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PODCAST

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

George Goodwin, 4th-Generation Grocer & CPG Founder

Grocery Pulse Podcast is for the food industry, grocers, CPG founders, and retail executives navigating today"s grocery industry. Hosted by George Goodwin, a 4th-generation grocer and Innovar Marketing Agency strategist, each episode unpacks category management, supply chain, retail tech, and customer experience strategies through real conversations with industry leaders and family-owned business owners. Practical, actionable insights to help grow your grocery business, every week. Learn more:

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All Episodes

00:50:54

Functional Foods & Drinks: The Future of Wellness,...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2026/10/02

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 functional food space. Makor Coffee is 93% organic coffee blended with organic cacao, turmeric, Ceylon

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01:25:36

Four Generations of Grocery: How Plum Market Built a...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2026/08/13

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 his brother Matt to start Plum Market in 2007. Today, Plum Market has grown to 35+ locations while

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01:08:18

Mike "Fitz" Fitzsimmons: 178 Miles Solo, Reno Tahoe...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2026/07/15

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 business, athletics, or life — is won one step at a time.Host George Goodwin sits down with ultrarunner Mike

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00:00:46

Your Taste Buds Were Hijacked with Mike Schmidt |...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2026/03/21

“If it was made in a lab… question it.”In this episode of Grocery Pulse, George Goodwin and Mike Schmidt expose how modern food is engineered to override your natural instincts. While we’re designed to crave real, whole foods, most people’s taste buds have been hijacked by hyper-processed ingredients built for addiction—not nourishment.They break down how food companies apply behavioral science—similar to what was once used in cigarettes—to keep you coming back, and why making healthier choices can

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00:49:15

The Power of Relationships in Grocery: Leadership,...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2026/03/19

"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 leadership are more important than ever.Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Lori Brown and Her Journey02:06:35 Lori's Career

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01:14:04

From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Gut-Brain...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2026/03/18

"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

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00:23:12

How Independent Grocers Win: Modernizing a...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2026/01/19

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

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00:58:34

How a CPG Founder Built a Clean Protein Bar—Backed by...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2026/01/08

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

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01:00:39

How the Founder of UGG Built a Billion-Dollar Global...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/12/11

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

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00:57:08

Functional Mushrooms & Wellness: Walker | The Happy...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/11/21

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

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00:47:40

Future of Grocery & Natural Retail: How Community and...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/10/27

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

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01:02:26

The Future of Grocery: The Emotional Science Behind...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/10/24

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,

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00:50:17

Turning POS Data into Retail Media Power w/ Steve...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/09/26

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 Bridge and retail-media network Ripple, to unpack how identity resolution and POS-level purchase data are changing the game for regional chains and C-stores.Bridge/Ripple helps retailers identify unknown shoppers (beyond loyalty programs), unify first-party

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01:08:30

Turning Social Media Comments into Customers: The...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/09/18

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

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01:03:30

From Family Grocer to Policy Leader | Ron Fong, CEO...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/09/03

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

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00:59:10

The Future of Grocery, CPG & Retail Media covering...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/08/29

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 company that curates conversations with over 100 retail thought leaders. Together, George and Chase dive

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01:04:17

Smart Technology in Grocery: Boosting Efficiency,...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/08/12

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 operations. The conversation also touches on the challenges retailers face in food safety compliance,

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00:43:41

The Ultimate Merchandising Tool for In-Store...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/06/27

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.Together, they explore the process of prototyping, gathering user feedback, and launching the Handycart into

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00:48:29

The Future of Grocery Packaging: Design, Technology &...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/06/10

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 power of A/B testing and customer persona research, the balancing act of creative instincts vs. customer

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01:03:56

Beyond Organic: How Alexandre Family Farm Became...

Grocery Pulse Podcast: Grocery, CPG , Leaders &... ·

2025/05/27

In this powerful episode of GroceryPulse, host George Goodwin sits down with Stephanie Alexandre, co-founder of Alexandre Family Farm—America’s first certified regenerative organic dairy. Together, they explore how soil health, A2/A2 milk, and faith-driven leadership can transform the future of food.Stephanie shares the inspiring journey she and her husband Blake have taken over 40 years: building a family farm rooted in stewardship, nutrition, and integrity. From managing cows with best friends to

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