ReConnected
Welcome to the Reconnected Podcast—a home for sharing, understanding and growth for the retail grocery store industry. During each episode, we will meet an amazing member of our community as we learn about their story and jointly explore the intricacies and challenges of our supply chain. Through it all, we'll remember and honor that everything starts with the real people who spend so much of their lives supporting the retail food supply chain. We will bring together the voices of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers as we journey together to help our industry reconnect.
We're excited to have you join us.
Episodes
25 episodes
Episode 25 - Reconnected with Alyssa Vescio
In this episode of The Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott sits down with Alyssa Vescio, SVP of Merchandising, Sourcing and Product Development, at Whole Foods Market, for a deeply human and inspiring conversation. Alyssa sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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58:20
Episode 24 - Reconnected with Bryan Reed
Reconnected Podcast: Episode with Bryan ReedIn this episode, Luke Abbott sits down with Bryan Reed, Sr. Director of Grocery & Wellness at Mother's Market, to discuss his 25+ year journey in the natural foods industry—from bag...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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1:12:18
Episode 23 - Reconnected with Alex Malamatinas
In this episode, Luke Abbott sits down with Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner of Melitas Ventures, the go-to VC firm for better-for-you consumer brands. With a background in finance and a lifelong connection to CPG, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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49:22
Episode 22 - Reconnected with Steve Gaither
Dive into the world of brand strategy and channel marketing with Steve Gaither, Founder of Architect CPG, a Brand strategy and outsourced CMO company. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Steve has helped brands like Real Go...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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1:02:01
Episode 21 - Reconnected with Jeremy Isenberg
In this episode, Luke reconnects with Jeremy Isenberg, President of Chex Finer Foods, a third-generation family business serving retailers from the Northeast to Florida. With 23 years in the company, Jeremy shares insights into preservin...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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1:02:38
Episode 20 - Reconnected with Dave Hirschkop
Join us as Luke sits down with Dave Hirschkop, the award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Dave’s Gourmet, who revolutionized the hot sauce and pasta sauce industries. From creating the iconic Insanity Sauce to building an internationa...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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59:31
Episode 19 - Reconnected with Frank Schuck
Reconnected Podcast with Frank SchuckJoin Luke Abbott as he sits down with Frank Schuck, a Grocery Merchandiser at PCC, the nation's largest food co-op. Frank shares his journey from the specialty food stores of New York City to l...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:01:31
Episode 18 - Reconnected with Dan Altschuler
Tune in to the Reconnected Podcast, hosted by Luke Abbott with Dan Altschuler, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Unovis Asset Management, as he shares his journey as an impact investor focused on transforming food systems....
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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56:11
Episode 17 - Reconnected with Justin Jackson
Tune in to the Reconnected Podcast, where Luke Abbott sits down with Justin Jackson, the COO of Jimbo's—one of the leading Markets in the Natural Space! Starting at just 10 years old, Justin began his career path in a small grocer...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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57:13
Episode 16 - Reconnected with Jenny Eu
In this episode of Reconnected, host Luke Abbott sits with Jenny Eu, founder of Three Trees Foods, a leading brand in plant-based milk. Jenny shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting at farmers' markets and bootstrapping her way into a nati...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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58:02
Episode 15 - Reconnected with Dwight Richmond
In this episode, Luke Abbott is joined by Dwight Richmond, Director of the Center Store at Town & Country Markets, who has 30 years of experience in the grocery retail industry. Dwight's career in the food industry began fresh out of...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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48:46
Episode 14 - Reconnected with Kerry Song
Welcome to the Reconnected Podcast with your host, Luke Abbott. In this episode, Luke is joined by one of his best friend and earliest clients, Kerry Song, a fellow vegan entrepreneur and founder of Abbot's. Abbot’s Butcher crafts delicious, wh...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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54:53
Episode 13 - Reconnected with Richard Gillmore
Welcome to the Reconnected Podcast with your host, Luke Abbott. In this episode, Luke is joined by an experienced food industry professional and long-time friend, Rich Gillmore, the VP of Center Store at Gelson's. Rich is bringing 37+ years of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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58:59
Episode 12 - Reconnected with Nicolas Mindel
Welcome to the Reconnected Podcast with your host, Luke Abbott. In this episode, Luke sits down with Nicolas Mindel, co-founder of Amberstone, to explore his fascinating journey through the realms of finance, investment, and the c...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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59:41
Episode 11 - Reconnected with Ron Selders
Welcome to the Reconnected Podcast with your host, Luke Abbott. In this episode, Luke is joined by Ron Selders, President of the Fresh Division at UNFI, as they delve into the current state of distribution and Ron's extensive experienc...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:00:08
Episode 10 - Reconnected with Brian Scott
In this episode, Luke is joined by Brian Scott, president of Gourmet Foods International, as they delve into the food industry's intricate world of supply chain management. From his roots in Omaha, Nebraska, to his current ro...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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58:35
Episode 9 - Reconnected with Ari Raz
In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, Luke Abbott sits down with Ari Raz, a trailblazer in the CPG entrepreneurship world. With a passion for innovation and a knack for identifying market gaps, Ari shares his fascinating journey from se...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:00:20
Episode 8 - Reconnected with Steve Black
In this fascinating episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott sits down with Steve Black, a giant in the grocery industry, whose journey from a passionate 12-year-old grocery clerk to a seasoned executive has reshaped the way we thin...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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57:30
Episode 7 - Reconnected with Robert Johnson
In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott sits down with Robert Johnson, Category Manager at New Seasons Market, known for its dedication to local and organic products in the Pacific Northwest.Robert shares his journe...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:06:12
Episode 6 - Reconnected with Kenny Hausmann
In a recent episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott welcomes Kenny Hausmann. Kenny shares his journey to a significant leadership role, underpinned by a personal mission to enhance access to healthy foods in communities. <...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:09:13
Episode 5 - Reconnected with Alex Bayer
In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott and guest Alex Bayer delve into the realms of supply chain authenticity, personal growth, and the hurdles faced by small brands in the CPG industry. Their conversation, rich with anec...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:09:49
Episode 4 - Reconnected with Jonathan Lawrence
In this Reconnected Podcast episode, we explore Jonathan Lawrence's journey from a family vitamin store to his pivotal role in Fresh Thyme's growth. Starting from the humble beginnings of stocking shelves in his family's grocery store, to his c...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:07:08
Episode 3 - Reconnected with Monika Coyle
In this "Reconnected" podcast episode, Monica shares her career journey from finance to the food industry, driven by her passion for culinary arts and healthy eating. Her story is one of courage and adaptability, reflecting her Polish immigrant...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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58:44
Episode 2 - Reconnected with Wade Yenny
Tune into the latest episode of the "Reconnected" podcast, where host Luke Abbott and industry veteran Wade Yenny delve into the intricacies of the supply chain world. With over 20 years of experience, Wade offers invaluable insights into the g...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:07:03
Episode 1 - Reconnected with Jim "Jimbo" Someck
In this engaging episode of our podcast, we reconnect with the "father of natural", Jimbo, a pivotal figure in natural markets across America. Jimbo and Luke delve into topics like aligning supply chain practices with core values, the importanc...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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50:06