#146 - Buyer Spotlight: Darren Viscount, Bristol Farms

The Startup CPG Podcast · 11 Jun 2024 · 50m · Episode 46

What this episode covers

Darren Viscount, Senior Natural Living Category Manager at Bristol Farms, discusses his approach to curating the health and wellness category, emphasizing a 70/30 natural-to-conventional store mix and the importance of empathy derived from his personal battle with leukemia. He details current consumer trends, noting that social media drives discovery of ingredients like cmos and mushrooms, while foundational products like protein and probiotics remain sales leaders. Viscount explains his strategy for brand selection, which relies on active social media monitoring, LinkedIn outreach, and fostering strong relationships with in-store teams through events like 'Natural Palooza' to ensure successful execution and sales velocity.

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