Each month, IDDBA brings you an inside look into the world of dairy, deli, bakery and beyond!
Our podcast has expanded! Every month you can catch the What's in Store segment, taking a look at what's in store for the future of our industry. In addition, be sure to join us for our other segments: Executive Aisle, where IDDBA President and CEO has a conversation with another industry leader; Inside IDDBA, bringing you insider information about our annual show; and Test Kitchen, our professional development segment.
Join us twice a month, on the first and third Tuesday of the month for Fresh Take with IDDBA!
If you want to know what's in store for the future of our industry, you'll want to listen to the What's in Store Podcast!
What's driving growth across dairy, deli, and bakery, and what do shifting sales patterns tell us about today's shoppers?
In this What's in Store episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, host Kat Shanahan welcomes Abby Despins, IDDBA Vice President of Education and Industry Relations, for a look at the latest trends shaping the fresh perimeter.
Deli is growing in both dollar and unit sales. Bakery is experiencing modest dollar growth but declining units. Dairy is seeing unit gains even as dollar sales decline. Together, these trends reveal how differently consumers are shopping across fresh departments.
Kat and Abby discuss the changing definition of value, the continued demand for protein, and the influence of GLP-1 medications on food choices. They also examine the challenges of communicating nutritional claims, the growing role of prepared foods, and the importance of delivering convenience without sacrificing quality.
Looking ahead to the holiday season, Abby shares opportunities for retailers and manufacturers to connect departments through meal solutions, complementary products, and occasion-based merchandising.
The conversation highlights a central opportunity for the industry: understanding how people eat, rather than focusing only on how grocery departments are organized.
Listen in for fresh insights and practical ideas to help retailers and manufacturers better serve today's shoppers.
Explore What's in Store: IDDBA's comprehensive trends and data publication is updated monthly and available at no cost to IDDBA members:
https://www.iddba.org/education/trainings/whats-in-store (https://www.iddba.org/education/trainings/whats-in-store)
More from Fresh Take with IDDBA:
https://www.iddba.org/podcast
Fresh Take with IDDBA releases new episodes on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.
6 Oct 2026
#57 (S5 E19) Meeting IDDBA President & CEO Paul Ziemnisky
Meet Paul Ziemnisky, IDDBA's new President and CEO.
In this Executive Aisle episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, Kat Shanahan sits down with Paul to talk about the experiences that shaped his career, his approach to leadership, and his vision for IDDBA's next chapter.
Paul shares how his background across finance, marketing, innovation, and dairy has influenced the way he thinks about growth. He also discusses opportunities for IDDBA to help members turn emerging trends into practical insights, strengthen education and professional development, and navigate changes in consumer behavior.
The conversation explores topics including snacking, health and wellness, AI-assisted shopping, international growth, the evolving relationship between retail and food service, and why investing in people is essential to building strong organizations.
Listen in to get to know IDDBA's new President and CEO and hear his perspective on the opportunities ahead for the fresh industry.
Subscribe to Fresh Take with IDDBA for new episodes on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Learn more about IDDBA and explore resources for the dairy, deli, bakery, and foodservice industries at IDDBA.org.
15 Sept 2026
#56 (S5 E18) Designing the 2030 Deli: Speed, Tech, and the Future of Fresh with Luke Abbott
What will the deli of 2030 look like?
In this What's in Store episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, host Kat Shanahan sits down with fresh perimeter strategist Luke Abbott to explore how retailers can begin designing the next generation deli today.
Luke shares why future delis will need to operate at two speeds: fast enough for convenience and slow enough for discovery. He discusses how grab-and-go, global flavors, predictive ordering, and employee training (and more) can all help retailers meet changing shopper expectations.
The conversation also looks at the role of hospitality in the future of fresh. Luke explains why technology should help associates spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time connecting with shoppers, sharing product knowledge, and building relationships.
From practical changes retailers can make today to bigger opportunities ahead, the conversation offers a look at how the deli can remain relevant, differentiated, and valuable through 2030 and beyond.
Fresh Take with IDDBA drops new episodes on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
Learn more about IDDBA and explore resources for the dairy, deli, bakery, and foodservice industries at IDDBA.org.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 35 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
59
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
27
Contact What's in Store Podcast
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of What's in Store Podcast?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
