Your Bridge to Local
Your Bridge to Local is the podcast that connects you with the people, products, and ideas driving local foodservice success. From delivering products to uncovering opportunities in local markets, Affinity Group offers insights and strategies to help you succeed. Let’s get to work.
Episodes
Big news, big energy, and an even bigger vision. In this special episode of Your Bridge to Local, we’re pulling back the curtain on a major milestone for Affinity Group. One that signals our continued commitment to innovation, growth, and reshaping what’s possible in the food industry. Host Mindy Kopacz is joined by Neil Gladstone with Affinity Group, along with Matt Ward and George Monahan with Mascari NXT to discuss the acquisiti...
Who doesn’t love a good Limited Time Offer? From the McRib to the Pumpkin Spice Latte, LTOs have a way of sparking excitement, and in the foodservice world, they can do a whole lot more.
In this episode, Affinity Group host Mindy Kopacz sits down with Jim Binner of Lactalis Culinary and Alan Britz of Britz Food Group to dive into the hits and misses of some of the most memorable LTOs, from Arby’s Steak Bites to the Shamrock Shake, T...
The foodservice industry depends on women every day; in operations, sales, and behind the scenes. But when it comes to leadership, there’s still work to do.
In this episode, Affinity Group host Mindy Kopacz leads a thoughtful conversation with Nicole Strohman with Basic American Foods, Amy Garrard with Edward Don & Company, and Morgan Agba with Griffith Foods on how foodservice manufacturers can create more opportunities for wom...
From TikTok recipes to Instagram-worthy LTOs, social media is transforming how foodservice brands and operators show up, stand out, and serve up success.
In this episode, Affinity Group host Mindy Kopacz is joined by Jim Martin with Smithfield Culinary, Chef Michael Ponzio with Park Ridge Country Club and Sharon Ponti with FoodMix Marketing Communications to dive fork-first into the role social media plays in this industry. How does...
What will it take to get the next generation to see foodservice as more than just flipping burgers or waiting tables? In this episode of “Your Bridge to Local,” host Mindy Kopacz is joined by industry veterans as they share what they’ve learned from working closely with young professionals, and how they’re rewriting the leadership and training playbook to meet this new workforce where they are. Mindy’s joined by Erik Baylis of Bayl...
On this fun episode of Your Bridge to Local, Affinity Group host Mindy Kopacz dishes up a lively and insightful conversation about the power of culinary in foodservice sales. Today, it’s not just about price points, it’s about delivering real flavor, functional solutions, and authentic chef-to-chef connection. Mindy is joined by a powerhouse panel: Jim Binner from Lactalis, Derrick Tung from Paulie Gee’s Logan Square, and Jamie Tra...
In this episode of Your Bridge to Local, we dive deep into the ever-evolving operator path to purchase — from discovery to decision-making — and the pivotal roles manufacturers and sales agencies play in that journey.
Affinity Group’s Path to Purchase study is hot off the press, join us as we unpack the key findings. Your host Mindy Kopacz leads our panel of experts including Ben Wexler from Custom Culinary and Joe Sefton from Affi...
E-commerce is transforming foodservice, changing how operators discover, evaluate, and purchase products. In this episode, Affinity Group’s Mindy Kopacz and Neil Gladstone are joined by Andrew Van Bark from Pepper and Sara Hagen with FoodMix Marketing Communications. Together, they explore how manufacturers, distributors, and sales agencies are leveraging digital platforms to boost efficiency and profitability. Learn about key tren...
In this episode, Affinity Group’s Mindy Kopacz and Kai Horn talk with Terrell Jones with Bush Bros. and Kelley Fechner with Datassential to explore why non-commercial foodservice has such high-potential for food manufacturers. Representing nearly 30% of the total U.S. foodservice market, non-commercial channels like healthcare, K-12, colleges, and corporate dining are ripe with opportunity. We break down where the growth is happeni...
In this episode, Affinity Group’s Mindy Kopacz and Neil Gladstone talk with Chelsea Rosengarten from McCormick & Company and Matt Wopperer from TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods, to explore the power of business intelligence—what it is, how to use it, and why it’s essential for foodservice success. Learn how manufacturers, operators, and sales agents are leveraging data to work smarter, not harder, and uncover key opportun...
In this episode, Affinity Group’s Alex Culin talks with Jodi Batten from Red Gold® Foodservice, Megan Flynn from Gaia K12 and Benita Gingerella with FoodService Director to explore the latest trends shaping school lunches across the country. From culturally diverse menus and student engagement strategies to battling rising food costs and policy changes, the panel discusses how everyone can work together to create healthy, more incl...
With 42% of College and University foodservice operators using their dining halls as a recruitment tool for incoming students*, it’s no surprise that today’s campus dining halls have upped their culinary game. There’s no better time for manufacturers to collaborate with college and universities to deliver everything their customers are looking for: Diverse menu offerings, greater social responsibility and customization. In this epi...
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