Company Blog

What Do I Know

by Adam Zack — September 30, 2026

On trading “I know” for “I never knew that”

Amid the sea of “I know” conversation responses (I know! I know, right? Ya, ya, ya, I know.), the older I get, the more I realize how much there is that I don’t know. My wife and I joke about how our response has gone from “I know” to “What do I know? Nothin’!” I have a new appreciation for just how much I can learn from others just by listening and observing. Every day presents many opportunities to teach and be taught, just by being aware of what’s going on around us. I find myself saying more frequently “I never knew that” about someone. By not paying attention and jumping straight to “I know” I bypassed actually knowing something. I am working towards being that old man who sits on the front porch and observes life around him. And I’ll be ready to impart what I’ve learned as the opportunity arises. Not the grumpy old man type who yells at whoever walks on my lawn, but the cool old man that doesn’t complain about everything and who you share a cold beer with, asking to tell you some things he has learned in life. Like the time he accide...

by Adam Zack — September 23, 2026

“What a cruise ship maître d’ taught me about gratitude.”

I’ve just returned from a long vacation that took me from London and the UK, plus France, across the Atlantic Ocean to Canada, Boston and finally New York. (Thank you Scott for the fill in blogs and DW for allowing me to take this epic vacation!). I was on a cruise ship (Oceania Vista) that has a crew of over 800 for about 1,000 passengers. The crew, mainly Phillipino, Indian and Malaysian, sign on for terms of 6 to 9 months away from their families and work 7 days a week. Their impeccable uniform presentation combined with humble hospitality left me in awe. The cruise fare included gratuities, so the staff was definitely not working extra hard for tips. Still, there were many who provided such exceptional service, I felt they deserved an extra gratuity. One woman commanded the entire main dining room (approximately 80 tables serving about 400 guests) like a field general or a conductor of a symphony orchestra. She was so polite, remembered everyone’s name and table preference and knew at all times what was going on in the ...

by Adam Zack — September 16, 2026

“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 ...

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...

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...

by Adam Zack — August 26, 2026

“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.

by Adam Zack — August 19, 2026

“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
...
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The Choir

by Adam Zack — August 12, 2026

“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...

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Grudgeholder

by Adam Zack — August 5, 2026

“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...

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Integrity

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. 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...

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