AnaMaria Friede, originally from Bogota, Colombia, brings a rich cultural background to her dynamic career in the retail industry. Raised in Colombia, she developed a deep appreciation for diverse cuisines, landscapes, and traditions, often sharing meals and stories with family and friends.
AnaMaria’s retail career began at Tops Markets and Giant Foods where she actively engaged in projects related to Retail Operations and Category Management. In 2004, she joined Whole Foods Market where her expertise and passion for sourcing ethically, “better for you” and sustainable products have fueled her growth.
Currently, AnaMaria holds the position of Executive Leader/Director Grocery, leading the purchasing strategy for the Baking and Meals categories, driving organizational change initiatives, and advancing quality standards. In her role, she fosters supplier partnerships to elevate assortment and advance sourcing practices. She has launched a new Household Cleaning standard, which bans +140 ingredients and recently led the roll out of a new sourcing standard for the tinned seafood program to ensure it is “sustainable wild-caught” or “Responsibly Farmed.”
AnaMaria is a one-time Whole Foods Market Global All Star and a one-time Regional All Star.
Outside of work, AnaMaria is an enthusiastic cook, and avid explorer of global cuisines.
