Lez Barlow has been voted Tesco’s UK produce manager of the year.
Barlow manages the section at the retailer’s Wadebridge store - one of its most seasonally driven in the whole of the UK. He won the award for his skill in predicting weather-related sales and making sure the store is always well stocked, Tesco said.
Nearly half the Cornish store’s trade is driven by holidaymakers, whose shopping habits are notoriously governed by the weather. Barlow’s award has also been based on feedback from happy customers.
He said: “Wadebridge is a holiday town and our sales can rise by as much as 150 per cent during the summer but with our changeable weather the items that shoppers want can change drastically.
“In my area, that means having to change what’s out on the floor very quickly from lighter salad type foods to heavier root vegetables.
“We use a unique system that combines weather data and customer behaviour over the last five years to produce pinpoint accurate predictions for demand in stores across the UK. “
At head office, Tesco said Barlow was recognised for demonstrating a passion and enthusiasm for the job that he passes on to his colleagues to ensure that customers get a great service. Barlow also organises an annual charity football tournament for all Tesco stores in Devon and Cornwall.
