to my current role included a several-year stop at a service provider to Kroger, where I had the opportunity to work in digital and data integrity roles. Bringing together these experiences with five years spent in-store has shaped who I am today — a data-driven strategic manager still looking to put customers first.

Q. What is the best advice you ever received and why?

“It’s OK to let cracks show.” As a perfectionist, I am highly motivated to not drop any balls or let mistakes show, and in the fast-paced, ever-changing grocery environment, appearing perfect is very challenging. I constantly remind myself that mistakes are OK, and all I can do is my best in that very moment. This mindset shift has helped me to better execute during stressful times.

Q. What deli retail trends have impacted the industry most over the last year?

As our mainstream customer continues to balance price with quality, all on an ever-tightening budget, we must be customer-focused when making decisions, ranging from retail strategy to quality to assortment choice. Our customer is trying to do more with less, and to keep them in the deli, we must present them with a special eating experience that can only be found in this section of the store.

Customers are also more aware of food safety now more than ever; they are going to spend their dollars on products they feel secure in purchasing. As merchants, we need to take extra steps to ensure customers are being presented with products of the utmost quality, whether that be additional product paneling, ongoing safety and quality checks, or keeping very open lines of communication with our supplier partners.

Q. What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?

I enjoy getting outside and going hiking, trying new restaurants, especially while traveling, and spending time with my husband and our four cats. I’m also an avid reader and usually have a couple of library books on hand.

Q. Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?

Asheville, NC. I love an eclectic city close to mountains and beautiful hiking trails.