Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders & Supermarket Retail Insights for Independent Grocers

"Nutrition is the gateway drug to spirituality."

In this episode of Grocery Pulse, George Goodwin sits down with holistic health coach Mike Schmidt to discuss the powerful intersection of gut health, identity, and the grocery industry. Mike opens up about his personal journey—battling 10 years of chronic acne and a 16-month period of burnout—and how he used "food as medicine" to transform his life and his business.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Health and Wellness Transformation

02:32 Personal Journeys and Health Challenges

05:17 The Role of Food in Healing

08:10 Consumer Trends in Health and Nutrition

10:58 Understanding Gut Health and Its Importance

13:39 Navigating Grocery Stores for Healthier Choices

16:15 The Impact of Emotional Well-being on Nutrition

19:23 The Science Behind Food Quality

21:50 Kobu: A New Approach to Probiotics

24:38 Final Thoughts on Health and Nutrition

28:27 The Role of Electrolytes and Natural Hydration

29:31 Nutrition for Athletes: The Importance of Clean Fuel

32:06 Japanese Wisdom in Nutrition and Eating Habits

35:54 Lessons from Okinawa: Community and Simple Diets

38:12 The Impact of Food Choices on Health and Economy

41:50 Investing in Health: The Long-Term Benefits of Nutrition

45:50 Consumer Choices and the Food Industry's Response

48:34 Integrity in Food Choices: A Path to Self-Respect

51:31 Listening to Your Body: The Key to Healthy Eating

52:31 Coping Mechanisms and Health Trends

57:29 Listening to Your Body

01:02:18 Holistic Health and Daily Habits

01:04:11 Gratitude and Mindfulness

01:05:09 Future Endeavors and Community Engagement

George and Mike dive deep into:

• The "Why" Behind the Brand: Why passion-led companies (like Goodwin’s Organics and Kōbu) are the most impactful.

• The Gut-Brain Connection: Why 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut and how that affects your daily confidence.

• Navigating the "Grocery Casino": Tips for avoiding "greenwashed" labels and sticking to the nutrient-dense edges of the store.

• The Future of Kōbu: George shares the science behind Kōbu's 33 billion probiotics and the mission to "inspire, encourage, and motivate."

Whether you are a CPG founder, a retail professional, or someone looking to optimize your own health, this conversation offers a raw look at how the food we sell—and eat—shapes who we become.

Connect with Mike Schmidt:

• Website: superfoodsuperhuman.com

• Instagram: @mike_schmidt_

Connect with George Goodwin:

• Kōbu: enjoykobu.com

• LinkedIn: George Goodwin

In this episode, Jake from Nature's Finest shares insights into the journey of running a family-owned health food store, the importance of customer empowerment through education, and the challenges of modernizing operations in a competitive market. He discusses the significance of selecting the right brands to partner with and highlights current trends in health and nutrition. The conversation also includes a product tasting segment, showcasing the importance of customer feedback in product development.

Takeaways

• Jake's family started Nature's Finest in 1982, emphasizing health and nutrition.
• The transition from traditional retail to e-commerce was crucial for the business.
• Customer education is a key aspect of their service.
• Modernizing operations has improved efficiency and customer experience.
• Partnerships with brands should align with the store's values.
• Health trends like gut health and magnesium supplementation are gaining popularity.
• Independent stores can be first to market with innovative products.
• Customer feedback is essential for product development.
• Family businesses thrive on passion and commitment.
• Nature's Finest aims to empower customers to take charge of their health

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Nature's Finest

02:39 The Family Business Journey

05:25 Customer Empowerment and Health Education

08:35 Modernizing Operations and Technology

10:55 Navigating Competition and Brand Selection

13:59 Trends in Health and Nutrition

16:18 Product Tasting and Customer Feedback

18:52 Advice for Family-Owned Businesses

.Keywords

Nature's Finest, health food, family business, supplements, customer empowerment, health education, e-commerce, competition, nutrition trends, product tasting

Guest: Jake Kiviko — Nature’s Finest
🥗 Family-owned health food store founded in 1982📍 Recorded live at the Natural Independent Expo💡 Focus: modernizing independent grocery, customer education, and health-forward retail🥄 Bonus: live product tasting + real customer feedback insights

Sponsor: Kōbu Kombucha Powder
A modern take on kombucha designed for gut health, hydration, and everyday wellness—without the sugar bomb.
✨ Clean, convenient kombucha powder you can take anywhere.🌐 Learn more or try it out: ⁠**www.enjoykobu.com**⁠

Host: George GoodwinInnovar Marketing AgencyHelping grocery, retail, and CPG brands tell better stories, grow community, and launch products with real-world traction — from in-store to digital.

