Kenneth Simas, 39

Director of Produce Procurement, East Coast, Chef’s Warehouse, Ridgefield, CT

June 12, 2026 | 3 min to read

SHORT BIO

Hometown: Providence, RI
Hobbies: Coaching flag football
Family/Community: Married, 2 children
Motto in life: Do Not Be the Reason.

Simas is known as a wealth of knowledge who goes above and beyond to keep customers and coworkers aware of changes in quality or selection. Throughout his tenure, he has demonstrated excellence in procurement, resulting in great selection and pricing for his company.

He started in the business 22 years ago at 16, working at Stop & Shop as a “cart coraller.” Within six months, he moved to cashier, and then into the produce department. He spent two years working in produce and finishing high school before he was promoted to full-time produce clerk. Soon after that promotion, he became assistant produce manager. He was then promoted to produce manager and held that position for about two years.

In 2013, he was recruited by Sid Wainer and Son to work as a produce buyer. Over the last 10 years at Sid Wainer/Chef’s Warehouse, he has been promoted three times in 2017, in 2019, and again in 2025.
In 2025, he moved into his current position, where he is responsible for all day-to-day produce purchasing activities on the East Coast, vendor partnerships, and overall profitability in the category. Additionally, seven buyers report to him. He currently helps support the sales team at Chef’s Warehouse, helping to expand the company’s produce across five warehouses in the East.

Q: What do you wish you knew when you first started your career?

I wish I knew all the produce lingo. We use such interesting terms in this business: spuds, pots, TOV, grass. It has been fun learning it all.

Q: What is the one thing in produce that you are most passionate about?

Relationships and treating people like people. This is a relationship business, and we have come a long way as an industry and as buyers in not yelling and berating one another on the phone for OOS or late trucks. Lots of work still to do, but we are getting there.

Q: What accomplishments are you most proud of in your career?

My team. I am very proud of my team and the development and accomplishments we have been through over the years. Being able to have the longevity that we have had together has been awesome.

Q: What do you think drives growth the most in the industry?

Curiosity and healthy eating.

Q: Where do you think growth happens the most?

At all levels. I know it sounds cliché, but in this business, we all have to be in sync, or it just does not work. OPS needs to make sure we deliver on time with a great product, procurement needs to make sure we purchase it correctly and turn it in a timely fashion, sales needs to have the customer base to move the product and keep customers happy and coming back, and marketing needs to put the icing on the cake and make it all come together.

Q: What are some trends you think fuel consumers to purchase more produce?

Social media trends have been a huge piece of being able to capture different generations for buying produce. All the different videos about the industry keep things interesting. Also, produce is a relationship business, and the longer these produce companies are around and continue to provide a great service, the customer base will follow that reputation and service.