Fruit of Your Labor

In today's episode, we sit down with Chris Mason to reveal the new ESOP share price and contribution percentage, discuss what this means for you, and provide an in-depth look at how KeHE's Employee Stock Ownership Plan operates. This is an exciting episode that you won't want to miss!

Our KeHE warehouses have acquired some amazing new technologies and automation abilities that will take our processes to the next level. Listen to the episode to hear about how these new technologies are boosting success for our customers and suppliers, while also significantly enhancing the experience for our internal employees.

Last July, KeHE began piloting a Life Coaching program for our employees, and since then, it has significantly expanded. This program enables employees to become the best versions of themselves by developing a plan to help them achieve their personal goals. In this episode, we sat down with Rebecca Salhab, Senior Director of Employee Experience, and Les Rodriguez, one of the certified Dream Managers, to learn more about the program.

In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Barnholt, Chairman of KeHE's Board of Directors, and Randy Shaw, the retired Director of KeHE Cares Outreach, to learn about the history of KeHE Cares Outreach. This is an episode you won't want to miss! You can learn more about KeHE Cares at www.kehecares.org.

The KeHE Leadership Academy is one of the main pillars of the KeHE Cares® Foundation. Its mission is to guide leaders and organizations on a journey of cultural renewal. Join us as we sit down with Paul Reichert, Director of the KeHE Leadership Academy, to uncover more about its mission and impact. If you would like to learn more about the KeHE Leadership Academy, you can visit https://www.kehecares.org/KeHE-Leadership-Academy. 

Talanton is one of our KeHE Cares® partners that invests in growing businesses in developing countries to create jobs for people living in poverty. We had the privilege of interviewing David Simms, the managing partner and founder of Talanton, to learn more about their mission. You can visit their website at https://www.talantonllc.com.

A few months ago, KeHE's distribution center in Romeoville, Illinois, began piloting an employee store as a way to give back to employees by offering great products at affordable prices. We sat down with Mike Kimery and Jackie Olney, two employees who spearheaded the opening of the store, to learn more about the store and how it's helping KeHE cut down on food waste.

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To bring awareness to this widespread issue, we sat down with Simone Halpin – Co-founder and Executive Director of Naomi's House in Wheaton, Illinois – to hear about her organization and how it is helping countless women work through the trauma of their past and build a healthy future on their own terms. To learn more about Naomi's House, you can visit https://www.naomishouse.org/.

Have you ever heard the term “Impact Investing” but weren't sure what it was? If so, you're in luck! Today's episode is divided into two parts. First, the President of the KeHE Cares Foundation, Rusty Bland, will explain what Impact Investing at KeHE means. Then, we will hear from two representatives from Pureflow, a beneficiary of KeHE's Impact Fund, to learn about their incredible lease-to-own motorcycle program in East Africa. You can learn more about Pureflow by visiting their website, www.pureflowboda.com.   

Multiple times each year, groups of KeHE employees have the opportunity to go on serving trips to Laredo, Texas. In this episode, we interviewed the two people in charge of the ministry – Pastors Luis and Lucy De Leon – to hear about the impact that our KeHE employee groups make in Laredo, and to learn more about how their ministry started. Learn more about the ministry by visiting www.newvisioncommunitychurch.org.

Join us as we sit down with KeHE President & CEO Deb Conklin as she answers questions submitted by employees. We get a glimpse into her professional journey and hear her vision for the future of KeHE.

Each September KeHE Cares hosts the Shaw Cup golf event to raise support for partners who are making an impact in their local communities. One of the organizations that was a recipient of last year's fundraising was DeWanna's Closet in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In this episode, their founder, DeWanna Tarver, shares their story of supporting school children. To learn more: Shaw Cup DeWanna's Closet Food for Thought

KeHE maintains an ESOP—Employee Stock Ownership Plan—a retirement fund for employees. Each year a new share price is announced as well as the percentage of wages that KeHE contributes to employees' account. On today's episode two employees, Dottie Owens and Chris Singelton, share their stories of being in the program, reaction to the new share price, and what the ESOP means for their future.

Serving is one of the core pillars of the KeHE Cares® Foundation. At KeHE serving is about getting shoulder to shoulder and eye to eye with our marginalized brothers and sisters around the world. Randy Shaw—Director of KeHE Cares Outreach—has been a key part of our journey from giving to hands-on serving, and today he shares that journey with us!   Learn more at kehecares.org/Serving-and-Giving-at-KeHE-Cares

KeHE Cares® has partnered with Compassion International for 6 years now. One way we support them is by sponsoring Child Development Centers in Central America. These centers provide wholistic care for children in poverty, pouring into their mind, body, and soul. Not only are children's lives being transformed but whole families and communities as well. Learn more about our partnership: https://mcr.compassion.com/kehe/

We're kicking off season four with an inspiring story from Michelle DuFresne, a recently retired VP of Sales. She walks us through her professional journey from finance to sales as well as her many experiences with KeHE's cultural of serving. Her story culminates with a recent opportunity to serve others in her everyday life.

