Shelf Confidence

The Pennsylvania Lottery is approaching its 55th anniversary, and the games, players, and retail landscape continue to evolve. In this episode of Shelf Confidence, Drew Svitko and Eric Grubbs return to talk about what’s new, including Cash Pop, Millionaire for Life, and updates from the Retailer Incentive Program. We also discuss how player habits are changing, what successful Lottery retailers ar...

Loss prevention is not just about what happens after something goes wrong. It is about helping businesses identify risks, strengthen procedures and prevent losses before they happen.  In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we talk with Angel Ross, Commercial Insurance Advisor at PFMA Member Spotts Insurance, about loss prevention through the lens of risk management. The conversation explores how foo...

Sales and use tax can be complicated, especially for food and beverage businesses operating in Pennsylvania. From equipment and supplies to invoices, purchases and changing business needs, small mistakes can add up over time.  In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we sit down with Corey Deibler, President of PFMA Member #KeyTax, and Michael Schuenemann, VP of Partnerships & Market Expansion at...

Retail technology is moving quickly, but for many small and mid-sized operators, the challenge is not chasing every new tool. It is knowing what actually makes sense for their stores, their teams, and their customers.  In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we sit down with Farrell McKenna, President of PFMA Member Ravyx, to talk about how food and beverage retailers can think more clearly about mod...

Recycling is part of daily life for food and beverage businesses, but building a program that actually works can be easier said than done. In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we sit down with Doug Moderick, Senior Account Executive at PFMA Member Gateway Recycling, to talk about commercial recycling, sustainability, common challenges, and practical ways businesses can manage materials more effect...

On this episode of Shelf Confidence, we talk with PFMA Member Vintage Imports about the changing beverage industry in Pennsylvania. Guests Michael Hodges, Dan Johnson and Trevor Nare join the show to discuss how wine, spirits and specialty beverages move through the wholesale and retail landscape, and what makes a strong wine program work. The conversation also looks at emerging beverage trends, i...

Human trafficking is a serious issue that can happen in plain sight, making awareness and training critical for industries that interact with the public every day. In this episode of Shelf Confidence, PFMA is joined by Philadelphia City Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad; Marisa Balanda, Deputy Policy Director at PennDOT; and Laura Cyrus, Senior Director of Industry Training and Outreach at TAT, for a c...

Access to food is about more than supply. It is about logistics, reliability, and meeting people where they are. In this episode of Shelf Confidence , the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association sits down with Daniel Riff, Head of Government and Nonprofit Operations at PFMA member DoorDash, and Stuart I.R. Haniff, Executive Director of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania, to discuss Project DASH and the expa...

Agentic AI is moving from concept to real-world operations in retail. In this episode of Shelf Confidence , the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association sits down with Mike Sanders, Chief Executive Officer of PFMA member Upshop, to break down what agentic AI actually means for day-to-day operations in the Food and Beverage Industry. The conversation explores how autonomous and semi-autonomous AI to...

Energy is one of the most critical inputs in the Food and Beverage Industry, yet it is often one of the least understood. In this episode of Shelf Confidence , the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association sits down with Cheryl Hefft, Senior Manager at PFMA member World Kinect, and Jude Clemente, Energy Price Risk Manager, to discuss how operators can approach energy and fuel decisions more strategi...

Employee benefits and insurance decisions can feel complex, especially in the Food and Beverage Industry where margins are tight and workforces are diverse. In this episode of Shelf Confidence , the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association sits down with Robert Stoudt, Employee Benefits Consultant at PFMA member Assured Partners, to break down how food and beverage employers can approach benefits s...

Food insecurity and food waste often exist side by side — and the Food and Beverage Industry sits at the center of both challenges. In this episode of Shelf Confidence , the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association sits down with Evan Ehlers, Founder and Executive Director of PFMA member Sharing Excess, to explore how surplus food can move quickly and efficiently to communities that need it most. E...

Sustainability and energy innovation are becoming increasingly important for food and beverage businesses across Pennsylvania. In this episode of Shelf Confidence , the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association sits down with Luca Pandolfi, Founder of PFMA member Woodland Biomass Innovations, to explore how renewable fuels and forest-based solutions could intersect with the Food and Beverage Industr...

