Why Food Safety Is No Longer a Department: Ann Visser-Depp on Her Journey to Advising Top Retailers on Compliance Strategy and Supply Chain Accountability

Behind every compliant supplier file and traceable product movement is a disciplined system—and a leader ensuring it works.In this episode of Candid with Candidates, Jennifer Hahn speaks with Ann Visser-Depp, Food Industry Leader and Partner at ReposiTrak, about a professional journey that spans hospitality, accounting, procurement, executive leadership, and now food safety and compliance strategy across the grocery supply chain.Ann reflects on her unconventional path from high school cashier to vice president, and ultimately to the vendor side of the industry. Rather than following a linear trajectory, her growth was shaped by curiosity, mentorship, operational rigor, and a willingness to pursue opportunity over title.Jenn and Ann explore several critical themes relevant to today’s retail and wholesale leaders:The strategic value of early career experiences in hospitality and operationsThe importance of securing entry into an organization and building credibility from withinHow internal reputation and cross-functional visibility influence promotion decisionsWhy food safety must be treated as an enterprise-wide discipline, not a siloed functionThe cultural role executive leadership plays in establishing accountability around complianceLessons in leadership development, including the need to slow down, ask better questions, and create space for dialoguePractical advice for candidates on preparation, strategic thinking, and professional follow-upAnn also provides thoughtful insight into the growing complexity of regulatory environments, including traceability and supply chain compliance. She emphasizes that food safety is not merely a regulatory requirement, but a foundational business responsibility that affects procurement, operations, information technology, merchandising, and executive leadership alike.For professionals seeking advancement, this episode offers clear guidance: understand how the business makes money, think beyond task execution, prepare rigorously, and demonstrate alignment with organizational culture and purpose.Whether you are an emerging leader, an executive navigating cross-functional complexity, or a candidate preparing for your next opportunity, this episode is for you.🎧Listen now to gain practical insight into building influence, leading with intention, and positioning yourself for long-term impact in the grocery industry.Guest Links:Connect with Ann Visser-Depp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-visser-depp-633b39163/ Explore ReposiTrak: http://www.repositrak.com Next Steps:Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in retail.For more behind-the-scenes stories and career advice follow Jenn on LinkedIn