The aisle might look calm, but the work behind it moves fast. We sit down with Emily Detwiler, Vice President of AWG Brands at Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), to unpack how private brands become a competitive edge for independent grocers—and how empathetic leadership keeps teams performing at their best. Emily shares a candid path from high school cashier to executive, spanning CPG analytics, fresh meat marketing, and wholesale strategy, with one throughline: say yes to stretch roles and learn quickly.

We dig into the mechanics of winning private labels across Best Choice and Always Save—partnering with manufacturers, shaping assortments with category managers, and aligning brand positioning for retailers and their shoppers. Emily explains how storytelling with data drives decisions at the shelf, from price architecture to packaging. She also opens up about the realities of work and family, offering practical tactics like outsourcing low-value tasks and building strong carpools so she can be present at baseball games and swim meets without letting her team down.

The conversation gets timely with a major reform: removing synthetic dyes by 2026. Emily outlines the steps to reformulate at scale, manage costs and quality, and keep communication clear for store owners and operators. We also look ahead at AI, ecommerce, and click and collect, emphasizing a people-first approach to technology that enhances forecasting, content, and customer experience without losing the human touch. Along the way, we highlight the power of mentorship and associations like WGA, WISE, PLMA, and FMI to accelerate careers—especially for women—through shared learning and real-world projects.

If you care about independent grocery, private brand strategy, and practical leadership you can use tomorrow, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with a colleague who loves the industry, and leave a review to help more people find Grocery from Her Seat.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/associated-wholesale-grocers/posts/?feedView=all

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F: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-grocers-association/

Grocery From Her Seat, Insights for Independent Grocers has been selected as one of the Top 35 Independent Women Podcasts on the web.
https://podcast.feedspot.com/independent_women_podcasts/

Host: Kristin Popp
Production: Rachael Melot, SWA.Marketing

What if the most powerful playbook for modern grocery leadership comes from stories that start outside the aisle? We’re bringing together standout moments from seasons one and two to explore how women at every career stage transform constraint into creativity—blending e‑commerce, data, and deep community roots to keep independent grocers thriving.

Representation takes center stage through Women Grocers of America, where visibility becomes a catalyst for ambition: if you can’t see it, you can’t be it.

Research insights from Jenna Krakomperger map the real pressures of inflation and labor shortages and show how independents adapt with niche strengths and unwavering community support. The stakes are high: in many rural areas, these stores are the last defense against food deserts, making digital access and operational resilience non‑negotiable.

You’ll leave with practical takeaways: translate intuition into metrics, cultivate mentors and share groups, invest in e‑commerce as table stakes, and protect the calendar blocks that keep life whole. If these stories spark ideas, share them with a colleague, hit follow, and leave a quick review—it helps more leaders find the strategies that keep local grocery strong.

Full episode for

Anne Feder

Jenna Krakomperger

Did you love the show - Text and tell us why.

Support the show

Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
Join WGA
Join NGA
Attend this year's NGA show
F: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-grocers-association/

Host: Kristin Popp
To have your podcast produced: contact Rachael Melot

We share standout moments from seasons one and two that trace how women across grocery build resilience, lean on community, and lead with authenticity. Jackie LaPointe connects endurance sports to career confidence, and Jena Sowers shows how adaptive leadership and grace create stronger teams.

To listen to the full episodes, follow these links and be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any episodes of season three that will resume in January

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297578/14613298 - Jackie LaPointe's full episode

https://www.bluecloudinc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackielapointe/

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297578/14870470 - Jena Sowers full episode

https://allianceretailgroup.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/jena-sowers-9bb55515

If you think someone should hear these stories of success journeys, please share this podcast with a friend
You don't want to miss any episodes this season, so be sure to subscribe
And remember, more people will hear about stories of her success if you like, follow, and leave a five star review

Did you love the show - Text and tell us why.

Support the show

Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
Join WGA
Join NGA
Attend this year's NGA show
F: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-grocers-association/

Host: Kristin Popp
To have your podcast produced: contact Rachael Melot