📧 Contact Innovar: ⁠[email protected]

[email protected]⁠🌐 Learn more: ⁠*www.innovaragency.com

In this episode of GroceryPulse, host George Goodwin sits down with Jacqueline Smith, Founder & CEO of E3 Energy Cubes—a Utah-based, woman-owned protein bar brand on a mission to “change the flavor of healthy.” Jacqueline shares how an accountant’s mindset (yes—math) helped her build a better-for-you bar with balanced macros (fats, carbs, protein), clean ingredients, and flavor that actually hits.

You’ll hear how E3 went from a commercial kitchen concept to manufacturing in-house, why the bar is shaped into three shareable cubes, and how Jacqueline landed 2x NBA Champion Norris Cole as an early investor after a wild “I don’t know why I’m here… oh THAT’S why” moment. The conversation also dives into real founder realities: ingredient sourcing, label transparency (including seed oil nuances in dried fruit), the cashflow math of CPG, packaging lessons (why black looked amazing online but disappeared in-store), and what it takes to keep going when you’re exhausted—but the mission is bigger than you.

Chapters
00:00 – Welcome + Jacqueline’s mission to make healthy taste good
01:38 – Why E3 started with math, not “food creativity”
03:22 – Cleaning up a tasty recipe: boosting protein, fiber, and removing extra sugars
04:31 – What E3 Energy Cubes are: 3 squares + 5 flavors
11:07 – How the first flavors were chosen
12:30 – The Norris Cole story: gut instinct → first investor
17:10 – Staying true to the mission (and being transparent about ingredients)
19:12 – “Seed oil-free” nuance + sourcing realities at small scale
23:17 – Natural flavors, propylene glycol, and what founders should watch for
27:18 – Why Jacqueline manufactures in-house (and how she bought machinery early)
29:20 – Expo West 2020 shutdown + surviving COVID as a new CPG brand
30:24 – Packaging pivot: why black film didn’t work in refrigerated sets
32:40 – Biggest sales channels: convenience + Circle K, plus new retail wins
34:10 – The margin squeeze: distributors, freight, demos, and buying power
36:43 – RFPs, comparing quotes, and logistics math that saves real money
38:30 – What “women-owned certified” means (and Jacqueline’s merit-based view)
42:21 – “Burned the ships”: what keeps her motivated
46:23 – Avoiding budget traps: shows, ads, and follow-up systems
49:29 – Online vs retail strategy without undercutting stores
53:46 – Fire chat: joy, favorite flavors, and what’s next in 2026
57:46 – Advice for founders who want to manufacture themselves
1:05:20 – E3 fundraising: raising to prep for major Q1 growth

Guest: Jacqueline Smith — Founder & CEO, E3 Energy Cubes
🌐 Website: E3EnergyCubes.com
🥶 Tip: They’re refrigerated, cube-style, and built for busy everyday people who still care about ingredients.

Sponsor: Kōbu Kombucha Powder
A modern take on kombucha designed for gut health, hydration, and everyday wellness—without the sugar bomb.
✨ Clean, convenient kombucha powder you can take anywhere.
🌐 Learn more or try it out: www.enjoykobu.com

Host: George Goodwin
Innovar Marketing Agency
Helping grocery, retail, and CPG brands tell better stories, grow community, and launch products with real-world traction — from in-store to digital.
📧 Contact Innovar: [email protected]
🌐 Learn more: www.innovaragency.com

In this episode of GroceryPulse, host George Goodwin sits down with Brian Smith, founder of UGG and author of The Birth of a Brand. Brian shares how UGG started from six pairs of sheepskin surf boots and grew into a global, billion-dollar brand — and why that journey had far more struggle than overnight success.

