Company Blog

Good Intentions Don’t Stock the Shelves

by Adam Zack — March 5, 2025

“..thinking about great products and service isn’t enough—those thoughts have to translate into results.”

I heard someone say today, “It’s the thought that counts.” And it got me thinking—no, actually, it’s the result that counts. I could sit here and think all the good thoughts in the world about your happiness or success, but if nothing changes for you, then what did my good thoughts really count for? Not much. Action beats intention every time.Curious, I dug into the phrase’s origins. Turns out, it’s more than just a cliché—it’s a full-blown proverb, credited to Henry van Dyke, Jr., a professor, ambassador, and clergyman at the turn of the 19th century. This guy was no lightweight—he was a friend of Helen Keller and even officiated Mark Twain’s funeral. The original saying? “It’s not the gift, it’s the thought that counts.”And sure, that makes sense. A poorly wrapped gift or a sweater two sizes too big still carries the message that someone cared enough to try. It’s a gentle nudge to appreciate the effort, not just the execution.But let’s be real—good intentions only go so far. In today’s world, especially in business, the thought alone doesn’t cut it. Safety, quality, and cus...

by Adam Zack — February 19, 2025

Never. Treat people right—with respect, with a caring spirit—and good things come your way. My simple definition of karma: What goes around, comes around. That doesn’t mean you’ll win the lottery. It doesn’t mean you’ll always be happy. And it certainly doesn’t mean life will be problem-free.But having faith in doing the right thing means you don’t have to worry about lies catching up to you. It means fewer regrets. It means a clear conscience. It means gossip has no hold over you. It means you smile more. Really.Faith in business is just as important. It’s not just about increasing profits, cutting costs, or staying ahead of the competition. It’s about trust—trusting that when you, your clients, your vendors, and your customers do the right thing, success follows. That kind of faith builds long-term relationships, turning business into something more meaningful. When you care, work stops feeling like a job and starts feeling like a passion.And when things get tough, when uncertainty shakes everything up, your faith will be tested. You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll second-guess your choices. But if you did the right thing—made honest decisions, even when they were hard—then you’re on solid ground. You’ve made mistakes, sure, but they’ve made you wiser. And in ...

by Adam Zack — February 12, 2025

“Food is the common denominator in satisfying our basic emotional needs.”

“I often say that you can be miserable before eating a cookie and you can be miserable after eating a cookie, but you can never be miserable while you’re eating a cookie.” – Ina GartenFood has the unique ability to comfort us and make us feel happy, content, or well, just playing comforted in nearly every situation. Milestone birthday celebration? Your favorite cake. Date night at home watching a movie? Popcorn. Worried? Brownies. Tired? Hot tea. Food is the common denominator in satisfying our basic emotional needs. It inspires us to be adventurous when we cook and it also can be the easiest in the form of take-out or ready to eat when we are short on time. Grocery shopping is the conduit to providing that comfort, and we have the unique opportunity to not only provide the comfort food, but to be the comfort place where people go to get it. They may see their friends and neighbors shopping, and get the comforting feeling of community. They see the familiar cashier or butcher, and get the comforting feeling of normalcy. They get a new wine recommendation from the wine clerk, who remembers what they bought last time, and get the comforting feeling ...

by Adam Zack — February 5, 2025

“…treat your customers like your one true love. Show them they matter.”

“No one comes together just to fall apart.”
– Marshall Crenshaw It probably started with something casual—maybe a little eye contact across the room, a flirty first interaction, and then, bam, you were in it. Things were going well. You were seeing each other regularly, sharing meals, making memories. But then, out of nowhere, the dreaded, “We need to talk.” Next thing you know, you’ve been dumped. Hard.We’ve all been there. Relationships take effort, attention, and a little charm to keep the spark alive. Maybe this one started out of convenience. Or maybe it was fate—your profile looked so appealing, and they swiped right (or left? Honestly, dating apps are confusing). Either way, they gave you a shot, and you impressed them. You weren’t exclusive, but they kept coming back. And let’s be honest, you fed them really well.But your love interest? They had options. A lot of options. They started seeing what else was out there—new experiences, exciting flavors, someone who really paid attention to their needs. And slowly, they stopped answering your texts (and by texts, I mean ads). No more weekend visits. No more ...

by Adam Zack — January 29, 2025

“Our success … comes from showing up, working together, and putting our customers first every single day.”

I spend a lot of time preaching that teamwork is the backbone of success in the grocery business, especially for independent stores. We’ve got to have each other’s backs, right? There’s no “I” in team—or so they say. But let’s be real: we’re not just a team. We’re a band, and if we want to make great music (or, you know, run a great store), we’ve got to harmonize. Speaking of bands, I’ve been listening to the Beach Boys lately—“Surfer Girl,” “Wendy,” you name it. And wow, those harmonies are next-level brilliant. Complex, perfectly in sync… you’d think they were the poster children for teamwork. Spoiler alert: nope. Turns out the Beach Boys were three brothers, a cousin, and a couple of close friends who, for most of their careers, couldn’t stand each other. In-fighting, jealousy, and clashing lifestyles (one group was all about drugs and partying, the other… not so much). They basically needed referees at band practice. And yet, they gave us Pet Sounds, one of the greatest albums ever made. How? They managed to hold it together just long enough to record pure genius before going back to thei...

by Adam Zack — January 22, 2025

…look at our long-term employees and think back to what they have given of themselves … and how much their dedication and loyalty have contributed to our success.

