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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 a grocery store could feel like your people? We sit down with Samantha Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer at Clark’s Markets, to unpack how independent grocers build real loyalty by leading with care, operational clarity, and a deep commitment to community. From the Colorado high country to Sedona and Utah, Clark’s carries a bold, independent spirit—and Samantha reveals the practical moves that turn transactions into relationships.

Samantha’s career path is anything but linear—media executive, hospital service excellence leader, even firefighter—yet each chapter shaped a leadership style rooted in courage and empathy. She shares how “alignment over balance” guides her priorities, why hiring for cultural fit prevents foundation cracks, and how rolling up your sleeves on the front line leads to smarter systems and higher trust. We also explore the power of NGA share groups and WGA’s network to accelerate learning, open doors, and support women thriving in a historically male‑dominated industry.

Then we look forward. AI and personalization are redefining grocery marketing, loyalty programs, and e‑commerce, freeing teams to invest in what machines can’t: hospitality, storytelling, and memorable human touchpoints. Samantha outlines why prepared foods and cafés expand a grocer’s “seat at the table,” how to move beyond simple satisfaction to true devotion, and the practical habits that help rising leaders grow fast—curiosity about people, fluency in business fundamentals, and service grounded in the community. Along the way, she spotlights two essential reads: Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott and Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman and Raj Sisodia.

. If this conversation sparks ideas, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.

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

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

A chance encounter at a college career fair led Jenn Hahn into the Aldi training program, where she learned the store from the floor up and ran multiple locations at 22. That early trial by fire shaped a leadership style built on humility, directness, and full accountability—traits she later used to launch J Recruiting Services, a national search firm serving independent grocers, wholesalers, and CPG partners.

We unpack how Jenn scaled from “laptop at the kitchen table” to a sophisticated team by refusing to post and pray, demanding premium candidate and client experience, and hiring for strategic thinking over bullet points. She shares the operating system behind balancing CEO life and motherhood: life-first calendars, clear role definition, and trusting a team empowered to tell the boss to step back. We also dive into why intentional networking through WGA, NGA, and peer communities is not optional—it is how opportunities, mentors, and great hires find you.

On talent trends, Jenn flags where grocery is investing now: supply chain roles across food safety and logistics, the tech and AI layers that power them, and renewed focus on operations and the in‑store experience. E‑commerce matters, but connection at the register still wins loyalty, especially for Gen Z and millennials. The strongest candidates show resilience, business acumen, and comfort using AI and data to run better stores, not just better spreadsheets. Her closing advice is simple and sharp: stay open‑minded, take the intro calls, and let curiosity guide the next step. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s building their grocery career, and leave a review to help more leaders find these stories.

www.jrecruitingservices.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jrecruitingservices/?viewAsMember=true

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

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