Stakeholder Spotlight: Max Maddaus

Customers from any number of Kowalski's Markets may recognize Max Maddaus, the company's current Produce Director. He's also the leader behind Kowalski's Minnesota Grown efforts, a program that's won the statewide Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year contest four years running! Max is closing in on 20 years with the company, where he began his career as a produce clerk. In between then and now, he's held leadership roles in both the Produce Department and Store Management at the Lyndale, Grand, Eden Prairie, Hennepin and Excelsior markets.

Of his return to his produce roots, Max says:

"What I liked about going back to produce was the ability to really impact the overall structure of a single department in our markets. Put my stamp on it."

Changing things up interests Max, too. "Whether it's a job or anything else in my life, I despise monotony. That's why I've always loved working in produce. It's never the same season year to year. The variability keeps my interest. As soon as you are getting sick of citrus, it's soft fruit season and you are reinvigorated. And there are so many different tasks in the department, from inspecting berries to stacking pears; setting each section requires different finesse."

Max is also deeply interested in people and credits his mentors and leadership at Kowalski's for giving him what he calls "latitude with guidance," which has allowed him the opportunity to learn and grow at every step of his career.

"It's all about the people you work for and the people you work with. The relationships you hold with people are arguably the most important things in your life, whether it's your family or anyone you work with."

For Max, this includes local farmers, particularly Jerry Untiedt. "He's someone I hold in extremely high regard," says Max, "both professionally and personally. His farm isn't just his business. It's his family name and heritage."

As a people person, it's no surprise Max doesn't relish his time behind a desk or conference table.

"My favorite part of my job right now is when I am in the stores with the Produce Managers and their teams, or when I am out in a field with the people that grow our product, seeing it grown. There is no better experience than that."

Max also cares deeply about relationships with his customers, relationships that extend far beyond the sales floor.

"For me, it's always about what the customer experiences at home, especially if they can't buy the same fun, new or different products at another store. But even if they can get it somewhere else and ours is better because of how we handle it…that's the best."

Ensuring that his customers have the best possible at-home experience with our fresh produce starts with what Max buys and from whom.

"We buy the highest grade available for all our products. We don't have the same size specs as other markets. Plus, we have the ability to get up to 22 deliveries a week at each store. We don't hold anything in the back rooms. Everything on the sales floor is inspected or replenished every single day."