This Commerce Life

We take a road trip to Fancy Food show in New York City. Favorite brands, how we think about imported products and costing are a few of the things we talk about.  If there's anything you want to know, shoot us a question at podcast@thiscommercelife.com  Could be anything - something retail related, or just if you want to know something about Kenny and I that's ok too.    sign up at www.thiscommerc...

They met in law school. While they were there, they decided that the health benefits of a plant-based diet  was a worthy cause to work on as a side hustle. Fast forward, Emily and Kyle have made it their mission to knock down barriers to eating a plant-based diet by making accessible vegan versions of traditional products, being uncompromising on taste and quality. talk to Emily here: https://www....

He's a CPA by training, but he was employee #2 with Choices.  It turns out that retail stuck, and now Arif Ahmed runs two stores, and has ambitions for more locally focused, community driven stores.    Get in touch with Arif here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hwmarif/   Sign up and subscribe to our newsletter at www.thiscommercelife.com  

Jeff Ball talks about his family, and their journey thru farming. Trudi-Ann and Jeff talk about the process of getting Thrive Provisions to market, and packaging wagyu beef as a snack.   find Jeff here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-ball-3b51a169/ find Trudi-Ann here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudi-ann-webster-651bbb2/   Buy Thrive Provisions here: https://thriveprovisions.ca/   Head to www....

Retailer Spotlight: Peter Boyd, YIG Kelowna.  We finally get Peter Boyd on. He's a local legend, and a brand favorite grocer - he's helped so many brands, retail folks, store folks to find their feet, we were honored to have him on the podcast.    To read more about Peter: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kelowna-grocery-store-recognized-for-hiring-new-canadians-1.4018591   To talk...

She'd never made  guacamole before. While mashing the avocados, Dyana saw a bottle of Aji condiment, a speciality in Colombia and South America. The rest, they say is history.    Talk to Nicholas here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-gonzalez-biagi-7b3193101/   Shop for Dyana's Aji Sauces here: https://www.ajigourmetproducts.com/

She's an OG. Took us awhile to bring her back. Kelly Ison updates us from episode 27 and what's happening today at Einstein Pets.    check out her first episode here: https://this-commerce-life-fb5a846c.simplecast.com/episodes/062f1c64 Shop Einstein Pet here: https://www.einsteinpets.com/   Get in touch with Pareen and Salud Management here: https://saludbrandmanagement.com/

She got fired from being an admin assistant job, but rocked a sales job.  She wondered if she was going to sell olive oil forever.  Instead, she built Hive, the merchandising company that helps brands be visible and standout on shelf.    To find Amanda: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandakenny01/ Check out Hive Naturals : https://www.hivenaturals.ca/   Talk to Pareen and her team at Salud here: htt...

A recipe for yeast based salad dressing turns into a gluten free product that solves Paul Kleinschmidt's health concerns and puts flavour back in his food. Yeshi starts in Paul and Barbara's kitchen and now is found nationwide.   Contact Paul here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pkleinschmidt/ Shop Yeshi here: https://www.yeshifoods.com/

Ken Anderson, friend to the podcast and long time CPG guy (now retired) comes on to give a history lesson on how and why retailers do what they do that makes us so mad.    Find Ken here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-anderson-188a8b17/    

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...