Remember Our Roots 

Pat Sheridan is President & CEO of INFRA, a purchasing and services cooperative of over 350 independent grocery and wellness stores across the United States

by Pat Sheridan, President & CEO, INFRA

Well, we made it through the first full post-pandemic year and supply chains are stronger, inflation is cooling, people are gathering again, and there is hope in rebuilding the good that strong communities bring to us. But some things haven’t come back, and many believe they never will. The norms that guided working in the office are in flux, the wholesale commandeering of healthy products by the largest re- and e-tailers to fill their otherwise empty shelves appears to be permanent. And why not? Some of them learned that consumers actually care about what they put in, and on, their bodies, and celebrated higher margins to boot. Consumers who were compelled to stay put were inundated with so many more channels of access to the groceries and supplements they love. The prices were competitive, and the products showed up on our front porches in two hours. What magic is this? It was, and remains, an enticing proposition.

But, as we know, there are downsides to these changes. Massive growth in the sale of high-quality healthy food and supplement products is attracting new players who are skirting the rules (e.g., fraud in organics and low-quality ingredients in supplements) in order to tap into the growth. New brands are trying to break into a product supply chain that reaps ever-dwindling margins. Consumers have reduced their store visits by as much as a third compared to 2019. Locally owned retailers are struggling. Let me say that once again— locally owned retailers are struggling!

My call to action to all of us in this lovely industry is to slow down, be thoughtful, and remember our roots.

The Native and Indigenous communities that protect the earth while growing food, the farming communities of India that practice Vedic agriculture, the individuals too numerous to mention that championed the sanctity of our ingredients and supply chains, and the “mom and pop” health food store owners that won DSHEA all have some things in common. They all support the production of healthy foods, they all take a community-based approach to getting healthy foods to consumers, and they all represent the roots of who we are and why we’re here thriving in this post-pandemic world. Remember our roots. 

Remember our roots when we sell our products by prioritizing locally owned retailers for quality over the retail and e-tail giants for volume. Remember our roots when we launch new products because the most loyal customers prefer their local stores. Remember our roots when we provide pricing to the supply chain to prioritize local over national. And remember our roots when we shop, realizing that an extra five minutes to get there and a few percentage points in cost can make the difference in keeping local economies thriving.

As we mark the 30th anniversary of DSHEA, what are the most pressing issues facing the industry, and what steps should industry members take to ensure our collective success?  Read on for more insights from AHPA, CRN, CHPA, NPA, Organic & Natural Health, and SENPA!