ReConnected

In this deeply inspiring episode of The Reconnected Podcast, Luke Abbott sits down with Kathryn Shah, co-founder of Spring & Mulberry, for a raw conversation about building a purpose-driven brand from personal transformation. Kathryn shares how her battle with cancer became the catalyst for reimagining sweetness—ushering in a new era of refined-sugar-free indulgence. From her high-powered days at Unilever, LVMH, and Pantone to launching Spring & Mulberry with a bold vision for w...

In this episode of The Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott sits down with Alyssa Vescio, SVP of Merchandising, Sourcing and Product Development, at Whole Foods Market, for a deeply human and inspiring conversation. Alyssa shares her remarkable journey from working in stores at age 16 to leading merchandising across grocery, wellness, beauty, and more at the nation’s top natural retailer. She opens up about personal growth, embracing discomfort, and the power of unlocking collective potentia...

In this episode, Luke Abbott sits down with Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner of Melitas Ventures, the go-to VC firm for better-for-you consumer brands. With a background in finance and a lifelong connection to CPG, Alex shares how he transitioned from investing in large public companies to backing innovative early-stage brands like Dose, Abbot’s Butcher, and Dream Pops. Key topics covered: ⭐ From Finance to CPG Venture Capital: How Alex’s experience at Morgan Stanley and hedg...

In this episode, Luke reconnects with Jeremy Isenberg, President of Chex Finer Foods, a third-generation family business serving retailers from the Northeast to Florida. With 23 years in the company, Jeremy shares insights into preserving a family legacy while navigating the ever-changing food industry. Key discussion points include: How Jeremy’s grandfather and father shaped the values of Checks Fine Art Foods.The art of fostering trusted relationships with customers and suppliers.Insights i...

Reconnected Podcast with Frank Schuck Join Luke Abbott as he sits down with Frank Schuck, a Grocery Merchandiser at PCC, the nation's largest food co-op. Frank shares his journey from the specialty food stores of New York City to leading roles at Whole Foods and beyond. In this episode, Frank talks about: How and where his passion for cheese and specialty foods born.The transformation he has been through, and how he adopted a plant-based diet.The evolution of natural and organic food retail a...

Tune in to the Reconnected Podcast, where Luke Abbott sits down with Justin Jackson, the COO of Jimbo's—one of the leading Markets in the Natural Space! Starting at just 10 years old, Justin began his career path in a small grocery store in Boston, eventually moving into specialty food retail during his late teens. Today, Justin is focused on refreshing the brand, optimizing operations, and building a solid merchant team. Under his leadership, Jimbo's is not just staying ahead of the curve bu...

In this episode, Luke Abbott is joined by Dwight Richmond, Director of the Center Store at Town & Country Markets, who has 30 years of experience in the grocery retail industry. Dwight's career in the food industry began fresh out of college, working in grocery stores, and progressed through roles at Freshfields (later Whole Foods), Dean and DeLuca, K Foods, and eventually leading him to Town and Country Markets, where he currently oversees a team and their private label program. His jour...

Welcome to the Reconnected Podcast with your host, Luke Abbott. In this episode, Luke is joined by an experienced food industry professional and long-time friend, Rich Gillmore, the VP of Center Store at Gelson's. Rich is bringing 37+ years of retail experience from Gelson's, southern california specialty grocer and supermarket chain VONS. Tune in as Luke and Rich share personal experiences and reflect on the challenges they've faced through their professional career.