The Buyer's Desk

In this episode, Angela joins Chris Felder, Owner & Founder of INFRA Member Grubb’s Grocery, and Matt Olson, Fresh Retail Strategist, to explore the successful produce department reset at Grubb’s. Learn how their partnership brought fresh ideas to the department, from a renewed focus on seasonality and an expanded cut fruit and vegetable program to a new approach to bagged produce designed to improve product movement and drive sales growth. Plus, Chris shares how he’s using AI to streamline store operations and create efficiencies in his business.

This episode is brought to you by The Good Crisp Company.In this week’s episode, Jim chats with Michael D. Ham, CEO of Wild Orchard Teas, about the brand’s unique approach to growing and harvesting tea, from its gardens on South Korea’s volcanic island of Jeju to the final product on store shelves. Michael explores how Wild Orchard’s motto, “a pure harvest begins with a clean conscience,” reflects its commitment to regenerative agriculture and responsible business practices. He also shares how his background in kinesiology and nutrition sparked his interest in the connections between regenerative farming, human health, and soil health.

In this week’s episode, Angela chats with Rocio Bermudez-Pose, Impact Director at Yerba Madre, about the cultural roots and traditions behind yerba mate. Rocio shares how Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) has helped Yerba Madre deepen its relationships with farming communities around the world while supporting more regenerative approaches to agriculture. Plus, hear more about the thinking behind the brand’s recent rebrand and how the new identity reflects its connection to the planet, the product, and the rich cultural history of yerba mate.

The industry has been abuzz with regenerative organic over the past several years—but will the momentum continue? This week, Jim is joined by INFRA Director of Promotional Programs Nick Auzenne to explore the evolution of Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC), what it will take to drive greater consumer awareness and adoption, and the opportunities and challenges facing the movement. They also dig into the foundation of regenerative agriculture: soil health, and why healthier soil plays such an important role in the future of food and farming.

This episode is brought to you by poppi. Did you miss our fascinating keynote on the topic of reusables during this year’s INFRA Annual Conference? Don’t worry, because we invited Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle and Loop, to expand upon the many ways that independent natural food retailers can participate in the reuse movement. Tom touches on the complexities of recycling, compostable packaging, and the future of circular economy solutions. Tune in to better understand the importance of system dynamics, regulatory impacts, and the role of independent retailers in driving sustainable change.