At KeHE we are committed to caring for our planet and protecting the environment. We measure our progress in four focus areas: transportation, waste, refrigerants, and energy. Our ECOtrade™ program supports brands who make actionable commitments to climate and sustainability. Today on the podcast, two ECOtrade™ committee members—Gabriela Reyes, Fresh Retail Specialist, and Kasia Kedzierska, Brand Activation & Content Manager—share all about the program, their passion, and sustainability at KeHE. Learn more about ECOtrade™ and our sustainability goals at www.kehe.com/ecotrade/.

Join us as we sit down with KeHE President & CEO Brandon Barnholt as he answers questions submitted by employees. We get a glimpse into his professional journey, what makes KeHE culture so unique, and his vision for the future.

KeHE's Leadership Academy seeks to bring cultural transformation within organizations through the whole person leadership journey. For employees, our approach focuses on both personal and professional growth through a variety of training programs. In this episode, Jennifer Backus—a Talent and Organizational Development Manager—shares her insight in talent development. She touches on KeHE's specific programs and plans for the future while also sharing practical tips you can implement today!

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month—an issue that is prevalent both domestically and abroad. As part of our campaign to shine a light on human trafficking, Linda Powell—Executive Director of Risk Management—and Misty Ellington—Warehouse Safety Manager—are joining the podcast to share their experiences on a serving trip to Katmandu Nepal to serve with Restoring Hope Nepal. To learn more about Restoring Hope visit www.restoringhopenepal.org.

Goodness, hope, and joy spread like wildfire where KeHE employees are involved. Each holiday season, employees across KeHE nation partner with their favorite organizations to meet the practical needs of others. Listen to the stories of Lindsay Tintera, our Director of Marketing, and Peter Rizzo, Supplier Optimization Manager, as they serve families and inspire others to spread holiday joy. To learn more about the organizations they've partnered with visit: Shelter, Inc. Outreach Community Ministries  

KeHE Cares sends multiple groups of employees on serving trips to Guatemala every year. We partner with New Vision Community Church in Santa Rosita. Paul Reichert—KeHE Cares Director of Serving & Leadership—and Nancy Killian—Marketing Coordinator—share all about their experience in Guatemala and why you should consider going on a KeHE serving trip too!

A long-time partner of the KeHE Cares® Foundation, Male Mogul Initiative seeks to transform the lives of young men in Chicago. Their five-stage program instills lessons of leadership and entrepreneurship through education and hands-on experiences. Walter Mendenhall joins us on the podcast to share the organization's story and his vision for the future.   To learn more about Male Mogul Initiative, visit malemogulinitiative.org/

KeHE hosts multiple tradeshows throughout the year, including two in-person Holiday and Summer Shows. Wherever the KeHE shows go, goodness follows. Ari Goldsmith—VP of Marketing & Digital Media—and Lauren Keneway—Sr. Manager of Marketing Experience—tell us how their team makes this goodness possible for our retails, suppliers, and food consumers. Learn more about the upcoming Summer Show or register at https://www.kehe.com/news-blog/events/2023-kehe-summer-show/ !

KeHE is an employee-owned company, meaning that all eligible employees own shares of the company in an ESOP retirement account. Chris Mason—the VP of HR Technology, Talent, and Total Rewards—is here to share the new 2022 ESOP share price and all the goodness that follows!

KeHE's business is made up of a diverse range of talents. The many segments of our business are drastically different but all equally important to serving our customers. This month we will be sharing a peak into the day-to-day responsibilities of each area: transportation, corporate, the warehouse, and commercial. On the final episode of our Day in the Life series, Kristi Horton talks on customer service and relational care in her role as an Account Manager in the commercial sales organization.

KeHE's business is made up of a diverse range of talents. The many segments of our business are drastically different but all equally important to serving our customers. This month we will be sharing a peak into the day-to-day responsibilities of each area: transportation, corporate, the warehouse, and commercial. In the third part of our series, we are joined by Jackie Olney and Salim Bayo from our Phoenix Distribution Center. They share about their daily responsibilities, their culture of bringing your whole self to work, and how they put people first.

KeHE's business is made up of a diverse range of talents. The many segments of our business are drastically different but all equally important to serving our customers. This month we will be sharing a peak into the day-to-day responsibilities of each area: transportation, corporate, the warehouse, and commercial. In this episode we talk with IT Engineering Manager Pete Cavanaugh about life on the corporate side of KeHE. Learn about the work his team does to serve all areas of business each and every day.

KeHE's business is made up of a diverse range of talents. The many segments of our business are drastically different but all equally important to serving our customers. This month we will be sharing a peak into the day-to-day responsibilities of each area: transportation, corporate, the warehouse, and commercial. In this episode we talk with Merrel Rozier—a professional truck driver—about life on the transportation team, how he serves others daily, and his personal involvement with KeHE Cares®.

