Sometimes the best things in life happen when plans take an unexpected turn. Just ask Steven Maynard, who went from preparing for a career in pharmacy to finding both a profession he loves and the woman he would eventually marry — all through Food City.

Maynard, a meat manager at Food City, never intended to spend his career behind the meat counter. Originally from Crossville, he moved to Knoxville in 2006 to attend the University of Tennessee.

A certified pharmacy technician, Maynard was looking for work in his chosen field when an opportunity came along in an entirely different department.

He knew someone leaving a position in a Food City meat department, and in 2010, Maynard took the job with every intention of eventually transferring into the pharmacy.

But something unexpected happened.

He discovered he loved the work.

The temporary job became a career, and more than 15 years later, Maynard is still doing what he enjoys.

A cut above the ordinary

Ask Maynard what keeps him enthusiastic about his work, and he doesn’t hesitate.

It’s the customers.

Especially during the holidays, when the meat department becomes an important stop for families planning special meals and celebrations.

Maynard enjoys preparing a beautiful prime rib roast or tying a tenderloin for a customer, knowing that his work will become part of someone’s holiday table.

Seeing a customer’s face light up when receiving that carefully prepared selection makes the effort worthwhile.

Behind the counter, however, there’s much more to his job than cutting meat.

As meat manager, Maynard oversees ordering, staffing, scheduling, product dates and keeping the display cases stocked and ready for customers.

It’s a demanding job that requires attention to detail, teamwork and a commitment to quality.

Maynard also sees his responsibility as helping the store’s leadership by handling as much as possible within his department.

And he’s quick to give credit to the people working alongside him.

“I would just want them to know that we’ve got a lot of people back here that take a lot of pride in what we do,” Maynard said. “And we work really hard to put the best things out that we can for them.”

The butcher’s choice

Of course, there’s one question almost everyone wants to ask someone who works with meat every day.

What’s your favorite steak?

For Maynard, it’s the New York strip.

While many steak lovers favor a ribeye, Maynard believes a properly prepared New York strip can be just as tender without being quite as rich.

A ribeye’s marbling provides plenty of flavor, he explained, but the New York strip offers a balance of tenderness and flavor that makes it his personal favorite.

And when he’s not working or preparing a good steak, Maynard enjoys playing disc golf, a hobby that gives him a chance to unwind away from the busy grocery store.

A Food City love story

Perhaps the most unexpected part of Maynard’s Food City journey has nothing to do with meat or groceries.

It’s where he met his wife.

She also works for Food City and is now a store manager at the Middlebrook location.

The two first met at the store where Maynard began his career near the University of Tennessee. She was already working in management when he arrived.

Over the years, both moved to different Food City locations, and their paths went in different directions.

But their story wasn’t finished.

A few years later, they reconnected. Eventually, that renewed friendship became a marriage.

They married just a few years ago, giving Maynard another reason to appreciate the company where he first took what he thought would be a temporary job.

Most of his extended family still lives in Crossville, but Knoxville has become home.

More than a job

Looking back, Maynard’s story is a reminder that careers don’t always follow the plans we make.

A young man who came to Knoxville for college and trained for a pharmacy career found his calling in a grocery store meat department.

Along the way, he discovered the satisfaction of working with his hands, serving customers and being part of a team that takes pride in its work.

And somewhere between the meat counter, store transfers and the everyday routines of grocery life, he found love.

The next time you stop by the Food City meat department, remember Steven Maynard and the people working behind the counter.

They’re not just preparing steaks and roasts. They’re helping families create meals, celebrations and memories.

And sometimes, they’re creating a few unexpected memories of their own.

Behind the Aisle is a KnoxTNToday series introducing the people who serve our communities through Food City. Beyond the shelves, registers and departments are neighbors with stories worth sharing.

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