Explore every episode of the podcast Grocer Pod - Presented by AWG - Grocery, Marketing and more

 In this episode of Grocer Pod, Ana Velazquez—Vice President at the Retail Learning Institute and IGA Coca-Cola Institute—returns to share how AWG University can help retailers cut costs and boost performance through effective staff training. Ana and host Sean Kosednar dive into the wide range of learning resources available, from onboarding to advanced retail strategies. If you're ready to elevate your team's skills and efficiency, reach out to Ana to get started with AWG University.

Recent changes allow states to apply for SNAP waivers modifying, state-by-state, what products will be SNAP eligible. AWG Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Becker is in the studio breaking down what this mean for AWG member retailers. Get the latest update of SNAP waivers for you state HERE.

On this week's episode, we share a Learning Lounge presentation from AWG Innovation Showcase 2025. BRdata President John Abbene presents the ways AWG members can harness the power of AI to help their business.  

Digital media is crucial to AWG member retailers. Sean Kosednar sat down with ShoptoCook President and CEO John Thompson at the AWG Innovation Showcase in March. Thompson explained how AWG members can use digital media to not only get new customers but maintain their existing customers as well. 

AWG Brands Senior Marketing Specialist Rachel Frierdich joins Sean Kosednar in the studio to spotlight the power of AWG Brands’ Marketing Success Kits. Each month, the AWG Brands team curates a fully themed, plug-and-play marketing plan designed to help AWG member retailers drive sales of private brand products. These kits make it easy to showcase the value and benefits of AWG Brands to customers—saving time while delivering results.

Sean Kosednar sat down with Founder and CEO of ProfitTrax Larry Miller at Innovation Showcase 2025 in March and learned all about how AWG members can harness the power of centralized data to improve their business.

On this week’s episode of Grocer Pod, we’re diving into another exciting quarterly product launch from AWG Brands. Every quarter, the team rolls out a fresh wave of new products—carefully designed to help AWG member retailers stay competitive, meet shifting shopper needs, and keep shelves stocked with high-quality, value-driven items. AWG Brands Product Manager Tyler Olinger is back in the studio with Sean Kosednar to discuss the success of new AWG Brands items and introduce the latest items launched in July.

Big changes are coming to AWG Grocer's Kart. AWG intern Miller Brown joins Sean Kosednar in the studio on this week's Grocer Pod to talk about these exciting enhancements. Learn why Grocer's Kart is your one-stop shop for textiles and signage.

GiveX’s loyalty program can help AWG member retailers retain customers, increase basket size, and, most importantly, drive extra trips. Sean Kosednar sat down with GiveX's VP of Community Rewards Andy Ruff at the Innovation Showcase to hear all about it. 

Hello World by Best Choice is the new baby line from AWG Brands. Vice President of AWG Brands Emily Detwiler is in the studio with Sean Kosednar to discuss the new product line.

Sean Kosednar sat down with Matt Swanson from North Country Business Solutions at the AWG Innovation Showcase. The two talked about how North Country can help AWG members better integrate their data. 

This week Sean Kosednar is joined in the studio by Robert Austin and Jesse Himango from Empower Fresh. The three discuss how AWG member retailers can harness the power of AI in their fresh departments.

Sean Kosednar talks with Caroline Catoe and Brittany Benton from ECRS during AWG Innovation Showcase 2025. 

AWG Marketing Services Specialist Maggie Wilson and Sean Kosednar discuss some of the latest food trends sweeping social media on this week's Grocer Pod. They also talk about ways you can take advantage of these trends in your store.

This week is the first installment of conversations recorded at AWG Innovation Showcase 2025. Carey Berger from Crossroads is back on Grocer Pod to lead things off. Sean Kosednar talks with him about what AWG member retailers can do to increase the pool of potential buyers when it comes time for them to sell their stores.

We are all excited for AWG Innovation Showcase 2025. To get ready, here is a look back to last year's keynote speaker, Daniel Burrus. 

On this week's Grocer Pod, AWG Brands Product Manager Tyler Olinger is in the studio with Sean Kosednar to discuss the Q1 new items and what is still to come from AWG Brands this year.

AWG members will soon be able to take advantage of a new cross-dock program with KeHE. Group Vice President of Center Store Merchandising & Sales Scott Evans joins Sean Kosednar in the studio this week to explain the new program and how it will help AWG member retailers. 

Sean Kosednar took his microphone around the HGS Spring Show in early February to give everyone who wasn't in attendance a feel for what the show had to offer. 

Credit card skimming has come to grocery stores and Jeff Klaus from Retail Data Systems is here to share how it's happening and how to prevent it. On this week's Grocer Pod, Jeff explains to Sean Kosednar how AWG member retailers can protect their stores and their customers from these devices. 

AWG President and CEO Dan Funk joins Sean Kosednar on this week's Grocer Pod. They discuss Dan's first year as President and CEO. Dan also lays out what AWG members can expect in 2025.

