Discover Why An Employee-Owned Grocer In Indiana Ditched Print Ads & Isn't Looking Back

Meet Josh Kuhbander, VP of Neighborhood Fresh, an employee-owned (ESOP) grocery chain in northern Indiana that made a bold move by eliminating print ads in 2024. Discover how they're achieving an impressive 86% loyalty program participation rate through customer service, meat cutters, baggers, and strategic digital engagement while competing against big box retailers. 🕒 TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Josh's grocery industry background and family connections 1:26 - What makes Neighborhood Fresh unique: employee ownership 2:03 - Bold move: eliminating print ads in 2024 2:56 - Competing against big retailers through service and loyalty 4:18 - "Control the controllables" philosophy during challenges 5:49 - E-commerce considerations and pandemic lessons 6:26 - Why timing matters for digital transformation Thanks to Simbe for making our SpartanNash Conference coverage possible! #EmployeeOwned #ESOP #NeighborhoodFresh #IndependentGrocer #LoyaltyPrograms #DigitalMarketing #CustomerService #GroceryInnovation #SmallTownGrocery #RetailStrategy This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy