We're delighted to bring out of the archives today a conversation from a couple years back with Alex Jackson, vice president of procurement and sales for Frieda's Branded Produce, about the origin of Love Your Produce Manager Day, a holiday that Frieda's created back in 2012. Before that discussion, The Produce Retail Podcast host Ashley Nickle also shares a few words about her appreciation for the many talented, dedicated, zealous produce managers she's observed and visited with over the years. We hope you enjoy the conversation, and we wish you a belated Happy Love Your Produce Manager Day!

For episodes featuring produce manager perspective, check out this curated playlist for plenty of thought-provoking discussion. 

More Playlists


Executive Perspective


Leadership & Training


Marketing & Merchandising

Podcast Background

This podcast is designed to cover all things produce retail: strategy, partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising and beyond. Scroll through our episodes list to find conversations with vice presidents and directors of produce, merchandisers, produce managers, retail dietitians and more.

Get Involved

The Produce Retail Podcast is hosted by Ashley Nickle, a former trade journalist turned consultant. Have an idea for a topic or a guest? Give her a shout on LinkedIn.

We're delighted to bring out of the archives today a conversation from a couple years back with Alex Jackson, vice president of procurement and sales for Frieda's Branded Produce, about the origin of Love Your Produce Manager Day, a holiday that Frieda's created back in 2012. Before that discussion, The Produce Retail Podcast host Ashley Nickle also shares a few words about her appreciation for the many talented, dedicated, zealous produce managers she's observed and visited with over the years. We hope you enjoy the conversation, and we wish you a belated Happy Love Your Produce Manager Day!
For episodes featuring produce manager perspective, <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/produce-manager-perspective-the-produce-retail-pod">check out this curated playlist</a> for plenty of thought-provoking discussion. 
More Playlists
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/executive-perspective-the-produce-retail-podcast">Executive Perspective</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/leadership-training-the-produce-retail-podcast">Leadership &amp; Training</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/merchandising-marketing-the-produce-retail-podcast">Marketing &amp; Merchandising</a>
</li>
</ul>
Podcast Background
This podcast is designed to cover all things produce retail: strategy, partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising and beyond. Scroll through our episodes list to find conversations with vice presidents and directors of produce, merchandisers, produce managers, retail dietitians and more.
Get Involved
The Produce Retail Podcast is hosted by <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynickle">Ashley Nickle</a>, a former trade journalist turned consultant. Have an idea for a topic or a guest? Give her a shout <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynickle">on LinkedIn.</a>

The Produce Retail Podcast is the place for thought leaders in the industry to talk shop. Join us for conversations on strategy, business partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising and much more. We'll have regular guests as well as more occasional visitors, and the goal is always to deliver conversations that inform, inspire and ultimately illuminate opportunities for growth. This podcast is hosted by Ashley Nickle, produce industry enthusiast and founder and CEO of Ashley Nickle Growth Strategies.  

The Produce Retail Podcast is the place for thought leaders in the industry to talk shop. Join us for conversations on strategy, business partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising and much more. We'll have regular guests as well as more occasional visitors, and the goal is always to deliver conversations that inform, inspire and ultimately illuminate opportunities for growth. This podcast is hosted by Ashley Nickle, produce industry enthusiast and founder and CEO of Ashley Nickle Growth Strategies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Produce Retail Podcast

This curated playlist of The Produce Retail Podcast features conversations with produce managers — the hard-working professionals with wide-ranging roles whose ultimate responsibility is to turn the vision of corporate leadership into reality at the store level. How do they do it? That's what listeners will learn in these episodes. Hosted by Ashley Nickle, who became immersed in the industry as a member of the trade press and later launched her own consulting firm, The Produce Retail Podcast overall covers a wide variety of produce retail topics: strategy, partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising, marketing, assortment and beyond. 

This curated playlist of The Produce Retail Podcast features conversations with produce managers — the hard-working professionals with wide-ranging roles whose ultimate responsibility is to turn the vision of corporate leadership into reality at the store level. How do they do it? That's what listeners will learn in these episodes. Hosted by <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynickle">Ashley Nickle</a>, who became immersed in the industry as a member of the trade press and later launched her own consulting firm, The Produce Retail Podcast overall covers a wide variety of produce retail topics: strategy, partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising, marketing, assortment and beyond.

A playlist focused on conversations with retail produce managers.

Produce Manager Perspective — The Produce Retail Podcast

A shout-out to produce managers plus the origin story of Love Your Produce Manager Day

We’ve got a special treat for you today – a roundtable discussion with three retail dietitians who, along with being nutrition experts, have excellent insight into the consumer and are incredibly plugged into marketing at their companies. Our panelists are Harmons registered dietitian nutritionist Melanie Taylor, MS, RDN, CD; Raley’s nutrition strategist and corporate dietitian Yvette Waters, MS, RDN, CISSN, RYT; and Kroger director of nutrition Laura Brown, MS, RDN, LDN. Moderated by The Produce Retail Podcast host Ashley Nickle, this group discusses topics including how consumer purchasing behavior has been influenced by lingering inflation; how RDs are using — or considering using — AI in their work; how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are showing up in their conversations with consumers and the challenges their use can pose to increasing produce consumption; which topics they see resonating with shoppers and the platforms they're using to connect with them; how they work to get their vision executed in stores; what dietitians can do for consumers that many people may not realize; what they're most looking forward to at the International Fresh Produce Association's upcoming Consumer Connection event, and much more. Last but not least, speaking of IFPA — a big shout-out to director of marketing and communications Katie Calligaro for bringing this group of RDs together for today's conversation. Melanie, Yvette and Laura are part of IFPA's retail dietitian network, a unique and important way IFPA engages the industry. Hope you enjoy the conversation!

For more episodes featuring marketing and merchandising perspective, check out this curated playlist for plenty of thought-provoking discussion. 

More Playlists


Executive Perspective


Leadership & Training


Produce Manager Perspective

Podcast Background

This podcast is designed to cover all things produce retail: strategy, partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising and beyond. Scroll through our episodes list to find conversations with vice presidents and directors of produce, merchandisers, produce managers, retail dietitians and more.

Get Involved

The Produce Retail Podcast is hosted by Ashley Nickle, a former trade journalist turned consultant. Have an idea for a topic or a guest? Give her a shout on LinkedIn.

We’ve got a special treat for you today – a roundtable discussion with three retail dietitians who, along with being nutrition experts, have excellent insight into the consumer and are incredibly plugged into marketing at their companies. Our panelists are Harmons registered dietitian nutritionist Melanie Taylor, MS, RDN, CD; Raley’s nutrition strategist and corporate dietitian Yvette Waters, MS, RDN, CISSN, RYT; and Kroger director of nutrition Laura Brown, MS, RDN, LDN. Moderated by The Produce Retail Podcast host Ashley Nickle, this group discusses topics including how consumer purchasing behavior has been influenced by lingering inflation; how RDs are using — or considering using — AI in their work; how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are showing up in their conversations with consumers and the challenges their use can pose to increasing produce consumption; which topics they see resonating with shoppers and the platforms they're using to connect with them; how they work to get their vision executed in stores; what dietitians can do for consumers that many people may not realize; what they're most looking forward to at the International Fresh Produce Association's upcoming Consumer Connection event, and much more. Last but not least, speaking of IFPA — a big shout-out to director of marketing and communications Katie Calligaro for bringing this group of RDs together for today's conversation. Melanie, Yvette and Laura are part of IFPA's retail dietitian network, a unique and important way IFPA engages the industry. Hope you enjoy the conversation!
For more episodes featuring marketing and merchandising perspective, <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/merchandising-marketing-the-produce-retail-podcast">check out this curated playlist</a> for plenty of thought-provoking discussion. 
More Playlists
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/executive-perspective-the-produce-retail-podcast">Executive Perspective</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/leadership-training-the-produce-retail-podcast">Leadership &amp; Training</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/produce-manager-perspective-the-produce-retail-pod">Produce Manager Perspective</a>
</li>
</ul>
Podcast Background
This podcast is designed to cover all things produce retail: strategy, partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising and beyond. Scroll through our episodes list to find conversations with vice presidents and directors of produce, merchandisers, produce managers, retail dietitians and more.
Get Involved
The Produce Retail Podcast is hosted by <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynickle">Ashley Nickle</a>, a former trade journalist turned consultant. Have an idea for a topic or a guest? Give her a shout <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynickle">on LinkedIn.</a>

Laura Brown of Kroger, Melanie Taylor of Harmons, Yvette Waters of Raley's — Retail Dietitian Roundtable

Hello and welcome to The Produce Retail Podcast! Our esteemed guest for this week's episode is Anne-Marie Roerink, the principal of 210 Analytics. Anne-Marie is well known to many folks in the produce world for her insightful reports and presentations in collaboration with Circana and associations like the International Fresh Produce Association and the Southeast Produce Council. Speaking of SEPC, Southern Exposure just happened, one of the first major shows of the year, and Anne-Marie presented FMI's Power of Produce report, the go-to source each year on current consumer and sales trends in the industry. In today's conversation, Anne-Marie and The Produce Retail Podcast host Ashley Nickle discuss topics including how inflation influenced consumption in 2023 and continues to do so in 2024; how sales of fixed-weight produce are growing despite consumer concern about plastic; innovation in produce, from product attributes to merchandising; how different generations are finding recipes and meal planning; why traditional grocery is losing share of spend to channels like discount, mass merchandisers and club and how that could change in the future; and much more. Enjoy!

