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.

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National Grocers Association Foundation
Welcome to "Grocery From Her Seat," the WGA podcast offering a unique perspective on the independent

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Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
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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

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

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National Grocers Association Foundation
Welcome to "Grocery From Her Seat," the WGA podcast offering a unique perspective on the independent

Support the show

Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
Join WGA
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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

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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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

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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

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

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F: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
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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

A small moment in a grocery aisle can change a day—and sometimes a career. We sit down with Misty Bryant, Director of Merchandising Support at Houchins Food Group, to unpack how a curious part-time start became a purpose-driven path built on service, mentorship, and data that actually helps people. From a child’s joy over a Peppa Pig toy to the precision of electronic shelf tags and rapid out-of-stock scans, Misty shows how human connection and operational excellence can live side by side.

We trace Misty’s journey across merchandising, buying, and category management to a role that bridges tech, marketing, and store operations.

We also look ahead: balancing e-commerce growth with the enduring value of brick-and-mortar, adding services like pharmacies and hardware to stay essential in small communities, and building teams that out-learn and out-serve.

Misty’s closing playbook is actionable: walk one more aisle, ask one more question, test a small fix, measure it, and share the credit. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who’s building a customer-first culture—what’s one small change you’ll test this week?

https://www.hfginc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/houchens-food-group-inc/

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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

A 43-day government shutdown turned food policy into a stress test for everyone from federal agencies to front-end cashiers. SNAP benefits were shut off for the first time ever, courts issued conflicting directives, and retailers faced a moving target of guidance while trying to keep communities fed. We sit down with Stephanie Johnson, Group VP of Government Relations at the National Grocers Association, to break down what actually happened, what changed at the register, and how independent grocers adapted in real time.

If food access, checkout operations, and policy risk affect your business, this is your map for what changed and what’s next. Listen, share with your team, and tell us how you’re preparing for state waivers and rounding rules. If you find this helpful, follow the show, leave a review, and send the episode to a colleague who runs the front end.

Government Relations - National Governors Association

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Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
Join WGA
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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

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

National Grocers Association Foundation
Welcome to "Grocery From Her Seat," the WGA podcast offering a unique perspective on the independent

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