Crave - The IFDA Podcast

Crave - The IFDA Podcast
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Crave – The IFDA Podcast serves up engaging, thought-provoking conversations tailored to leaders, entrepreneurs and food industry professionals striving to excel in their careers. Each episode is packed with practical takeaways, real-world strategies, and fresh perspectives on the topics that matter most in foodservice and beyond.Powered by IFDA, brought to you by Cut+Dry, and hosted by industry veteran Julien LeBlanc,  each episode features bold conversations with top executives, trailblazers, and big thinkers shaping the future of foodservice.

Episodes

  1. 2025 Recap and the 2026 Leadership Reset with Host, Julien LeBlanc

    JAN 15

    2025 Recap and the 2026 Leadership Reset with Host, Julien LeBlanc

    As Crave enters Season 2, host Julien LeBlanc opens the year with a powerful leadership reset — reflecting on the biggest insights from 2025 and laying the mindset foundation for success in 2026. This solo episode distills lessons from industry leaders across foodservice distribution into 10 critical leadership insights covering culture, trust, collaboration, habits, mindset, experience, systems, and change leadership. From building psychologically safe teams… to creating clarity across your organization… to designing habits that drive consistency — this episode is a must-listen for distributors, manufacturers, operators, and emerging leaders looking to grow stronger teams and more resilient businesses. If your goal is to become 1% better every day, this episode will give you the frameworks to make 2026 your most intentional, disciplined, and impactful year yet. Topics Covered 👉 What “culture” really means beyond words on a wall 👉 Why trust scales faster than strategy 👉 The Stockdale Paradox & navigating uncertainty with clarity 👉 Collaboration as a true growth strategy 👉 How to create psychological safety on your teams 👉 Understanding your full value chain & customer experience 👉 Why experience is your brand 👉 Systems, habits & consistency that drive performance 👉 Making Mondays better: building cultures people want to belong to 👉 Change leadership, clarity & 2026 mindset shifts Timestamps 00:00 Why Now Is the Right Time for Crave 00:59 Welcome to Season 2 + 2025 Recap 02:01 The 10 Leadership Insights Framework 03:07 Mindset, Reality & the Stockdale Paradox 06:07 Why Leadership Confidence Matters 07:19 Rally Cries, Clarity & Alignment 08:38 Collaboration & Clarity as Growth Strategy 10:49 Trust, Psychological Safety & High-Performing Teams 12:51 Understanding the Full Value Chain 14:06 Building Culture That Makes Mondays Better 15:00 Mentorship, Habits & End-in-Mind Thinking 17:02 Experience Is Your Brand 18:40 Habits, Systems & Consistency 19:32 Culture Through Standards, Not Slogans 21:31 Leading Change in 2026 22:33 Final Challenge & Season 2 Outlook Like, comment & subscribe for more leadership conversations from across the foodservice distribution world. Learn more about Crave – The IFDA Podcast and future episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/

    24 min
  2. Culture, Crisis & Leadership: Building Stronger Teams in Food Distribution with Paul Saval

    12/19/2025

    Culture, Crisis & Leadership: Building Stronger Teams in Food Distribution with Paul Saval

    In this episode of Crave – The IFDA Podcast, host Julianna Blau sits down with Paul Saval, President & CEO of Saval Foodservice, a fourth-generation leader who has spent more than 40 years shaping culture, driving innovation, and navigating the evolving landscape of foodservice distribution. Paul shares a candid look at the principles that guide his leadership — from building a conscious, values-based culture… to staying customer-obsessed… to transforming crisis into opportunity. You’ll hear powerful stories about perseverance during COVID, generational transitions, partnerships rooted in trust, and why leaders must balance patience, persistence, empathy, and accountability. This is a masterclass in modern leadership, resilience, and leading people-first organizations in a fast-changing world. Topics Covered: 👉 What “culture” really means in a family-run distribution business 👉 The power of conscious leadership: responsibility, integrity & emotional mastery 👉 How Saval centers drivers as the heart of the customer experience 👉 What most companies miss during mergers & acquisitions 👉 How COVID transformed Saval’s purpose, partnerships & community impact 👉 Generational leadership: balancing tradition with innovation 👉 Why leaders must be learners: listening, evolving & adapting 👉 Decision-making speed vs. scale: small distributor advantages 👉 Technology, AI & preparing for the next wave of efficiency 👉 Patience + Persistence: Paul’s two-word leadership philosophy 🌐 Learn more about Saval Foodservice: https://www.savalfoods.com/ 🌐 Explore Crave & upcoming episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/ 🌐 About IFDA: https://ifdaonline.org/ Like, comment & subscribe for more leadership conversations from across the foodservice distribution world. Learn more about Crave – The IFDA Podcast and future episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/