AWG Brands has big plans for 2025 and AWG Brands Product Manager Tyler Olinger is in the studio to tell host Sean Kosednar all about them. 

AWG Brands has been stacking up the awards as of late. Cara Finger, AWG Brands Marketing Manager, is back in the studio to tell everyone about which brands and products won. 

Cara Finger, AWG Brands Marketing Manager, is in the studio with Sean Kosednar talking about AWG Brands digital coupons on this week's Grocer Pod. 

Executive Director of Design and Construction Joel Riggs joins Sean Kosednar in the studio this week to tell AWG member retailers how Store Engineering can help them access public funds to pay for new store builds or even remodels. 

 On this week's Grocer Pod, several AWG teammates talk to host Sean Kosednar about what they learned, as well as the benefits of attending the Groceryshop 2024 conference. 

Doing everything from site selection to lease management, market research and store engineering, AWG's Real Estate department can help every member retailer. AWG's Director of Real Estate, Michael Galiga, joins Sean Kosednar on this week's Grocer Pod to get the word out about the Real Estate Department.

Stacy Leeton, AWG Sr. Category Manager for Health & Wellness, is back on Grocer Pod. This week she tells Sean Kosednar about what is going on in the Cough and Cold medicine category.

AWG Brands has revamped its vitamin category. Stacy Leeton, AWG Sr. Category Manager for Health & Wellness, joins Sean Kosednar to discuss the new offerings on this week's Grocer Pod.

On this week's Grocer Pod, Sean Kosednar walks the show floor at the 2024 Kansas City Food Show. He talks with vendors and AWG teammates about some of the food show offerings. 

AWG University is here to help our member retailers provide comprehensive employee training for their staff. Learning Solutions Director Ana Velazquez talks with host Sean Kosednar about how retailers can get the most out of the program. 

Salty Snacks is a $60.5 Billion a year category. Category Manager Jared Grieve and AWG Brands Product Manager Tyler Olinger join host Sean Kosednar in the studio to help introduce new AWG Brands offerings to the category. 

We couldn't wait until Wednesday to bring you Category Manager Ernesto Otero's conversation with Sean Kosednar about the new General Mills cereal Kelce Mix. 

September is FMI's Family Meals Month. AWG Brands' Senior Marketing Specialist, Rachel Frierdich and Kaylee Keane, RMN Marketing & Data Specialist, join Sean Kosednar in the studio to talk about all the ways AWG can help member retailers celebrate Family Meals Month.

On this week's Grocer Pod, AWG Brands Senior Sourcing Manager Robert Fahr and Daymon Senior Director Emma Bryan join host Sean Kosednar to discuss the evolution of the AWG Brands paper program. Learn about the new offerings across the AWG Brands’ lines in the paper category. 

AWG has completed integration of VMC products, programs and teams into the AWG merchandising organization umbrella. Group Vice-President Scott Evans is in the studio with Sean Kosednar to explain what the change means to AWG member retailers on this week's Grocer Pod.

AWG Advertising Specialist Ryan Gellings joins Sean Kosednar on this week’s Grocer Pod. The two discuss what is new with AWG Grocer’s Kart. Visit https://awggrocerskart.com/ to place your order today!

We have a role reversal on this week's Grocer Pod. Sean Kosednar is in the hot seat as AWG intern Josh Gregory talks to Sean about how the variety of services from AWG's Media Productions can help our member retailers. 

AWG Brands has great new products in their Best Choice from the Bakery Line. Category manager David Villanueva joins Sean Kosednar on this week's Grocer Pod to talk about the delicious new bakery offerings. 

On this week's Grocer Pod, IGA President and CEO John Ross joins host Sean Kosednar to discuss how the most successful stores recruit and retain their employees.

Learn how to reach more customers with digital circulars when Sean Kosednar talks with Ideal by Design House's SVP of Product Development Adam Zimmerman on this week's Grocer Pod. 

12AWG Brands has totally overhauled the ice cream category. Category Sales Director Brady Manning and Senior Category Manager Donna Yarbrough join Sean Kosednar in the studio on this week's Grocer Pod. They didn't come empty handed. After talking about the changes to the category, the three sampled several of the new Best Choice Superior Selections flavors. 

2024 marks the 40th Anniversary for Always Save. AWG Brands Executive Director Emily Detwiler joins Sean Kosednar in the studio for this week's Grocer Pod. The two look back at Always Save through the years, as well as where the brand is going in the next four decades.

 Grocer Pod host, Sean Kosednar, looks back on the first 103 episodes of the show. 

It is the last of the conversations from Innovation Showcase. Sean Kosednar sits down with Our People and Truno. 

Learn how TimeForge can help AWG members attract and keep great employees from the TimeForge COO Audrey Hogan. Audrey joined Sean Kosednar at the 2024 Innovation Showcase. The two talk about all the ways TimeForge can benefit  retailers.