MABANK, TX - I have no regrets. Zero. These are the words that Randy Scott, Senior Category Manager of Produce at Sprouts Farmers Market, shared with me as we spoke on Zoom about his upcoming retirement from the nationwide retail powerhouse on August 11. To live a life and hold a perspective that constantly finds the silver lining and the lesson in every journey—this is the mark of a wise individual.

“Every move I’ve made—and more than a couple of them were risky—I was happy with. And each of those decisions led to something else that profoundly changed the course of my career and my life,” Randy tells me, reflecting on 40-plus years in the industry. “It is hard to sum up in words how to sign off from such a journey. Thank you to thousands of friends, colleagues, and industry members who have impacted me and helped me along the way. It has been an amazing run, and I wish each of them the best.”

That 40-year journey he speaks of took Randy from Mabank, Texas, clear to the East Coast before bringing him back, full circle, and completing his career in his hometown of Mabank.

Randy started down his fresh produce path at Affiliated Foods, Dallas Division in 1983.

“Then a little company called Food Lion came to Texas, and I was one of the first 10 employees hired there in that warehouse. I was a supervisor in quality control, and I was an inspector. Then I learned a little bit about the buying side of it, handling some local buying, short buys, fill-ins, things like that,” Randy tells me. “Around 1997, I got a call from Mike Agostini, who suggested I move out to North Carolina and join the corporate office.”

Randy always thought of himself as a Texas guy—so the move took some time to sink in.

“I figured I would stay a couple of years, and I stayed 18; 24 years total with Food Lion,” Randy says, smiling to himself.

In 2015, Randy received a call from Cory Oliver, who was with Sprouts at the time, who asked, “Hey, you ready to move home? I have got a spot open in Texas with Sprouts.”

Randy’s response: Let’s do it.

Over Randy’s time with Sprouts, where he began as Senior Manager of Produce Sourcing before assuming the title of Senior Category Manager of Produce, he managed the day-to-day operations that helped to build the company into the amazing and dynamic retail space it has been over the past eight years. In the middle of his stay with Sprouts, he also did his own food brokering and explored new avenues of growth.

While the industry is in his blood, Randy is looking forward to some time on the farm, building his new house with his wife, and catching up with friends and family.

Randy, thank you so much for all you have done for our industry. It is folks like you that keep fresh produce thriving, dynamic, and passionate.

Sprouts Farmers Market