    40 min
  3. From Immigrant Roots to Industry Leader: Building Culture, Consistency & Community with René Diaz

    11/14/2025

    From Immigrant Roots to Industry Leader: Building Culture, Consistency & Community with René Diaz

    In this episode of Crave – The IFDA Podcast, we sit down with René Diaz, President & CEO of Diaz Foods, a multigenerational food-distribution leader with a remarkable story grounded in grit, gratitude, and giving back. From immigrating to the U.S. with nothing… to running one of the most respected Hispanic food companies in America, René shares the principles that shaped him: consistency, service, culture, and community impact. We explore how Diaz Foods blends family values, hard work, and data-driven innovation — and why empathy, discipline, and cultural pride still win in a fast-moving market. This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, legacy, and the power of showing up. Topics Covered: Growing from a small family grocery store to a major distributorWhy consistency beats talent — every timeMentorship, community leadership & paying it forwardThe value of culture, diversity & shared tablesBalancing empathy with accountabilityPartnership lessons: from handshake deals to AI-powered pricingRobotics, automation & the future of distributionHow food — and family — build stronger communities“Yes, it's possible”: a mindset that transforms careers More about this episode:  Learn more about Diaz Foods: https://www.diazfoods.com/ Like, comment & subscribe for more powerful leadership conversations from across the food-service distribution world. Learn more about Crave – The IFDA Podcast and future episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/ Learn more about Crave – The IFDA Podcast and future episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/

    42 min
  4. Mani Kulasooriya from Cut+Dry | Special: Crave Podcast Live from Solutions

    11/07/2025 · BONUS

    Mani Kulasooriya from Cut+Dry | Special: Crave Podcast Live from Solutions

    In this special live edition of Crave – The IFDA Podcast, recorded at the IFDA Solutions Conference, industry leaders share powerful insights on leadership, workforce development, technology, and the future of foodservice distribution. Mani Kulasooriya, Co-Founder and CEO of Cut+Dry, on how AI and data can unlock growth, efficiency, and new revenue streams across the foodservice supply chain. Learn more about Crave – The IFDA Podcast and future episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/

    47 min
  5. Rob Ulsh at Great Dane | Special: Crave Podcast Live from Solutions

    11/07/2025 · BONUS

    Rob Ulsh at Great Dane | Special: Crave Podcast Live from Solutions

    In this special live edition of Crave – The IFDA Podcast, recorded at the IFDA Solutions Conference, industry leaders share powerful insights on leadership, workforce development, technology, and the future of foodservice distribution. Rob Ulsh, VP of Distributor & National Fleet Sales at Great Dane, on the evolving role of fleet solutions in distribution Learn more about Crave – The IFDA Podcast and future episodes: https://ifdaonline.org/crave-podcast/

    16 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Crave – The IFDA Podcast serves up engaging, thought-provoking conversations tailored to leaders, entrepreneurs and food industry professionals striving to excel in their careers. Each episode is packed with practical takeaways, real-world strategies, and fresh perspectives on the topics that matter most in foodservice and beyond.Powered by IFDA, brought to you by Cut+Dry, and hosted by industry veteran Julien LeBlanc,  each episode features bold conversations with top executives, trailblazers, and big thinkers shaping the future of foodservice.

Information

  • Creator
    Crave - The IFDA Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Crave - The IFDA Podcast
  • Show Website
    Crave - The IFDA Podcast