For more episodes featuring marketing and merchandising perspective, check out this curated playlist for plenty of thought-provoking discussion. 

More Playlists


Executive Perspective


Leadership & Training


Produce Manager Perspective

Podcast Background

This podcast is designed to cover all things produce retail: strategy, partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising and beyond. Scroll through our episodes list to find conversations with vice presidents and directors of produce, merchandisers, produce managers, retail dietitians and more.

Get Involved

The Produce Retail Podcast is hosted by Ashley Nickle, a former trade journalist turned consultant. Have an idea for a topic or a guest? Give her a shout on LinkedIn.

Hello and welcome to The Produce Retail Podcast! Our esteemed guest for this week's episode is Anne-Marie Roerink, the principal of 210 Analytics. Anne-Marie is well known to many folks in the produce world for her insightful reports and presentations in collaboration with Circana and associations like the International Fresh Produce Association and the Southeast Produce Council. Speaking of SEPC, Southern Exposure just happened, one of the first major shows of the year, and Anne-Marie presented FMI's Power of Produce report, the go-to source each year on current consumer and sales trends in the industry. In today's conversation, Anne-Marie and The Produce Retail Podcast host Ashley Nickle discuss topics including how inflation influenced consumption in 2023 and continues to do so in 2024; how sales of fixed-weight produce are growing despite consumer concern about plastic; innovation in produce, from product attributes to merchandising; how different generations are finding recipes and meal planning; why traditional grocery is losing share of spend to channels like discount, mass merchandisers and club and how that could change in the future; and much more. Enjoy!
For more episodes featuring marketing and merchandising perspective, <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/merchandising-marketing-the-produce-retail-podcast">check out this curated playlist</a> for plenty of thought-provoking discussion. 
More Playlists
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/executive-perspective-the-produce-retail-podcast">Executive Perspective</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/leadership-training-the-produce-retail-podcast">Leadership &amp; Training</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/the-produce-retail-podcast/playlists/produce-manager-perspective-the-produce-retail-pod">Produce Manager Perspective</a>
</li>
</ul>
Podcast Background
This podcast is designed to cover all things produce retail: strategy, partnerships, planning, training, leadership, communication, merchandising and beyond. Scroll through our episodes list to find conversations with vice presidents and directors of produce, merchandisers, produce managers, retail dietitians and more.
Get Involved
The Produce Retail Podcast is hosted by <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynickle">Ashley Nickle</a>, a former trade journalist turned consultant. Have an idea for a topic or a guest? Give her a shout <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynickle">on LinkedIn.</a>

Anne-Marie Roerink talks packaged produce, value-added, generational trends and more

We're delighted to welcome as our guest today Dan Weis, a longtime produce retail veteran who's been working in grocery stores for most of his life — including as a young kid tagging along with his dad on Saturdays! Dan has spent the majority of his career, more than 30 years, at King Kullen, a family grocer serving Long Island, New York. Dan was a produce manager there for 17 years and then a produce and floral supervisor there for 15 years. More recently, after he and his wife moved to Florida to be closer to their daughters, Dan also worked for Publix. The Produce Retail Podcast host Ashley Nickle wanted to visit with Dan because he’s someone who really loves the business and is zealous about creating an excellent experience for the customer. In this episode, Ashley and Dan discuss leadership, department resets, the importance of communication and education, merchandising philosophy, career transitions, a few of Dan's highlights over the years, and his recent attendance at the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure. Enjoy! 

We're delighted to welcome as our guest today Dan Weis, a longtime produce retail veteran who's been working in grocery stores for most of his life — including as a young kid tagging along with his dad on Saturdays! Dan has spent the majority of his career, more than 30 years, at King Kullen, a family grocer serving Long Island, New York. Dan was a produce manager there for 17 years and then a produce and floral supervisor there for 15 years. More recently, after he and his wife moved to Florida to be closer to their daughters, Dan also worked for Publix. The Produce Retail Podcast host Ashley Nickle wanted to visit with Dan because he’s someone who really loves the business and is zealous about creating an excellent experience for the customer. In this episode, Ashley and Dan discuss leadership, department resets, the importance of communication and education, merchandising philosophy, career transitions, a few of Dan's highlights over the years, and his recent attendance at the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure. Enjoy!

A shout-out to produce managers plus the origin story of Love Your Produce Manager Day

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