The Checkout: Grocery Nerds

Errol Schweizer
  • 4.9 (36)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Formerly The Checkout, Grocery Nerds is the leading source for insider commentary and analysis on the $1.1 trillion U.S. grocery industry. Founded by 30 year industry veteran operator, analyst and O.G. Grocery Nerd Errol Schweizer, Grocery Nerds has four priorities: to demystify the grocery business, including pricing, market segmentation and business operations in the real world-not via academia or public relations B.S.; to platform and hear from essential, front-line grocery workers; to engage with emerging brand innovators and trend leaders; and to hear from independent and cooperative grocery operators on how they are surviving and thriving in this competitive, complex and cutthroat industry. So, are you a Grocery Nerd too?

  1. 6d ago

    #17 The Efforts Behind Unionizing at Mother's Market in 2026

    In this episode, we explore the labor issues at Mother's Market, a natural food store in California, through the perspectives of Omar, a worker, and Andrew, a union organizer. We discuss unionization efforts, management challenges, and what it takes to improve workers' lives in the retail food industry. labor rights, unionization, grocery store workers, private equity, labor organizing, workers' rights, Mother’s Market, labor struggles, employee rights, union campaign See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    #17 The Efforts Behind Unionizing at Mother's Market in 2026

  2. Sep 22

    #16: Farm To People: Transforming The Food Supply Chain

    In this week's episode of Grocery Nerds, we dive deep into the mission of Farm to People, a company dedicated to revolutionizing how we shop and eat by connecting consumers directly to local and regional food systems. Michael Ray Robinov, the founder, shares insights into their innovative approach to grocery delivery while emphasizing the importance of supporting small farmers. Farm to People operates like an online farmers market, allowing customers to shop from over three hundred small farmers and makers right from their homes. The produce is carefully curated, ensuring freshness and transparency regarding its sourcing. Michael highlights the difference in quality between fresh, locally-sourced food and mass-produced supermarket items. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    #16: Farm To People: Transforming The Food Supply Chain

  3. Sep 15

    #15: The Purpose Pledge: Redefining Business Responsibility

    In this episode, Seth Goldman and Les Szabo discuss the Purpose Pledge, a framework for defining and operationalizing purpose-led business practices. They explore how this initiative promotes stakeholder capitalism, internalizes externalities, and aims to shift business norms towards sustainability and social responsibility. As Chief Strategy & Impact Officer at Dr. Bronner's, Les Szabo works across organizational planning, philanthropy, international markets, and e-commerce to support mission-aligned growth and long-term impact. He also serves on the company's Board of Directors. Seth Goldman is former Beyond Meat Executive Chair and the current Co-founder of JUST Ice Tea, a mission-driven company offering organic, real-brewed, just sweet enough tea. Their commitment to organic and fair trade helps provide a more just, healthier way of life for our farmers and our planet, and healthier options for consumers. JUST Ice Tea was created after learning of the discontinuation of Honest Tea, which he co-founded and led to global scale. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    #15: The Purpose Pledge: Redefining Business Responsibility

  4. Sep 9

    #14: Kara Rubin's Grocery Journey From Whole Foods to Brand Building

    In this episode, Kara Rubin shares her extensive experience in the grocery industry, from her start at Whole Foods to her work supporting emerging brands and developing supply chains. She discusses the evolution of food retail, category management, talent development, and the importance of community and mutual support in the industry. Kara is driven by a fascination with food and how it is grown, raised and distributed; a deeply held desire to bring better, cleaner food to more and more people; and nearly 15 years of strategic and operational food retail experience. Kara has deep roots guiding retail strategy and working with brands ranging across the category spectrum. Kara is a food and retail industry veteran who is the Vice President of Brand & Product Strategy at JUST Goods, Inc., producer of sustainably packaged and responsibly sourced consumer products, including JUST water. Prior to joining JUST, she spent a decade leading one of the largest regional business units for Whole Foods Market in the United States. Kara has also done independent strategic advisory work with clean-label brands and natural-channel retailers. Holding degrees from both Duke University and the University of Michigan Business School (now the Stephen M. Ross School of Business),Kara serves on the Corporate Advisory Council of Just Capital, a nonprofit that measures corporate performance based on the public’s definition of just behavior. She’s been an advisor to the Rockefeller Foundation on the topic of food waste and she is a guest lecturer at the NYU College of Food, Nutrition and Public Health and the Institute for Culinary Education. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    #14: Kara Rubin's Grocery Journey From Whole Foods to Brand Building

