From Nashville Business Journal — May 26, 2015
The Turnip Truck, Nashville’s homegrown natural and organic grocer, has beefed up its leadership team as it looks to open a new store in East Nashville.
The company has hired two C-suite level executives to help manage the company’s growth, according to a press release. Last year, Turnip Truck announced that it had plans to build a new 12,000-square-foot grocery store in East Nashville, complete with a hydroponic roof garden to grow its own produce.
The company has hired Kim Totzke as chief operating officer and Adam Williams as chief financial officer. Previously, Totzke and Williams worked together for seven years at Provence Breads & Café.
“Kim and Adam bring a depth of food industry leadership experience, paired with a passion for delivering high-quality, natural, local products to the communities we serve,” said John Dyke, in the release. “They are a dynamic addition to our company, and I’m thrilled to have them join us.”
Excerpts from the release are below:
With a prolific background in the food business, Totzke most recently served as Chief Operating Officer at Provence, where she worked for seven years. Prior to Provence, Totzke was noted for culinary excellence and named “Best Chef in Nashville” by the Nashville Scene. Kim has held positions in and out of the kitchen at a diverse array of Nashville’s most acclaimed establishments, including Deb Paquette’s Cakewalk, the Belle Meade Brasserie, The Bound’ry, Bongo Java and Fido. She served as executive chef of The Yellow Porch and creative director of food and wine for multiple restaurants under its umbrella. Kim is a board member of the Nashville State Community College Foundation and has served on the board of Nashville Originals. She is past-chair of the Hillsboro Village Merchants Association.
“As a longtime East Nashvillian, I have been a Turnip Truck customer since John first opened the store 14 years ago,” Totzke said. “Whether shopping for my restaurants or my family, I have always been in search of the highest quality local ingredients, and the Turnip Truck consistently hits the mark. Professionally, I was looking for my next challenge, and I’m delighted to have found it here.”
Williams was CFO at Provence, where he worked for 10.5 years before joining the Turnip Truck staff. A Nashville native, he held a variety of positions at the noted bread company, from baking to executive leadership. With a passion for homegrown and locally crafted food and drink, he spends his free time brewing craft beer and tending his own organic garden. Williams credits his mother, one of the area’s organic gardening pioneers, with planting the seed that led him to this position today.
“I enjoy the process of making things – from baking to brewing all the way to building a successful company,” Williams said. “To be tasked with keeping The Turnip Truck fiscally stable so John can work on growing his vision – it’s such a wonderful opportunity.”
With the new East Nashville store slated to open in the fall, Dyke said he looks forward to continued success under the leadership of his newly expanded team.
“Kim and Adam are passionate, inspired and inspiring,” Dyke said. “To have individuals of their caliber tasked with keeping the Turnip Truck successful and forward-moving is a great benefit to everyone involved with our company.”