It’s all about instant gratification, right? To quote the Ramones “We want the world, and we want it now.” Businesses and employees alike are under the constant pressure to please now. Right now. Much more frequently what you did last year, last month, last week and even yesterday is forgotten. As a business, we have invested thousands of hours and many years working on the little things that we hope will build a foundation of loyalty with our customers. But with the barrage of alluring messages from competitors, our years of effort depreciate pretty fast. Without constant reinforcement, reminders and exceptional service our customers’ memory becomes fuzzy and fades to black quicker than ever. You may have the best butcher in town but one disappointment raises an eyebrow. The second casts serious doubts and anything after that you have lost that customer no matter how long you have served the family. Employees seem to have an even shorter leash. For years they have given 100%, sparked innovation and ideas, helped with the evolution of your store and made substantial contributions to s...

by Adam Zack — January 15, 2025

Love grows from forgiveness, and true repentance heals both the transgressor and the victim.

There is an art to apologizing. No, I shouldn’t say art, because that implies that with a lot of practice and natural talent, you’ve gotten really good at something. Being sorry so often that you’ve become a professional apologizer is not something to brag about. As essentially good people, we aim to behave in thoughtful ways that don’t require frequent apologies. But let’s face it—we all screw up. Intentional or not, we’ve all done and said things that hurt or offend others. And when that happens, as good people, we need to atone for our transgressions in a meaningful way.Love grows from forgiveness, and true repentance heals both the transgressor and the victim. Where things get sticky—leading to prolonged grief and lingering bad feelings—is when an apology feels insincere or lacks specificity. “Sorry I made you mad” doesn’t quite cut it.A while ago I came across a valuable piece of advice in an “Ask Amy” column in the newspaper (yes, some of us still read the newspaper, even if we’re a dying breed). It was about making amends and outlined three crucial steps:

Acknowledge what you did. Take ful
...
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The Professional Edge

by DW Green — January 8, 2025

“Professional sports teaches us, excellence isn’t situational, it’s habitual. After all, in business as in sports, true professionalism isn’t just what you do—it’s how you do everything.”

Recalling experiences attending professional sporting events brings to mind one consistent theme: everything is top notch. In a word, professional. The venues, whether stadiums, ballparks, or arenas, are beautifully designed, greatly enhancing the overall experience. From the moment you approach these architectural marvels to the carefully curated amenities inside, every detail is considered with the fan’s experience in mind.The coaches and players are the best in the world—gifted athletes who transform their natural ability into excellence in their chosen sport through relentless dedication and preparation. Each game showcases years of refined skill, strategic thinking, and split-second decision- making that separate good from great. Yet what we see on the field or court is just the tip of the iceberg.Obviously, much goes into a successful professional sports team. Behind every winning organization stands a small army of talent-laden individuals at all levels. From successful owners who provide vision and resources, to general managers who build ro...

by Adam Zack — January 8, 2025

“I assert that when it comes to our field of marketing and branding the maverick grocers of North America, the question that matters most and that each should be asking first and foremost is WHY?”

2025 marks the tenth anniversary of writing this blog. Yay! Happy Anniversary! Ten years goes
by so fast. I was talking to one of my employees the other day, a 20 year old kid and we talked
about how 20 was kind of no-man’s land of ages. Too young to buy booze or smokes, but too
old to blame it all on being a teenager. I, on the other hand, as I turned a seemingly ancient 61 a
few days ago, think back to how fun my 20’s were and how life evolved. So I thought about how
this blog has evolved over the last 10 years, and decided to look back and see just what the hell
my ramblings conveyed in the early years of blogdom. This one below, my third blog ever,
struck me as still being very relevant, so I decided to re-blog it. Our recipient list has increased
by about 1,000 people since then, so I feel it is relevant to share again.The Most Important W
Most of us who went to school remember the 5 W’s. Who, What, When, Where, and Why. In
this age of equality for all words, le...

by Adam Zack — December 31, 2024

Gratitude, not goals, takes center stage.

It’s New Year’s Eve, and honestly, resolutions just aren’t my thing. Don’t get me wrong—I know what I need to do: eat fewer fries, do more cardio, and tell the people who love me how much I appreciate them. But let’s be real—whether I’ll actually do those things isn’t hinged on declaring them at midnight. It’s more about continuing to try, failing spectacularly at times, and then trying again.Instead, New Year’s for me is about pressing pause to appreciate what’s already good in my life. Gratitude, not goals, takes center stage. And wow, do I have a lot to be thankful for—it’s like trying to fit everything into one carry-on bag; the blessings just keep spilling over. So instead of listing them all, let me sum it up: I’m thankful. Every single day.Recently, my wife sent me some notes about wisdom and life lessons, and one really hit home—it perfectly summed up how I’ve felt in 2024: When you take stock of the things you’re grateful for, you lose sight of the things you lack. That’s a mindset worth carrying into every New Year.I know a few “glass half-empty” people (you know the type). And I wish I could hand them this pe...

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