  5. Sep 1

    #13 Andrea Abel's Fight to Improve Food Justice in Texas

    In this episode, Andrea Abel, Executive Director of Farm Share Austin, discusses the organization's efforts to improve food justice in Austin, Texas. She highlights the challenges of funding cuts, the importance of local farming, and innovative programs to increase food access for underserved communities. Andrea joined Farmshare Austin as executive director in January 2017, but her hands have been in the soil and her heart in food and agriculture for most of her life. Throughout Andrea’s career, she has focused on creating community sustainability in a variety of nonprofit and government positions. Farmshare unites Andrea’s passions for ensuring that food is a human right by implementing community-driven, collaborative problem-solving and leveraging collective impact. In addition to her role at Farmshare, Andrea currently is an appointee to the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board and has been deeply involved in the creation and implementation of the 2024 Austin-Travis County Food Plan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    #13 Andrea Abel's Fight to Improve Food Justice in Texas

  6. Aug 25

    #12: From Cashier to Author: Ann Larson's Industry Insights

    Ann Larson shares her journey from grocery store worker to author, revealing the hidden realities of the grocery industry, labor struggles, and potential reforms. Discover insights on corporate power, worker solidarity, and how consumers can support change. Ann Larson’s writing on education, debt, and low-wage work has appeared in The New Republic, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Fast Company, and The Nation, among other publications. She is author of Cleanup on Aisle Five: Essential Work, Poverty Wages, and the View from Behind the Supermarket Register, and coauthor of Can’t Pay Won’t Pay: The Case for Economic Disobedience and Debt Abolition and is a fellow with the Economic Hardship Reporting Project. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    #12: From Cashier to Author: Ann Larson's Industry Insights

  7. Aug 18

    #11: Alicia Kennedy's Journey: From Vegan Bakery to Food Critic

    Alicia Kennedy, a food writer with a background in food production, discusses her journey from running a vegan bakery to becoming a renowned food critic and author. The conversation explores food systems, veganism, cultural history, and her latest book, offering deep insights into food politics and personal stories. Alicia Kennedy publishes a twice-weekly food and culture newsletter called From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy ()aliciakennedy.news), as well as the digital magazine Tomato Tomato (tomatotomato.xyz). She’s the author most recently of On Eating: The Making and Unmaking of My Appetites, a memoir of food and place. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    #11: Alicia Kennedy's Journey: From Vegan Bakery to Food Critic

  8. Aug 11

    #10: The Future of Natural Sweeteners with CEO Aaron Henderson

    In this in-depth interview, Aaron Henderson, CEO of Sweetleaf Stevia, shares his extensive experience in the grocery and CPG industry, focusing on natural sweeteners, supply chain intricacies, and evolving consumer trends like GLP-1. Discover insights on sourcing, product innovation, industry challenges, and the future of natural sweeteners in a rapidly changing market. Aaron Henderson is the current CEO of Wisdom Natural Brands, makers of SweetLeaf Stevia, with 25+ years of leadership experience driving growth across marketing, sales and brand strategy. As former CEO of The Touch Agency, Aaron worked on 200+ brands and saw 38 acquisitions. Co-founder of Midnight Venture Partners, a leading early stage venture capital fund focused on better-for-you brands. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    #10: The Future of Natural Sweeteners with CEO Aaron Henderson
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Formerly The Checkout, Grocery Nerds is the leading source for insider commentary and analysis on the $1.1 trillion U.S. grocery industry. Founded by 30 year industry veteran operator, analyst and O.G. Grocery Nerd Errol Schweizer, Grocery Nerds has four priorities: to demystify the grocery business, including pricing, market segmentation and business operations in the real world-not via academia or public relations B.S.; to platform and hear from essential, front-line grocery workers; to engage with emerging brand innovators and trend leaders; and to hear from independent and cooperative grocery operators on how they are surviving and thriving in this competitive, complex and cutthroat industry. So, are you a Grocery Nerd too?

Information

  • Creator
    Errol Schweizer
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © © Heritage Radio Network 2026
  • Show Website
    The Checkout: Grocery Nerds

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