He explains how brand building is less about logos and trademarks, and more about what consumers feel and say about you, how he accidentally created a cult following among young surfers, and why you “can’t give birth to an adult” when it comes to growing a business. From surf culture and snowboarding to hockey moms and keynote stages, Brian unpacks a lifetime of lessons in entrepreneurship, storytelling, and staying authentic.

Chapters:

• 00:00 – The Journey BeginsFrom accountant to surfer to entrepreneur: Brian’s leap from Australia to California in search of “the next big thing.”

• 02:57 – The Birth of UGGSpotting the market gap: why sheepskin surf boots didn’t exist in America and what Brian saw that others didn’t.

• 06:03 – Early Sales Reality CheckFrom “we’re going to be instant millionaires” to selling just 28 pairs in the first season.

• 09:09 – You Can’t Give Birth to an AdultThe “infant → toddler → youth → teenager” framework for business growth.

• 12:12 – Authenticity in MarketingWhy polished beach model ads failed — and how real surfers in real moments changed everything.

• 14:54 – Community & Influencers Before It Was CoolHow early surf influencers helped create a cult around UGGs almost 50 years before “influencer marketing” was a term.

• 17:46 – Emotional Branding & BelongingWhy kids begged their moms for UGGs and how emotion, not logic, drives most purchasing decisions.

• 21:09 – Navigating Entrepreneurial ChallengesFaith, resilience, and the mental game of not quitting when everything looks like it’s failing.

• 24:00 – Product Awareness & EducationTeaching staff and customers what a product does so it stops collecting dust on shelves.

• 26:55 – Lasting Brand StrategyBuilding something that survives trends and fads by focusing on quality, consistency, and availability.

• 32:35 – The Power of Experience in SalesGetting buyers to try the product — and how one store owner trying on a boot changed everything.

• 34:57 – Milestones in Brand BuildingFrom surf shops to ski shops to hockey culture — and finally into major retailers.

• 37:50 – Turning Skepticism into DemandWhen big retailers finally came calling after specialty shops created enough pull.

• 41:53 – Creating Consumer ExperiencesSampling, demos, and why the experience around the product becomes part of the brand.

• 46:12 – Reflections on Selling UGGWhy the joy was in the journey and what it felt like to “walk his daughter down the aisle” and hand UGG off.

• 50:05 – Becoming a Global Keynote SpeakerHow Brian transitioned from founder to storyteller, helping entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls and stay the course.

Brian Smith – Founder of UGG & Keynote Speaker
📚 Book: The Birth of a Brand (available on Amazon)

🌐 Website & Speaking Inquiries: https://briansmithspeaker.com/

If you’re part of a grocery association, CPG founder group, or entrepreneurial organization and want Brian to speak, you can reach out through his website’s contact page.

This episode is sponsored by Kōbu Kombucha Powder — a modern take on kombucha designed for gut health, hydration, and everyday wellness without the sugar bomb.

✨ Clean, convenient, kombucha powder you can take anywhere.
Low sugar, low calorie, and formulated for people who care about how they feel, not just what they drink.

🌐 Learn more or try it out: www.enjoykobu.com

Host: George Goodwin

Innovar Marketing Agency
Helping grocery, retail, and CPG brands tell better stories, grow community, and launch products with real-world traction — from in-store to digital.

📧 Contact Innovar: [email protected]
🌐 Learn more: www.innovaragency.com

In this episode of the GroceryPulse Podcast, host George Goodwin sits down with Walker, founder of The Happy Mushroom Company, for a deep conversation on the future of grocery, functional foods, and building a health-focused CPG brand from the ground up.

Together, they explore how mushrooms are reshaping wellness, why consumers are shifting toward functional nutrition, and what it really takes to launch and scale a natural products brand in today’s competitive grocery landscape. From sourcing and sustainability to consumer education and retailer relationships — this episode is packed with insight for founders, buyers, and anyone passionate about natural health.

