Company Blog
“Hello, and Welcome!” — The Art of Greeting in the Retail and Grocery World
by Adam Zack — September 16, 2026
“Customers come for the products. They come back for the people.”
“Customers come for the products. They come back for the people.”
Scott here. Adam needed a much deserved break, so here I am.
In the fast-paced world of retail and grocery, it is easy to overlook the small moments that define a customer’s experience. But if there is one thing that consistently sets great businesses apart from good ones, it is this: the way people are greeted.
Whether it is a friendly smile at the entrance, a warm “hello” in the produce aisle, a “good afternoon, can I help you with your beer selection?” or a sincere “thank you” at checkout, salutations in retail ...
read moreThree And A Half Minutes
by Adam Zack — September 9, 2026
“On the music that has been playing in the background of my whole life.”
“On the music that has been playing in the background of my whole life.”
Music has always been a huge part of my life. I love so many different styles, bands, and genres that I’m not sure I could ever pick a favorite. What I listen to has changed over the years, but one thing hasn’t — there has always been a soundtrack playing somewhere in the background of my life.
It’s funny how music can fill in the gaps in your memory. I can hear the first few notes of a song and suddenly I’m not standing where I am today. I’m 18 again. Or 25. Or driving a certain car, hanging out with certain friends, falling in love, getting my heart broken, becoming a dad, or just living a life that seemed a whole lot simpler at the time.
The ’80s probably hold more of those musical memories than any other decade. The Cars, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Morrissey and The Smiths can instantly take me back. It was a great time in my life and, looking back now, it sure seems like a simpler time.
Then there was Def Leppard, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, The English Beat and so many oth...
read moreThank You For Being Our Neighbors
by Adam Zack — September 3, 2026
“Grocery stores are one of the last true gathering places we have left.”
“Grocery stores are one of the last true gathering places we have left.”
To everyone working in the grocery world, from the early morning stockers to the late-night closers: I want to take a moment to say something simple but deeply felt. Thank you.
You may not realize it in the middle of a rushed shift or a crowded aisle, but your presence matters more than ever. In times like these, when the world feels especially uncertain and the weight of daily life feels heavier than usual, grocery stores aren’t just places we go to pick up bread and coffee. They’re one of the last true gathering points in our communities. And that makes you, whether you’re stocking shelves or running a register, one of our most important neighbors.
You show up when others stay home. You work under pressure most of us never see. You deal with long lines, supply problems, and people who sometimes bring their stress right to your register. And still, somehow, you manage to offer a kind word, a helping hand, or just a steady presence that says, “We’re here. We’ll get through this.”
Th...
read moreYou Can Make Great Beer, But People Still Have To Know You’re There
by Adam Zack — August 26, 2026
“The product was never the problem.”
“The product was never the problem.”
Scott here, filling in for Adam while he is gallivanting around on some vacation that I personally know he needs.
There is a small brewery tucked away on a little island in the Pacific Northwest. It is in a warehouse, a little off the beaten path, owned and operated by a husband-and-wife team.
And they make really good beer.
Every time I walk in, it reminds me of the early craft breweries I remember in San Diego. Nothing fancy. Industrial space, brewing equipment, a taproom, good beer and a loyal group of locals who figured out where the place was and kept coming back.
That model worked. In fact, some pretty successful breweries started exactly that way. But there comes a point when being the best-kept secret in town stops being charming and starts costing you business.
Relating Is Good, Right?
by Adam Zack — August 19, 2026
“Sometimes “me too” is just “me.”
“Sometimes “me too” is just “me.”
So I’m at this conference and I am talking to this dude who starts telling me about his cruise to Alaska with his wife and what an awesome time they had. “I went on a cruise to Alaska!” I said and proceeded to tell him about the time I went, how great the food was (and the drinks were included!) and how I loved the cities and how beautiful the glaciers were and how I saw whales and bald eagles. Man, it was a
great trip. I could totally relate to that trip! Stop there: He didn’t ask me if I had been to Alaska. He didn’t inquire which towns I liked best. He didn’t even ask if I’d been on any vacation lately. But I could relate, right? Well, by relating I:
- Stopped listening to him to think about what my response would be.
- Made the conversation about me instead of him.
- Diminished his sto
...read more
The Choir
by Adam Zack — August 12, 2026
“Nobody claps for the choir — and they practice anyway.”
“Nobody claps for the choir — and they practice anyway.”
I’ve never given a lot of thought to the church choir. Or any music at church. They get up there, sing or play, and then move offstage. No one claps or yells appreciation. There’s no standing ovation or encore.
The sermon resumes and everyone goes about the rest of their Sunday business. What I didn’t give
any appreciation to was that those church musicians actually have to practice. They practice a lot. The commitment to do something they love for a religion that they are committed to says something very strong about the character church musicians and singers possess. Fac...
read moreGrudgeholder
by Adam Zack — August 5, 2026
“On the Boulder That Only Crushes the Man Carrying It.”
“On the Boulder That Only Crushes the Man Carrying It.”
Recently Dennis, one of our vendors (and a good friend), stopped by to drop off some wine. He
mentioned he’d just run into another vendor in the store — a guy he used to do business with, before their companies parted ways over a difference in direction. The breakup didn’t sit well with the other guy. He won’t speak to Dennis, won’t nod, won’t do anything except deliver a world-class death stare whenever their paths cross. The man could power a small city on that grudge alone.
That got us talking about grudges in general, how some people just won’t let one go. There’s the...
read moreIntegrity
by Adam Zack — July 29, 2026
“You lead by the way you live — and it does not stop at your own door. On the integrity that extends to the company you keep.”
“You lead by the way you live — and it does not stop at your own door. On the integrity that extends to the company you keep.”
You lead by the way you live. I love that saying. It’s like the [true] cliche. “You can’t talk the talk if you don’t walk the walk.” As a leader, what you do matters and is closely watched and scrutinized by your peers, employees and associates. You can’t initiate a healthy lifestyle program for your company while you are supersizing your Big Mac combo and burning through a pack of cigarettes a day. Leading by the way you live gives you credibility and integrity. And integrity is inspiring and contagious. We also have to apply that integrity to the companies we do business with. Business
relationships that don’t at least partially align with your core values need to be examined closely. After all, you are partners, and good partners always have an interest in each other’s success. It should always be a...
read moreWho Cares?
by Adam Zack — July 22, 2026
“Everyone will tell you they care. The real question is who cares when there’s nothing in it for them — and whether the people you care about can prove you do.”
“Everyone will tell you they care. The real question is who ...read more
Behind The Noise
by Adam Zack — July 15, 2026
“Everyone wants to be the rock star. But it’s the bass player — steady, unshowy, easy to miss — who actually drives the song, and the store. On learning to hear your backbeat.”
“Everyone wants to be the rock star. But it’s the bass player — steady, unshowy, easy to miss — who actually drives the song, and the store. On learning to hear your backbeat.”
With all that’s been going on in the world these days, I’ve been thinking a lot about music. That won’t
surprise those that know me. I always have to have some kind of noise on, especially when I am driving or cooking. I don’t like doing things in silence. Well, except reading. So with all these thoughts of music bouncing around in my head, I have been comparing what’s going on in our world and our business with the layers in a great song. All of you have a favorite song. One that has a special meaning or just makes you feel good. It may bring you back to a different time in your life that you were happiest, or it may
just be a band you loved. When we hear our music we think of the singer’s voice, the lyrics, the i...
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