Heidi Huff & Nick Nikitas: Importance of In Person Networking

Listen to the discussion between Heidi Huff, SVP of Consumer Development at Alliance Retail Group and WGA board member, alongside Nick Nikitas, General Manager of Local Independent Grocery at Instacart at last year's NGA conference. 

With detailed insights, Heidi and Nick illuminate how retail media analytics are empowering retailers to track every dollar spent, ensuring maximum impact and accountability.

The conversation also highlights the irreplaceable value of face-to-face connections in a people-centric industry. Even in our digital age, Heidi and Nick stress that nothing beats the camaraderie and networking opportunities at industry events like the National Groceries Association show. Experience the sense of community as multigenerational, family-owned businesses come together, nurturing relationships and preparing the next generation of leaders. Whether through thoughtful presentations or shared meals, the essence of collaboration and family is celebrated, showcasing the spirit that drives the independent grocery sector forward.

Register for NGA today

Hear more from Lori Brown.

Did you love the show - Text and tell us why.

Support the show

Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
Join WGA
Join NGA
Attend this year's NGA show
F: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-grocers-association/

Host: Kristin Popp
Producer: Rachael Melot

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Heidi Heff and I am the SVP of Consumer
Development at Alliance RetailGroup.
I am also a WGA board member.
I am the vice president of theWGA board and I serve on the
National Groceries AssociationFoundation as well.
And with me today is NickNikitas.

(00:22):
Hi, nick.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
And with me today is Nick Nikitas.
Hi, nick, hi, great to see you,good to be here.
So my name is Nick Nikitas.
I'm the general manager oflocal independent grocery at
Instacart.
10 years ago, I founded acompany called Rosie and we
leveled the playing field sothat local independent grocers
could compete with nationalchains and online marketplaces.
We grew it to hundreds ofretailer locations in over 40
states and, in September of 22,instacart acquired our business

(00:44):
and now we're continuing ourmission with the independent
grocers that we know and love,as we help them take advantage
of the latest technology andtransform their stores into the
store of the future.
In addition to my work atInstacart, I serve on the NGA
Foundation Board as Secretaryand I'm the Chairman of the Raft
Advisory Council.
Excellent, very good.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
So today we're talking about NGA specifically.
So, first of all, what are youlooking forward to this year
versus years in the past?

Speaker 2 (01:10):
I think the number one thing that I'm interested in
and excited about for thisyear's show is the rise of
retail media.
I think it is probably thesingle biggest transformation of
our industry over the last twodecades.
It has the promise ofincreasing profitability for our
retailers by bringing in moresupplier contribution, and I
think that independents havebeen for a long time
discriminated against and havenot been able to get the same

(01:32):
brand dollars that these largechains have had.
And what we're going to see isa shift in digital from digital
being a cost center to actuallybeing a driver of enhanced
profitability.
And NGA is the place where weall gather to talk about these
things and work through themtogether.
So this is really the beginningof the next phase of
independent grocery.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
I agree with you a hundred percent and I think with
retail media, the best partabout it is it's the analytics
that come with it.
Everybody's held accountable.
So those dollars, you canreally see where they go and you
can follow that path, versus avendor giving money to a
retailer and they really have noidea.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
I mean, that's the thing, right.
Who's the person spending it?
It's the 30-year-old MBA who'ssitting at their screen.
They got to reach 25 millionpeople.
They want to see those salesattributed and they want to be
able to have a measurable ROASthat they can bring back to
their chief marketing officer.
So that accountability youtalked about is so critical,
because the brands now want tobe able to influence customer

(02:28):
behavior at the moment of sale.
Absolutely so it's just goingto be a rising tide that lifts
all boats.

Speaker 1 (02:32):
I agree, I agree a hundred percent.
So let's talk a little bit moreabout at the show and the
in-person networking, howimportant that in-person
networking is.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
So, first off, I think I should out myself a
little bit.
You know I'm a millennial thatgrew up in the Nintendo
generation and the internetgeneration, so, like you know,
I'm part of that group.
That's part of the problem.
But I think that you know, ourindustry is a people business
right, and to really move theball forward you gotta get
together with people.
I think that the time that wespend together at events like
this, at food shows across thecountry or what, create the
connections and relationshipsthat allow us to better serve

(03:07):
the independent.
I also think that, like youknow, independents especially
just want to look somebody inthe eye and get something done
quickly and not have to gothrough all the emails and the
text messages and the phonecalls, and so, whether it's the
breakfast, lunches and dinners,the thoughtful presentations and
panels, or even just the beingtogether in one place, it's
really like, in some ways, afamily reunion for our whole

(03:28):
industry.
Everybody's so excited to behere and work together to
continue to improve.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
Oh, I agree, I love coming every year.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
I think the other fun thing too is, like a lot of
these companies aremulti-generational, family-owned
businesses.
So being able to see the kidsbecome the managers and then
eventually, you know, be thatthe next generation that the
torch is being passed to, I meanit's amazing.
I remember some of these owners.
When I first met them, they hadmaybe three stores and their
parents were still in thebusiness, and now they've got 12

(03:55):
locations and they'recontinuing to grow and then you
see their kids coming up throughthe business and that just, you
know, just totally warms yourheart.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Oh, absolutely, and I agree with you.
This is hands down.
I mean people, business, forsure, and building those
relationships in person, that'sright.
So then, going a little bitdeeper on that person, on people
who is somebody that you met atthe NGA show, that has really
impacted either your business oryour career, yeah, I would say

(04:21):
probably one of my favoritepeople in the industry is Lori
Brown.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
She is just such an incredible human being.
She had gotten connected withus when we were still in the
early stages of starting ourcompany and you know, when you
start a startup, it's very hard.
I mean, everything is againstyou.
You're trying to change theworld and I think Lori saw that
very clearly what our vision wasand our commitment to the
independent and how we weremaking technology easy and

(04:45):
affordable.
And she opened doors and was sogenerous with her time and
connected us with people andalways made me feel like I was
included in every single roomthat I was in.
And she does that for everyone.
And when you know anybody who'smet Lori, their face just lights
up the moment you talk abouther.
But there are people who canjust lift us up and lighten that
load and make the journey somuch more fun and exciting.

(05:08):
And Lori's one of those peopleand she continues to make such
an impact to everybody in thegrocery industry.
And what a storied career.
She's worked on the retail side, she's worked on the brand side
at Post.
She's worked on the technologyside at Rosie and at Instacart.
So she just, you know, Lori'sthe whole package right, heidi,

(05:30):
I had a blast I get out with you.
I really enjoyed it and I reallyappreciate it, and I think we
should end by just putting ashout out to the NGA Foundation
and all the amazing work that weget to do together on that.
You know the NGA Foundation isso important because, in
addition to NGA's overallmission of lobbying on behalf of
the independent grocer inWashington, the NGA Foundation
supports workforce development,education and continuing to help
grow the next generation ofleaders in our industry through

(05:53):
programming and also helping tonavigate things like SNAP and
other benefits to helpindependent grocers succeed.
I'm just so proud of the workthat we're doing together and
Chelsea and the entire team Yep,me too, me too.
Well, thank you Absolutely.
Thanks, heidi, appreciate beinghere.