"The grocery industry may be driven by logistics and supply chains—but it’s still powered by relationships."

In this episode of Grocery Pulse, George Goodwin speaks with Lori Brown, a 40+ year grocery industry leader and President of The Illuminators. Lori shares insights from her experience across retail, CPG, and supply chain—revealing why communication, presence, and servant leadership are more important than ever.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Lori Brown and Her Journey

02:06:35 Lori's Career Path and Experiences02:10:15 The Importance of Communication in Crisis02:14:32 Building Relationships in the Grocery Industry02:17:24 Lessons from Early Career Experiences02:19:59 Balancing Family, Work, and Community Involvement02:22:41 Understanding Servant Leadership02:27:11 Insights from Industry Leaders02:28:40 The Importance of Personal Connection in Retail02:31:33 Brand Strategies for Modern Retail02:34:46 Finding Your Niche in the Market02:36:35 Building a Supportive Network02:38:32 Effective Time Management in Leadership02:40:48 The Reluctant Leader's Journey02:43:48 Nurturing the Next Generation of Leaders02:45:02 Core Values in Leadership

George and Lori dive deep into:

• Showing up and building real connections
  Why being physically present at events and in stores creates long-term opportunities and trust.

• Communication during uncertainty
  How consistent communication—even with no updates—builds stronger relationships during crises.

• Servant leadership in action
  Leading by serving others, sharing knowledge, and empowering teams at every level.

Connect with Lori Brown:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-brown-ms/
Email: lkbrown9600@gmail.com

Connect with George Goodwin:

• Kōbu: ⁠enjoykobu.com⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠George Goodwin

"Nutrition is the gateway drug to spirituality."

In this episode of Grocery Pulse, George Goodwin sits down with holistic health coach Mike Schmidt to discuss the powerful intersection of gut health, identity, and the grocery industry. Mike opens up about his personal journey—battling 10 years of chronic acne and a 16-month period of burnout—and how he used "food as medicine" to transform his life and his business.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Health and Wellness Transformation

02:32 Personal Journeys and Health Challenges

05:17 The Role of Food in Healing

08:10 Consumer Trends in Health and Nutrition

10:58 Understanding Gut Health and Its Importance

13:39 Navigating Grocery Stores for Healthier Choices

16:15 The Impact of Emotional Well-being on Nutrition

19:23 The Science Behind Food Quality

21:50 Kobu: A New Approach to Probiotics

24:38 Final Thoughts on Health and Nutrition

28:27 The Role of Electrolytes and Natural Hydration

29:31 Nutrition for Athletes: The Importance of Clean Fuel

32:06 Japanese Wisdom in Nutrition and Eating Habits

35:54 Lessons from Okinawa: Community and Simple Diets

38:12 The Impact of Food Choices on Health and Economy

41:50 Investing in Health: The Long-Term Benefits of Nutrition

45:50 Consumer Choices and the Food Industry's Response

48:34 Integrity in Food Choices: A Path to Self-Respect

51:31 Listening to Your Body: The Key to Healthy Eating

52:31 Coping Mechanisms and Health Trends

57:29 Listening to Your Body

01:02:18 Holistic Health and Daily Habits

01:04:11 Gratitude and Mindfulness

01:05:09 Future Endeavors and Community Engagement

George and Mike dive deep into:

• The "Why" Behind the Brand: Why passion-led companies (like Goodwin’s Organics and Kōbu) are the most impactful.

• The Gut-Brain Connection: Why 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut and how that affects your daily confidence.

• Navigating the "Grocery Casino": Tips for avoiding "greenwashed" labels and sticking to the nutrient-dense edges of the store.

• The Future of Kōbu: George shares the science behind Kōbu's 33 billion probiotics and the mission to "inspire, encourage, and motivate."

Whether you are a CPG founder, a retail professional, or someone looking to optimize your own health, this conversation offers a raw look at how the food we sell—and eat—shapes who we become.

Connect with Mike Schmidt:

• Website: superfoodsuperhuman.com

• Instagram: @mike_schmidt_

Connect with George Goodwin:

• Kōbu: enjoykobu.com

• LinkedIn: George Goodwin

In this episode, Jake from Nature's Finest shares insights into the journey of running a family-owned health food store, the importance of customer empowerment through education, and the challenges of modernizing operations in a competitive market. He discusses the significance of selecting the right brands to partner with and highlights current trends in health and nutrition. The conversation also includes a product tasting segment, showcasing the importance of customer feedback in product development.

Takeaways

• Jake's family started Nature's Finest in 1982, emphasizing health and nutrition.
• The transition from traditional retail to e-commerce was crucial for the business.
• Customer education is a key aspect of their service.
• Modernizing operations has improved efficiency and customer experience.
• Partnerships with brands should align with the store's values.
• Health trends like gut health and magnesium supplementation are gaining popularity.
• Independent stores can be first to market with innovative products.
• Customer feedback is essential for product development.
• Family businesses thrive on passion and commitment.
• Nature's Finest aims to empower customers to take charge of their health

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Nature's Finest

02:39 The Family Business Journey

05:25 Customer Empowerment and Health Education

08:35 Modernizing Operations and Technology

10:55 Navigating Competition and Brand Selection

13:59 Trends in Health and Nutrition

16:18 Product Tasting and Customer Feedback

18:52 Advice for Family-Owned Businesses

.Keywords

Nature's Finest, health food, family business, supplements, customer empowerment, health education, e-commerce, competition, nutrition trends, product tasting

Guest: Jake Kiviko — Nature’s Finest
🥗 Family-owned health food store founded in 1982📍 Recorded live at the Natural Independent Expo💡 Focus: modernizing independent grocery, customer education, and health-forward retail🥄 Bonus: live product tasting + real customer feedback insights

Sponsor: Kōbu Kombucha Powder
A modern take on kombucha designed for gut health, hydration, and everyday wellness—without the sugar bomb.
✨ Clean, convenient kombucha powder you can take anywhere.🌐 Learn more or try it out: ⁠**www.enjoykobu.com**⁠

Host: George GoodwinInnovar Marketing AgencyHelping grocery, retail, and CPG brands tell better stories, grow community, and launch products with real-world traction — from in-store to digital.

📧 Contact Innovar: ⁠marketing@innovaragency.com

george@innovaragency.com⁠🌐 Learn more: ⁠*www.innovaragency.com