Whether you're a grocer, CPG entrepreneur, or just curious about the mushroom revolution, this conversation will open your mind to the powerful connection between nature, health, and modern retail.

00:00 — The Journey into Mushrooms
Walker shares how he discovered the healing power of mushrooms and launched The Happy Mushroom Company.

12:18 — Connecting with Nature & Health
Why reconnecting with nature is becoming the foundation of new consumer wellness trends.

19:36 — Functional Mushrooms & Their Benefits
Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Cordyceps — what they are, how they work, and why people are reaching for them.

26:37 — Quality & Extraction Processes
The difference between real, effective mushroom extracts and the industry shortcuts consumers should avoid.

33:34 — Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility
Regenerative practices, sourcing commitments, and why mushrooms are one of nature’s most sustainable foods.

36:06 — Building a Brand: From Local Roots to Wider Markets
How Walker scaled from local customers to a regional movement — and what CPG founders can learn from his growth.

40:52 — Consumer Education: Navigating the Mushroom Space
How brands can build trust and clarity in a confusing supplement landscape.

46:18 — Health Benefits: Myths & Facts
What mushrooms can ACTUALLY do for immunity, focus, stress, and energy.

52:28 — Personal Insights: Gratitude & Nature
Walker’s personal philosophy and the mindset behind the brand.

54:46 — Future Product Launches
New innovations coming soon from The Happy Mushroom Company.

Website: https://happymushroomco.com/
Email (Customer & Wholesale): [email protected]
Phone: 775-530-1019

The Happy Mushroom Company focuses on high-quality functional mushrooms, sustainable sourcing, transparency, and education — helping people reconnect with nature through clean, powerful wellness products.

GroceryPulse Podcast
Podcast Home: https://grocerypulse.comEpisodes: https://grocerypulse.com/podcastBlog: https://grocerypulse.com/blogYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grocerypulse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grocerypulse

Innovar Marketing Agency
Website: https://www.innovaragency.comMarketing Blog: https://www.enjoykobu.comInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/innovar_marketing_agency/

🔥 Episode Highlights🌱 About The Happy Mushroom Company🔗 Links & Resources

🌱 About The Happy Mushroom Company

Website: https://happymushroomco.comEmail (Customer & Wholesale): [email protected]Phone: 775-530-1019

The Happy Mushroom Company focuses on high-quality functional mushrooms, sustainable sourcing, transparency, and education — helping people reconnect with nature through clean, powerful wellness products.

GroceryPulse PodcastPodcast Home: https://grocerypulse.co

Innovar Marketing AgencyWebsite: https://www.innovaragency.comSponsore: https://www.enjoykobu.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovaragency

Independent grocers and emerging CPGs are rethinking which trade shows actually move the needle. In this GroceryPulse Podcast, host George Goodwin talks with Jeremiah Bogenhagen (President, Positively Natural Network and CEO of Health Essentials) about the Naturally Independent Expo in Palm Springs—why it’s intentionally small, how it maximizes retailer–supplier face time, and the education tracks built for indie retailers (not just brand booths). We cover ROI vs. mega expos, grassroots distribution for new CPGs, and why relationships + education beat slotting fees.

Chapters

00:00 – Cold open: why smaller shows win for ROI
01:18 – Welcome & guest intro (Jeremiah Bogenhagen)
02:22 – Jeremiah’s path from grocery → wellness center operator
06:32 – Leading Positively Natural Network & mission
08:18 – Building supplier–retailer relationships that last
12:42 – What makes the Naturally Independent Expo different
15:37 – Education tracks for indie retailers (beyond product 101)
18:46 – Real talk: connections, ROI, and success stories
22:13 – Community, differentiation, and staff education
25:46 – First-time attendee tips (note-taking + AI, relationship focus)
31:45 – Post-COVID shift: whole-health mindset & community events
34:37 – Biggest threats to independents (online + big-box pricing)
36:58 – Advice to first-time CPG founders (start indie, go grassroots)
39:37 – Panel goals & why regional differences matter
42:58 – Who exhibits? (supplements, better-for-you foods, beverages)
50:42 – Live podcast from the show? Logistics & ideas
52:38 – How to get involved + final takeaways

