This Commerce Life

A tech guy and a forensic accountant decide to make fresh cooked dog food. We talk to Co-founders Peter Zakarow and Kristin Matthews about Tom & Sawyer, the pet industry, pet food standards (or lackthereof)   Sign up for a subscription to Tom & Sawyer here: https://tomandsawyer.com/ Contact Peter here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterzakarow/ Contact Kristin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris...

When Kenny reads his stuff now, he likes it. Jared Kilgerman is a smart guy that will talk to you about your business without pitching you. Founder, Agency guy, he's gonna tell you the way it is.     Find Jared here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredkligerman/ Jared runs : https://tttmrktg.com/   Find Matt LeBeau here: https://www.lebeauexcel.com/?utm_source=TCL&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=pdc...

She's not a baker. She's an entrepreneur. Jenna Ross and her Co-Founder saw a need and decided to jump in. As tourist season arrives in the Maritimes, you'll find her lighthouse shaped shortbread cookies all over Nova Scotia.   You can find Jenna here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjennapoirierross/ Shop for cookies here: https://nscookieco.com/   shop for our favorite tea here: https://oldgrowthbe...

This team of students  built a brand that supplies food banks and schools with fruit snaps. In the process, they won the Canadian Nationals, placed in the world finals. And..while they're not winning, they sell apple juice to grocery stores and markets.   If you're looking for talented people, the two entrepreneurs/students that were on the podcast were: MacKenna Lenarcic: https://www.linkedin.com...

"What the hell does Scott do?" A few firsts. First time caller, long time listener, and Kenny was his first retail buyer to call on in Canada. Scott has had an advantage of being in our living rooms for almost 5 years. Scott Miller finally gets to explain what he does for a living.    Connect with Scott here; https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcameronmiller/   Sign up for FoodPro here: https://www.b...

Co-Founder + Chief Executive Officer at TMRW Foods, Dean Blignaut comes to talk about tomorrow, and how to effect change in the way we eat, and the way we think about 'protein' Caveat - Phil (me) talks about lying and deception as a marketing plan - I don't really believe that. :)   Find Dean here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-blignaut-7779a3210/ Shop TMRW foods here: https://tmrwfoods.com/

Most grocery stores now carry Greenhouse Juice Co. We talk to Hana James about where and how this all started. We get a special appearance from Hana's little boy too!   Find Hana here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hana-james-1791824a/ Shop Greenhouse here: https://www.greenhouse.ca/   Check out Heart & Carts here: https://canadian-podcasts.com/podcast/hearts-carts Sign up for CHFA here: https://chf...

We talk about the need to know what's happening in stores, how to use new tools to understand trends that are coming, or to find out what you're missing. Jeff and Bram come on to talk new innovation that you've heard us advertise here. We get deep on what new launches look like and how to fix flaws to assessing how a new launch is going.    Contact Bram here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bramw/ She...

Pareen Hassanally is the Founder & Managing Partner of Salud Brand Management.  She talks about helping brands find their footing, how she represents brands and how she sees retail today. Pareen and Phil commiserate about being Kenny's friends.   Find Pareen here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pareen-hassanally-02a522b/ Find Pareen's company Salud Management here: https://saludbrandmanagement.com/ s...

A pink slip on the fridge started a journey that wound up with Kurt running The Organic Grocer. A letter of  gratitude got  Kurt Astle  on the show with us.    Find Kurt here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-astle-22343a170/ Shop Organic Grocer here: https://theorganicgrocer.ca/

Sam Rayner is a purpose driven marketer that wants to leave the world better than she found it. As the Co-founder of Better Basics, she's taking plastic out of the world, by offering simple eco swaps help you say no to plastic and yes to better products    Get in touch with Samantha here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantharrayner/ Go shop https://www.betterbasics.co/   When you're bored with us,...

Eat For Life Grocery Store Founder, Cookbook Author, Solopreneur Coach, Speaker Marsha Hebert talks about doing too much and how that's just enough. Marsha has an incredible journey.    Find Marsha here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshashebert/ Shop Eat for Life here: https://eatforlifebymarsha.com/   make sure you sign up for CHFA Now here: https://chfanow.ca/vancouver/ find Nuts to You here: h...

