MEDFORD, NJ - Jay Schneider has come full circle. He tells me this as he and I discuss his return to Albertsons over an early morning phone call in February. What a beautiful journey to understand the business holistically. So much has changed for him, and his breadth and depth of knowledge and wisdom sit like a warm blanket around our conversation. Rejoining Albertsons as Produce Sales Manager, Acme/Safeway Mid-Atlantic Region, Jay has seen much of the landscape change, but one thing remains the same.

"Our industry was built on handshakes, personal conversations, and close interactions. They became the glue that held us together in the tough times and what we celebrated in the wins,” Jay tells me. “I am so excited to be back at Albertsons Companies. While I will be back in a similar role I held when I was last with the company, so much has changed, from the growth of the business to the new faces who are helping to change the way we manage produce.”

Jay’s produce journey began on the night crew at ACME Markets in the mid-1980s, where a part-time job quickly became a lifelong calling. He rose through roles including Produce Manager, Field Buying Inspector, Produce and Floral Operations Specialist, and Assistant Sales Director before serving as Produce Director and later Director of Merchandising for Albertsons. 

Jay took a new path in 2021, expanding his leadership across the industry, heading buying at Gorillas, leading East Coast sales at Pacific Trellis Fruit, and serving in executive sales roles at F&S Fresh Foods and Consalo Family Farms, before returning to Albertsons in December 2025, bringing four decades of fresh perspective full circle.

Jay, we are so excited to welcome you back to your role, and we look forward to all the wisdom you will continue to impart!