GroceryPulse Podcast
Podcast Home: https://grocerypulse.com
More Episodes: https://grocerypulse.com/podcast
Blog: https://grocerypulse.com/blog
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grocerypulse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grocerypulse

Innovar Marketing Agency
Website: https://www.innovaragency.com
Blog (Grocery/CPG Marketing): https://www.enjoykobu.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovaragency

Positively Natural Network / Naturally Independent Expo
Website: https://www.positivelynatural.org Positively Natural
Expo Info (Palm Springs • Nov 14–15, 2025): https://www.positivelynatural.org/npp Positively Natural
Trade Show details (hours, setup, contacts): https://www.positivelynatural.org/trade-show Positively Natural
About PNN (“Support • Educate • Advocate”): https://www.positivelynatural.org/our-story Positively Natural
Contact: [email protected] • 360-379-2805 Positively Natural

VRM Media / Vitamin Retailer (Media Partner)
Vitamin Retailer Magazine (VRM Media): https://vitaminretailer.com Vitamin Retailer Magazine
Partnership announcement (PNN × VRM Media): Vitamin Retailer Magazine

About Jeremiah Bogenhagen
PNN Board page (President bio): https://www.positivelynatural.org/membership Positively Natural
Health Essentials (CO) listing: https://www.burlingtoncochamber.com/business-directory/ (search Health Essentials Inc.) Burlington Chamber of Commerce

In this episode of the GroceryPulse Podcast, host George Goodwin sits down with Kevin Kelley, Co-Founder of Shook Kelley, to explore the future of grocery through the lens of emotional science, design, and human connection.

They uncover how smell, sensory engagement, and behavior architecture influence consumer decision-making — and why successful grocers are moving beyond convenience to create meaningful, community-driven experiences.

From emotional shopping habits to the psychology of retail design, this conversation reveals how grocery stores can evolve into spaces that inspire loyalty, belonging, and purpose.

🎙️ Hosted by: George Goodwin — 4th-Generation Grocer & Founder of Innovar Agency
🎧 Guest: Kevin Kelley — Retail Design Expert & Co-Founder of Shook Kelley

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Grocery Podcasting and Community Impact

02:46 The Importance of Local Grocery Stores

05:29 Consumer Behavior and Emotional Shopping

08:08 The Role of Community in Retail

10:47 The Evolution of Retail Design

13:26 The Need for Human Connection

16:23 Understanding Consumer Experience

18:47 The Power of Sensory Engagement

22:03 Behavior Architecture in Retail

24:11 Creating Meaningful Retail Experiences

27:03 The Future of Grocery Stores

29:47 Final Thoughts and Advice for Grocers

Takeaways

• Grocery stores serve as community hubs, providing more than just products.
• Emotional connections drive consumer purchasing decisions.
• Local grocery stores are vital for community engagement and support.
• Designing retail spaces should focus on enhancing human interaction.
• Sensory experiences, especially smell, play a crucial role in shopping.
• Consumers are seeking meaningful experiences over mere convenience.
• The future of retail lies in creating spaces that foster connection.
• Understanding consumer behavior is key to successful retail design.
• Community events can enhance customer loyalty and engagement.
• Retailers must adapt to the changing landscape of consumer expectations.

Key Words and Topics:

future of grocery, grocery podcast, george goodwin, kevin kelley, shook kelley, grocery design, sensory retail, emotional shopping, consumer behavior, behavior architecture, human connection, retail innovation, grocery trends 2025, local grocery stores, sensory engagement, retail design psychology, meaningful experiences, grocery community

Sponsor:

⁠https://www.enjoykobu.com⁠

🔗 Links & Resources🎙️ GroceryPulse Podcast

• Podcast Home: https://grocerypulse.com

• Listen to More Episodes: https://grocerypulse.com/podcast

• Read the GroceryPulse Blog: https://grocerypulse.com/blog

• Watch All Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grocerypulse

• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innvoarrocerypulse

• Website: https://www.innovaragency.com

• About Kevin Kelley: https://www.kevinervinkelley.com/about

• Shook Kelley Official Website: https://www.shookkelley.com

• Shook Kelley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shookkelley

Independent and regional grocers don’t just need impressions—they need measurable lift. In this episode of GroceryPulse, host George Goodwin (4th-gen grocer & founder of Innovar Marketing) sits down with Steve Dietch, Chief Revenue Officer at Bridg and retail-media network Rippl, to unpack how identity resolution and POS-level purchase data are changing the game for regional chains and C-stores.