Jocknerd Marc Wandler took his love of sport nutrition and accidentally on purpose started rescuing spent grain from breweries and transforming it into delicious baking mixes that the whole family can enjoy.    Find Marc here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwandler/   Check out Susgrainable here: https://susgrainable.com/

A retailer's point of view. We talk to Beth Potter, Marketing Manager, Community Natural Foods about how she got to CNF, and the role that Natural Health Stores play in local markets and the Canadian retail landscape.    Find Beth here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-potter-90b71b16/ Shop Community Natural Foods here: https://communitynaturalfoods.com/   Register for CHFA Now: https://chfanow.ca...

She's designed snowboards, shoes and wanted to open a restaurant. Sonya Laurenssen talks about taking over Jusu and the brand's origin story. You can find Hearts & Carts here: https://canadian-podcasts.com/podcast/hearts-carts   Find Sonya here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-laurenssen-983946b/ Shop Jusu here: https://getjusu.com/   Find Fieldagent here:   fieldagentcanada.com/360    or email...

Founder of P3 Natural Muscle & Joint Pain Relieving Cream, Registered Massage Therapist, Sports Therapist, owner of multiple clinics, lavender farmer makes John Forde an interesting guest. His stories about the Vancouver Canucks is probably the most ordinary of his stories when you start looking at what he's built so far.    Find John here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-forde-96190a49/ Find P3...

They could have bought a McDonald's in 1976, but his dad and his brother chose to get into granola instead. Fast forward, Randy Sihota is still in the family business. He talks about the ups and downs of being in a family business, what it's like to figure out how to be independent yet connected to the family.      Find Randy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-sihota-04593444/ Find Nationwide...

She appeared on Dragon's Den. Got her chocolate bar listed at Sobey's based on the name alone. It all started because she wanted to get her mom her favorite chocolate bar and discovered it had been discontinued. Crystal Regehr Westergard talks about becoming a Heritage chocolate bar brand specialist.    Find Crystal here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-regehr-westergard-11692948/   Find Cuban...

This one was burning a hole in our pocket. Cristina Bardorf comes on to talk Negroni, Lowgroni, (Low-Proof Negroni)  If you're celebrating a Dry January, this episode with Cristina and the knuckleheads talk about Lyre's and the growing non-alcoholic spirits segment.  Cristina talks about her time growing up at J&J, and her journey to this new emerging category.    You can find Cristina here: https...

He started as a bag boy at Save-On Foods. He faxed his resume in for an advertising assistant, and next thing you know, Kyle Leslie has spent a lifetime in retail. Today, he's the President of Star Marketing Ltd.    Check out Star Marketing here:    https://starmarketingcanada.com/ Find Kyle here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-leslie-45b17b21/

One of the first six organic farms in Canada - Filsinger's is named for it's founder Alvin Filsinger. When he decided to sell, Shaun Becker and his cousin decided to buy the place, with no experience in farming or making ciders or vinegars.    Check out Filsinger's here: http://www.filsingersorganic.com/ Find Shaun here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-becker-56935295/

We talk about the gift of time. This podcast was recorded before Christmas, but the conversation around "time" is definitely relevant. If anyone has solved the mystery - hit us up - we'd love to hear it. But really, we had Gage Mitchell on, he runs Modern Species - he helps impact-driven CPG brands grow through strategic branding, sustainable design, and community.   Check out Modern Species here:...

Just the Knuckleheads today. We talk about what we want out of the podcast this year, what to expect from the podcast this year. We also do something we don't do well - we ask for what we want.     

First timers on the podcast, Avi and Binny talk about Good Karma Farming from the Okanagan. One is a pharmacist and the other an engineer, but wind up taking over Avi's parents' farm. They talk about learning the business, becoming part of a family business, and how they look to evolve the business.    They've recently won BC Food & Beverage Silver Product of the Year Award for their Pear Soda.   ...

She might be the missing link on our podcast. Simona Irwin, Managing Director of Uprising Naturals  started her retail journey starts at 7 in Shakespeare Ontario. We've had Simona on a #fastthoughts already and we were glad to hear her story finally.    To contact Simona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonairwin/ To contact Uprising Naturals: https://www.uprisingnaturals.com/