For The Greater Good

IGA CEO John Ross talks with 2026 Retailer of the Year Kelly Gutzwiller of Versailles IGA about the leap of faith that led her to take over her family's store after her father's passing, and how community connection and a willingness to take risks have shaped her leadership.

IGA CEO John Ross visits with brothers Jacob and Jason Linnes of Orcas Island Market, fifth-generation owners of a remote island grocery store off the Washington coast, to discuss how meticulous care, deep product variety, and a clever community gift card program earned them recognition as Retailers of the Year.

IGA CEO John Ross sits down with 2026 IGA USA Retailer of the Year Brian McGregor to talk about running a 24-hour independent grocery store in the small logging town of St. Maries, Idaho, and how deep community roots and giving back have shaped its success.

Season 2: Homegrown Heroes
For the Greater Good comes home. After a first season spent inside the boardrooms of the world's top CPG companies, IGA President and CEO John Ross turns the mic toward the people who bring the grocery business to life every day: the independent retailer.
To mark IGA's 100th anniversary, this season features nine conversations with the 2026 IGA USA Retailers of the Year — store owners and operators uniquely nominated during our Centennial year for going above and beyond for their customers, their employees, and their towns. Each episode digs into what actually makes an independent grocery store thrive: the operational instincts, the community investment, the tough calls, and the stubborn optimism it takes to compete and win at the local level.
Across nine episodes, John sits down with retailers to talk about:
What's working — the merchandising, service, and operational choices driving results in their stores
Community impact — how they show up for the neighborhoods they serve, from local partnerships to everyday customer relationships
The real challenges — labor, supply chain, margins, and the pressures independent grocers face today
What's next — how they're evolving to meet changing shopper expectations while staying true to what makes them independent
Season 2 is a celebration of the entrepreneurs at the heart of IGA's first century — and a candid look at what it really takes to run a great grocery store.
In Season 2, Episode 1:
IGA CEO John Ross catches up with Jennifer and Tim Bosma, IGA USA 2026 Retailers of the Year from Fort Bragg and Mendocino, California, to talk about sustainability investments, employee empowerment, and creative community giving programs that have shaped their family store over the past 40 years.

American Egg Board President & CEO Emily Metz joins IGA CEO John Ross for the season two premiere of For the Greater Good, where Metz addresses the avian flu's impact on egg supply and pricing, along with strategies to meet consumer demand in a changing market.

When a global consumer packaged goods company like Nestlé wants to initiate more sustainable practices, choosing which initiatives to prioritize is a daunting task. Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider spoke with IGA CEO John Ross in episode 11 of the For the Greater Good podcast about what they must consider when launching sustainable initiatives, the business side of sustainability, and Nestlé's goals to be Net Zero by 2050. Schneider has published these pieces on sustainability:• Consumers want sustainable options. What food producers, suppliers, and retailers can do now: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/consumers-want-sustainable-options-what-food-can-do-now-schneider/• How a living income can remake cocoa farming: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-living-income-can-help-remake-cocoa-farming-mark-schneider/Want to learn more about Nestlé’s sustainability efforts? Visit these pages:• Nestlé Sustainability: https://www.nestle.com/sustainability• Supporting balanced & sustainable diets with products good for you and good for the planet: https://www.nestle.com/sustainability/nutrition-health• Nestlé's climate action and roadmap to achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest: https://www.nestle.com/sustainability/climate-change• Nestlé's waste reduction: Reducing packaging and food waste: https://www.nestle.com/sustainability/waste-reduction

Consumers want to buy products from companies that are making a difference in our communities. Hear Kellogg’s Chairman & CEO Steve Cahillane and IGA CEO John Ross discuss Kellogg’s myriad of initiatives to better humanity and the planet, including their support of women smallholders, ensuring ED&I in the workplace, and addressing food waste. Learn more at: https://betterdays.kelloggcompany.com/

In this episode of For the Greater Good, McCormick & Co. Chairman and CEO Lawrence Kurzius discusses the impact of climate change on spices and extracts and how McCormick is working to ensure their raw materials will be available 20+ years from now. For more information on McCormick’s Purpose-led Performance Program, visit: https://www.mccormickcorporation.com/en/responsibility/purpose-led-performance

Haleon CEO Brian McNamara speaks with IGA CEO John Ross about Haleon’s sustainability efforts as part of their purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity through some of the world’s most trusted brands that include Sensodyne, Theraflu, Flonase, Advil, Centrum, and more. For full details of Haleon’s sustainability commitments please visit: https://www.haleon.com/planet-and-people/sustainability-and-purpose/

IGA CEO John Ross speaks with L'Oréal President, Consumer Products Division Alexis Perakis-Valat about why L’Oréal has invested so much in sustainability, which includes attracting talented employees, and what they are doing to make the beauty industry more sustainable. Learn more about their efforts at: https://www.loreal.com/en/commitments-and-responsibilities/for-the-planet/