Bridg / Rippl helps retailers identify unknown shoppers (beyond loyalty programs), unify first-party data, and then activate audiences across the open web, video, and CTV—with closed-loop measurement back to the register. For CPGs, that means scalable, hard-to-reach audiences at regional grocers and convenience—plus transparent IROAS (incremental return on ad spend).

• How identity beyond loyalty unlocks true scale for regional grocers

• Why POS item-level data is the “crown jewel” for targeting & measurement

• How Rippl aggregates retailers into a national-scale network for CPG spend

• Practical ways CPGs use these audiences for off-site media (Google, Yahoo, TTD, CTV)

• What metrics matter most (closed-loop transparency & incremental ROAS)

When every campaign targets real purchasers—and reports back to POS—you move from “awareness” to accountable revenue.

00:00 — Intro to GroceryPulse + guest setup
03:03 — Steve’s journey: UCR track → global tech → startups → CRO at Bridg
05:56 — Retail media’s rise & why it matters to grocers/CPGs
08:51 — Identity beyond loyalty: closing the “unknown shopper” gap
12:01 — Using purchase data for competitive advantage
14:51 — Building a retail-media network for regional grocers & C-stores (Ripple)
17:47 — Connecting transactions to anonymized, enriched shopper profiles
20:49 — What this unlocks for CPG targeting, activation & measurement
24:29 — Defining customer personas with real purchase behavior
26:03 — Retailer & CPG pain points—and how identity solves them
29:27 — POS data as the crown jewel: targeting + closed-loop proof
32:08 — Bridging the retail marketing gap beyond loyalty programs
34:06 — Getting precise with ICPs (who, where, how to reach)
38:54 — Common hesitations & easy on-ramps for retailers/CPGs
41:22 — Success metrics: sales lift, ROAS, incremental ROAS
44:02 — What’s next: growth, scale, and transparency in 2025

• Bridg / Rippl: Audience building, activation, and POS-based measurement

• Request a demo (Rippl ): https://www.ripplnetwork.com/

• Learn more (Bridge): https://www.bridg.com/

• Will be published on all major boradcasting sites:

  YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more!

• Steve Dietch — LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevendietch/

  [email protected]

• George Goodwin — LinkedIn

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/number-one-marketer/

  [email protected]

  [email protected]

• Innovar Marketing Agency — www.innovaragency.com/blog

Local grocers don’t need another “awareness-only” social tactic—they need sales. On this episode of GroceryPulse, host George Goodwin (4th-gen grocer & founder of Innovar Marketing) sits down with Oskar Wahlbäck, founder & CEO of Commentsell, to explore how European-style “reserve in comments” deals are transforming social media into a true sales channel.

Already powering 250+ stores in Sweden and Denmark—with 85,000+ campaigns and $170M in retailer revenue—Commentsell automates bookable discounts so that every Facebook/Instagram post can turn into guaranteed store traffic. Early U.S. pilots show 20–30% revenue lifts, proving this isn’t just a trend—it’s a powerful way for independents and small chains to compete.

You’ll hear:

• How “comment-to-reserve” campaigns create viral loops and measurable sales.

• Real examples, from strawberry surpluses to $60K+ energy drink drops.

• Why automation (not just marketing) solves the biggest pain for retailers.

• What U.S. grocers can learn from European retail culture.

📈 Key takeaway: Every comment can become a customer—and every social post a sales channel.