In this episode of Shelf Confidence , the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association sits down with Ray Sheehan, Founder of PFMA member Old City Media, to explore how experiential marketing helps brands connect directly with consumers in meaningful, measurable ways. Ray shares how Old City Media grew into a national experiential marketing partner, working with retailers and brands to create in-store...

Food insecurity touches every corner of Pennsylvania, and addressing it requires strong coordination across the entire food system. In the Season 9 premiere of Shelf Confidence , we’re joined by Feeding Pennsylvania, the statewide network of food banks serving all 67 counties across the Commonwealth. Julie Bancroft, Chief Executive Officer, and Ryan Prater, Director of Public Policy, join the conv...

In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we dive into the evolving world of workforce development in the convenience store industry. Join Jeff Kahler, CEO & President of Ready Training Online (RTO), Paul Rankin, Vice President of Retail Marketing at Country Fair, and Steve Seymor, Director of Personal, at Country Fair.  As they share how their organizations teamed up to elevate training for frontl...

In this special episode of Shelf Confidence, we're joined by William Brock, President and CEO of Straub Brewery, one of the oldest and most iconic breweries in the country. With over 150 years of brewing history in the heart of Pennsylvania, Straub has remained proudly independent, family-owned, and deeply connected to its community.  We’ll dive into the legacy of the brewery, the unique chal...

Wholesalers are the backbone of the food and beverage industry, yet most consumers rarely think about how products move from manufacturers to store shelves. In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we talk with Michael Gould, President of Scranton OpCo at Core-Mark, one of the largest and most established wholesale distributors in North America.  Michael shares how Core-Mark has adapted through more t...

The Pennsylvania Lottery is a familiar presence in convenience stores and supermarkets across the state—but there’s more happening behind the counter than most customers realize. In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we’re joined by Executive Director Drew Svitko and Deputy Executive Director of Sales & Retail Operations Eric Grubbs to talk about how the Lottery works with retailers, what’s cha...

In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we’re joined by three principals from Baker Tilly: Jeffrey Vrabel, Michael Milani, and Dave DuVarney. Together, they bring decades of experience across commercial strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and digital transformation.  We explore how middle market businesses—especially in the food and beverage space—are navigating growth, innovation, and change. From u...

In today’s digital world, cyber threats are more advanced than ever—and no business is immune. In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we sit down with CBIZ, a leading provider of business advisory, tax, and risk management solutions, to explore how companies can protect themselves against cybercrime. From ransomware attacks to data breaches, businesses of all sizes face growing risks in an increasin...

In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we sit down with Reza Mahmoodi, CEO and co-founder of LottoShield—a game-changing lottery management platform designed by retailers, for retailers. Reza shares how his experience running gas stations led to the idea behind LottoShield, and how the company is now helping thousands of stores across the U.S. automate inventory, prevent theft, and simplify lottery...

In this episode of Shelf Confidence, we explore GIANT’s workforce development partnership with Central Penn College. Now in its 5th year and 6th cohort, this custom 5-week, 18-credit program is equipping GIANT’s managers with the skills to lead. We’re joined by Curtis Voelker (Central Penn), Dr. Jack Babinchak (Instructor), Anthony Amadure (GIANT), and a program alum to discuss the program’s impac...

In this episode of Shelf Confidence, Mitch Goldstein, Director of Sales & Customer Success at Skyhawk, discusses how electronic remote monitoring is transforming food production. Learn about the industry's biggest challenges, the power of real-time data, and the future of IoT in ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency. Tune in for insights at the intersection of technology and food sa...

Jacob Long, Business Manager at MarketSquare Tech, joins Shelf Confidence to discuss how the DeliLabel app is streamlining food labeling processes. Learn how innovative solutions inspired by real-world challenges are helping businesses improve efficiency, reduce waste, and stay compliant.  #ShelfConfidence #PFMAPodcast #FoodLabeling #TechInnovation #RetailSolutions #EfficiencyMatters #DeliLabel #M...