Grocery Pulse Podcast by Innovar Marketing Agency | Insights for Retailers

In this episode, Michelle Breyer shares her unique journey through grocery, journalism, entrepreneurship, and CPG, from covering Whole Foods' and H-E-B's growth to founding a company and helping emerging brands through SKU. She shares what she's learned from watching hundreds of founders navigate the CPG roller coaster, the importance of mentorship and community, and what it takes to b...

Makor Coffee founder Eli Mash joins GroceryPulse to share how he built a functional organic coffee brand on the side, going from Shopify to 42 grocery doors and Amazon while still working full-time in tech. Host George Goodwin (4th-generation grocer and founder of Kōbu Kombucha Powder) sits down founder-to-founder with Eli to taste each other's products and talk honestly about building in the...

I had the opportunity to sit down with Marc Jonna, Co-Founder & President of Plum Market, and this was a really special conversation for me as a fourth-generation grocer. Marc's grocery story goes back generations. His father, Ed Jonna, founded Merchant of Vino in Michigan, which was later acquired by Whole Foods. Marc went on to become a National Wine Buyer for Whole Foods before leaving with...

Mike Fitzsimmons became only the second person in history to complete the 178-mile Reno Tahoe Odyssey solo — finishing in 45 hours and 5 minutes through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. But this episode isn't just about running. It's about mastering your mindset when everything in you wants to quit, building resilience through adversity, fueling your body for peak performance, and why success — in bus...

"The grocery industry may be driven by logistics and supply chains—but it’s still powered by relationships." In this episode of Grocery Pulse , George Goodwin speaks with Lori Brown, a 40+ year grocery industry leader and President of The Illuminators. Lori shares insights from her experience across retail, CPG, and supply chain—revealing why communication, presence, and servant leadersh...

"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"...

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 als...

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 actu...

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 w...

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...

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 trac...

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 creat...

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-st...

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...

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. To...

What does the future of retail media look like? In this episode of GroceryPulse by Innovar Marketing Agency , host George Goodwin sits down with Chase Binnie , CEO of RetailWire — the leading retail industry thought leadership platform with 1M+ monthly readers and 8 acquisitions under its belt. Chase shares how he went from designing album art in high school to running a 23-year-old legacy media c...

In this episode of Grocery Pulse, host George Goodwin speaks with Stu Gavurin, founder of Opsense, about the transformative role of smart technology in food safety, compliance, and efficiency within the grocery and consumer packaged goods (CPG) sectors. They discuss the inspiration behind Opsense, the significant issue of food waste, and the importance of real-time monitoring and alerts in grocery...

In this episode of GroceryPulse, host George Goodwin sits down with CJ Warstler, the inventor of the Handycart Workstation, to unpack how one simple tool is revolutionizing efficiency in retail environments. With over 30 years of experience in sales and consulting, CJ shares the real-world problems that inspired him to create a smarter, more effective workstation—right from his own garage. Togethe...

In this episode of GroceryPulse , host George Goodwin sits down with design experts Adam Steinberg and Henry Casanova to explore the evolving world of CPG packaging and grocery retail design . Together, they dive deep into the importance of clarity in packaging , how consumer behavior drives design decisions, and why eco-friendly packaging is more than just a trend. The conversation touches on the...

In this episode of GroceryPulse , host George Goodwin speaks with Blake and Stephanie Alexandre of Alexandre Family Farm , the first certified regenerative dairy farm in the U.S. They share the inspiring story of building a family farm rooted in stewardship, nutrition, and sustainability —and how their mission is reshaping the dairy industry. From the power of regenerative farming practices that r...

In this episode of GroceryPulse , host George Goodwin sits down with Kelly Damewood , CEO of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) , to unpack the future of organic farming, certification, and consumer trust . Together, they explore how organic and regenerative agriculture can become the norm —not the exception—through smart certification, clear communication, and authentic leadership. Kelly...

In this episode of GroceryPulse , host George Goodwin sits down with Deborah Sanchez , an HR consultant with nearly 20 years of experience advising C-suite leaders at one of California’s largest utility companies. From her beginnings as a young mom seeking stability to now shaping corporate HR strategy, Deborah shares powerful insights on employee retention, mentorship, workplace culture, and lead...

In this episode of GroceryPulse by Innovar Agency, host George Goodwin welcomes James W. Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, and Chairman of Wild Oats Marketing LLC. James brings decades of leadership experience from some of the most iconic brands in retail, and today, he shares his unique insights on leadership, innovation, and the future of the retail industry. The conversation delves...

In this episode of Grocery Pulse by Innovar Agency, host George Goodwin sits down with Bob Reeves, Executive Vice President and Associate Publisher at Shelby Publishing. As a grocery media expert and USC Food Industry Management Program alumnus, Bob shares insights from over two decades of documenting and influencing the grocery industry. The conversation dives into the critical role of grocery me...

In this episode of Grocery Pulse by Innovar Agency , host George Goodwin, a fourth-generation grocer and retail strategist, sits down with Austin and Brennen, co-founders of Sleke. Sleke is revolutionizing workplace productivity with its “smart dumb phone,” designed to eliminate distractions and enhance focus. The conversation explores the impact of smartphone distractions on grocery and retail op...