Grocer Pod - Presented by AWG - Grocery, Marketing and more

AWG Brands' Marketing Success Kits include monthly recipes. Senior Marketing Specialist Rachel Frierdich is back on Grocer Pod to talk all about these recipes with host Sean Kosednar.

12AWG Brands has totally overhauled the ice cream category. Category Sales Director Brady Manning and Senior Category Manager Donna Yarbrough join Sean Kosednar in the studio on this week's Grocer Pod. They didn't come empty handed. After talking about the changes to the category, the three sampled several of the new Best Choice Superior Selections flavors. 

This week AWG President and CEO David Smith talks with Kim Eskew from Harp's Foods.

On this month's Grocer Pod Sean talks with Jessica Magnussen (1:51) about all things design related. Then Reade Sievert (12:23) comes by to talk produce, and what retailers need to do to maximize the summer selling season. Finally, Anna Mancini and Jeni Ganzman (23:38) are here to preview the VMC show. They have everything you need to know before heading to Kansas City August 7-9. Download the shows app on iOS and Android.

After a short break we are back with a new name - Grocer Pod. The name may be new, but our mission is the same. This month we are talking email with David Cacioppo from emfluence (3:25). Then Marie Lewis stops by to talk food safety (14:16). Finally, Nicholas Segura and Ruby Montoya from Segura Marketing join me to discuss marketing to the hispanic community (24:50). 

Lots of interviews from AWG Showcase: Eric Qualman (0:37) - Digital Leadership Polly Schau, Wells Enterprises (8:05) - Ice Cream Doug Baker, FMI (11:37) - Smart Label Chad Fowles, Unilever (16:44) - Frozen Novelty and Personal Care Pat Hughes, eGrowcery (23:33) - Online Shopping Jim Lukens, MSC (31:15) - Digital marketing with Media Solutions Larry Elias, Retail Profit Solutions (43:37) - Labor Management  Mike Kienzlen, WheresMyShrink.com (49:41) - Shrink

We are back at the VMC show talking to all kinds of people. First up is Damon Stuites (0:00) talking about Blackhawk gift cards. If you are interested in more information regarding Blackhawk email Bryan Wright. Next we talk produce with Tim Graas (5:40). Brian Moyer from Freshop sits down to talk online shopping and Chef Kit (19:31). Next is Steve Rash from Coinstar tells us about the new partnership with AWG (26:40). If you are interested in adding Coinstar to your store contact Conor Middleton Mike Daly from AWG explains how retailers can stay on top of the latest products (32:09). Finally, Chris Higgs gives us the latest news on the Shopper Engagement Platform (36:18).   

This episode starts with Sean talking about a couple of things that would improve his shopping experience. Then he talks to Linda Cosgrove about education opportunities for retailers (2:10) After that, Sean talked to Jim Fittterer about Super Ad Group (13:20). 

AWP was on the road this month. We recorded live from the VMC food show in Overland Park, Kansas. Interviews include Brian Moyer Freshop CEO (1:54), AWG board member James Newman (4:38), Courtney Brown from Doc's Foods (12:30), and Anthony Smith from DSG (15:43).

On this episode of Associated Wholesale Podcast Sean talks produce with Rick Stein of FMI (:59). He dives into the booming gift card industry with Dammon Stutes from Blackhawk Network (21:00). Finally, Sean and Rebecca Mueller discuss organics (32:00)

The debut episode of Associated Wholesale Pod features conversations with Heather Standifer, Kurt Kloeben, and Kevin Phipps. Sean Kosednar starts the show with how your store can integrate into the community. Also discusses Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods, National Ice Cream Month and how traditional retailers can stay competitive in the digital landscape. 

Sean Kosednar introduces the new Associated Wholesale Podcast from AWG. New episodes start in July. 

In the first installment of episodes recorded at Innovation Showcase 2026, AWG SVP of Sales & Support James Neumann, AWG Advertising Manager Logan Bayless, and Breez AI Founder & CEO Tal Zlotnitsky sit down with Sean Kosednar to discuss the partnership between AWG and Breez AI. The four also talked about AWG launching SmartMeals™, Breez AI's new AI-powered meal planning tool, to AWG members.

Sean Kosednar was on the floor at the HGS Show talking with a variety of AWG teammates about show deals, trends, AWG Brands, Retail Marketing Network, the Hispanic category, and much more. 

January is Store Brands Month. To kick things off Sean Kosednar is joined by Cara Finger, AWG Brands Marketing Manager. The two talk about what AWG Brands is doing to celebrate.

Larry Miller, Founder and CEO of Smart Retail Solutions joins Grocer Pod again this week. This time Larry and Sean discuss a new product called Scan-it® Mobile. Scan It is a cloud-based Whole-Store Ordering, Inventory Management, Shrink Loss Tracking, and Receiving System. If you are interested in learning more, contact Larry Miller today.

AWG Executive Director, Deli, Bakery, & Food Service Michael Pursell and FMI Senior Manager, Industry Relations Andrew Brown join Sean Kosednar on this week's Grocer Pod. The three discuss how AWG member retailers can either add food service to their stores or enhance their current food service offerings. To read the white papers mentioned in today's episode, click HERE for Framework for Retail Foodservice Success 2025 and HERE for The Power of Foodservice at Retail 2025.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and customers are looking for ways to save on their Thanksgiving spread. AWG Vice President, AWG Brands Emily Detwiler joins Sean Kosednar on this week's Grocer Pod to talk about all the Thanksgiving products offered by AWG Brands.

Since 2010, AWG has participated in 13 trips with Cruise Holidays. The 14th trip will take AWG members to Italy, Greece, and Croatia. Mark Comfort, co-owner of Cruise Holidays of Kansas City, Comfort Tours and Travel, joins Sean Kosednar on this week's Grocer Pod to talk about all the details about the 2026 AWG Member Trip. 

 Q4 2025 is fast approaching. That means AWG Brands Product Manager Tyler Olinger joined Sean Kosednar on this week's Grocer Pod to discuss the success of some previously launched items and introduce the additions to the AWG Brands lineup. Click here to learn more about the the new items being launched.