#181 - Buyer Spotlight: John Lane, Category Manager at Raley's

In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff is joined by John Lane, Category Manager for Snacks & Commercial Bread at Raley's, a division of The Raley's Companies (formerly Pantry buyer), to explore the evolving grocery landscape and the secrets behind Raley's success as a trusted grocery store chain for nearly 90 years. John shares his journey from bagging groceries to leading category management, insights into Raley's health-focused initiatives, and strategies for balancing legacy brands with emerging market entrants.

Discover actionable advice for startups on standing out in the crowded grocery market, the importance of passion and planning in brand pitches, and how Raley's is shaping the future of healthy snacking.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation—tune in now and follow the Startup CPG podcast for more episodes like this!

Listen in as they share about:

• Overview of Raley’s
• Health and Wellness Initiatives
• Industry Trends and Snack Innovations
• Balancing Legacy and Emerging Brands
• Supporting Brands at Raley's
• Success Stories in Product Launches
• Networking and Trade Shows

Episode Links:

Website: https://www.raleys.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlane-raleys/

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.

Show Links:

• Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
• Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)
• Follow @startupcpg
• Visit host Daniel's Linkedin
• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at [email protected]
• Episode music by Super Fantastics