.00:00 Introduction to CometSelf and Swedish Innovations

03:01 The Birth of CometSelf: Oskar's Journey

06:01 Understanding Bookable Discounts and Their Impact

09:02 Driving Engagement Through Bookable Campaigns

12:10 Success Stories: Real-World Impact of CometSelf

15:00 Cost Efficiency and Marketing Strategies for Retailers

18:06 Automation and Efficiency in Grocery Marketing

20:58 The Importance of Customer Interaction and Personalization

23:52 Leveraging Social Media Algorithms for Retail Success

27:01 Future of Grocery Marketing: Trends and Innovations

30:54 Cultural Insights: Happiness in Sweden

34:45 Innovation and Education: The Swedish Approach

37:39 Grocery Retail: Comparing Sweden and the US

41:46 Expanding into the US Market

50:34 Sustainability and Waste Reduction in Retail

57:50 Innovative Sales Strategies in Grocery

59:53 Regional Differences in Grocery Experiences

01:03:06 The Power of Pre-Selling and Promotions

01:05:58 Exploring Other Retail Opportunities

01:08:58 Engagement and Trends in Social Media for Grocers

01:12:00 Cultural Insights and Personal Reflections

Key Takeaways (with helpful links)

• Bookable discounts turn engagement into guaranteed foot traffic.
  → Demo & case studies: https://commentsell.com

• Operational ease is the unlock. Automation beats after-hours comment wrangling.

• Start with perishable and vendor-backed deals. Build momentum, then scale daily.

• Measure comments → reservations → pickups → basket lift. Treat it like a sales pipeline, not “just social.”

• 🎧 Listen to GroceryPulse

  • YouTube

  • Spotify

  • Apple Podcasts

• 🤝 Connect with the Guests

  • Oskar Wahlbäck on LinkedIn

    [email protected]

  • George Goodwin on LinkedIn

    [email protected]

    [email protected]

• 🌐 Book a Demo with Commentsell → commentsell.com

• • 🌐 Explore Innovar Marketing Agency → innovaragency.com
  • 🌐 Blog - Turnning Social Media Comments into sales

In this episode of the GroceryPulse Podcast, host George Goodwin sits down with Ron Fong, President & CEO of the California Grocers Association (CGA), for an insightful conversation on leadership, advocacy, and the future of grocery.Ron shares his personal journey from growing up in his family’s grocery store to becoming one of the most influential voices for California’s grocery industry. Together, George and Ron explore:- The importance of independent grocers as community anchors- How COVID-19 highlighted grocery stores as essential hubs- The role of legislation and advocacy in shaping grocery operations- California’s influence as a “crystal ball” for future laws nationwide- Why compromise is crucial in the legislative process- Opportunities for technology and innovation in retail- Recruiting and educating the next generation of grocersRon also shares humorous stories from his early days in grocery and sheds light on the challenges—and opportunities—that define today’s grocery industry.👉 Whether you’re a grocer, CPG brand, or industry professional, this episode offers real-world insights on policy, leadership, and growth.📌 Chapters00:00 – Introduction to Ron Fong and CGA01:31 – Growing Up in the Grocery Business04:15 – From Grocer to Lobbyist: A Career Journey10:23 – Experiences and Changes in the California Legislature16:35 – The Importance of People in Business22:32 – Grocery Stores as Community Hubs30:54 – Understanding Lobbying and CGA's Role33:32 – Wacky Laws and Legislative Challenges34:51 – The Evolution of Environmental Legislation43:08 – California's Influence on National Legislation51:11 – Balancing Interests: Chains vs. Independents56:07 – The Future of Grocery: Education and Innovation🔗

Links & ResourcesCalifornia Grocers Association (CGA) –

Website: https://www.cagrocers.comContact CGA: https://www.cagrocers.com/about/contact-us/

Phone: (916) 448-3545

California Grocers Association | Gather California 2025September 21 – September 23, 2025

The Westin Rancho Mirage Resort

Podcast Home: https://grocerypulse.comListen to more episodes: https://grocerypulse.com/podcastRead the GroceryPulse

Blog: https://grocerypulse.com/blog

Watch all episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grocerypulseInnovar Marketing Agency – Blog (grocery/CPG marketing insights):

https://www.enjoykobu.com 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of retail & grocery.