The KeHE Cares® Foundation is our largest example of fruit of our labor. As KeHE grows, so does the Foundation, and with growth bigger dreams can be achieved. Rusty Bland—EVP of Culture and the Foundation President—takes us through a deep dive of the organization's work, future growth, strategic endeavors, and culture of employee engagement. He not only shares stories of service and goodness but ways for you to get involved too!

Serving trips demonstrate the heart of KeHE. As we kick off SEASON THREE of KeHE's podcast, Michele Byrd—Senior Director of Sales— and Danny Ollier—Talent Acquisition Manager—share their experiences on a Laredo serving trip and how this trip has impacted their daily lives. Serving trips are part of the KeHE Cares® Foundation: https://kehecares.org/  In Laredo, KeHE's teams partner with New Vision Community Church: https://newvisioncommunitychurch.org/ 

In honor of Earth Day, this month's episode is all about sustainable food practices. Two employees—Marissa Martinez, Supply Chain Manager, and Elva Cabral, Warehouse Associate—join us from KeHE's Romeoville DC. They both work together to reduce food waste through salvage and liquidation processes, food donations, employee purchasing events, and more. 

Join us on the episode as we discuss all things B Corp! The B Corporation is about making business a force for good in the world. As a certified B Corp, KeHE is responsible for meeting high standards in how we treat our employees, communities, and the planet.     In this episode, we hear from KeHE's VP of Sales, Michelle DuFresne, and Shelby Taylor—CEO and founder of our supplier partner Chickapea. They share about the certification and why it matters to employees.

KeHE's DIVERSEtrade® program helps identify, source, and foster the development of diverse suppliers in the food industry. Cas Relucio, a member of the DIVERSEtrade committee, shares how the program works, who it supports, and why diversity is at the core of who KeHE is. Join us to learn how you can support diversity in the food industry too!   

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Many millions of people are currently trapped in modern slavery. In this episode we sit down with Wes Flint from KeHE Cares'® partner organization, Restoring Hope Nepal. He shares the realities of trafficking for women and girls in Kathmandu and spreads hope with stories of healing and redemption.

Through KeHE's partnership with Compassion International in Honduras, every employee can change a life through child sponsorship. In this episode, two employees—Aubrey Scott and Mark Zinn—share their experiences as they build relationships with their sponsored children. Listen and be inspired by their simple stories of serving others, right from their own home. Learn more: https://mcr.compassion.com/kehe/

As we enter the colder months, our personal health is even more important. In this episode, Eric Fields—KeHE's Senior Director of Wellness—discusses wellness tips and resources, four essential pillars on the road to wellness, and how whole person health is part of KeHE's culture. Two members of KeHE's HR team, Griselda Rodriguez and Vito Fiore, also share their personal wellness journeys.

The KeHE Cares® Foundation has many partners in the US and abroad, partnerships formed through employee involvement with various organizations. Erin Bradley—co-leader of the KeHE Cares Jacksonville team—and Ed Perez from 3 Grains of Rice join us to share how they're partnering to make a difference in their community. Listen and be inspired with small ways you can impact the people around you.

KeHE serving trips give employees the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and meet the needs of people around them. Carl Snyder went on a serving trip and from it was inspired to start his own nonprofit: Hunger's End Food Pantry and Blessing Closet. Listen to the episode to hear his story and be inspired with small ways you can show kindness to others.

In this month's episode, Rusty Bland—KeHE's EVP of People Engagement and Serving—announces the FY21 ESOP share price. Rusty explains how employees' retirement account balances are calculated and the benefits of ESOP over other retirement plans. He also shares how the ESOP creates a culture of ownership for KeHE employees.

Switch lanes and drive your career forward. KeHE's Shifting Gears program provides warehouse employees with the opportunity to grow their career and become a professional truck driver with advanced training. Listen in as Greg Sikorski, Sr. Dir. Safety, explains how the program works and Arturo Barbosa, Truck Driver, shares his experience completing Shifting Gears.

We stand for love. We stand against hate and violence, and we address incivility with courage. KeHE's CEO, Brandon Barnholt, released this statement as the company's stance on all incivility. In this episode, he unpacks what it looks like to love others well and stand courageously. Treating others with LOVE creates a culture of dignity and respect that is the fruit of our labor. #StandForLove

KeHE's Ellettsville Distribution Center (DC) is employing individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. After a RARE leadership training, Senior Director Dave Boyer was inspired to foster inclusion at the DC. Supported by Autumn White, this program has sparked a culture of joy in the midst of change for DC19.

“Being sustainable means the pace we're running now is going to get every future generation to their finish line, at or better than how we're living today.” Andrew McGrath—VP of Digital Product Strategy and a member of KeHE's sustainability council—joins us to discuss sustainability at KeHE. His practical insights into human lives and the environment bring KeHE's purpose full circle: we SERVE to makes lives better.

KeHE Cares partners with Compassion International to improve the lives of impoverished children in Honduras. In this episode, Lilly Guillen Rios and Dijana Silijanoska share stories of how they SERVE to make lives better for children in Honduras. Their stories will inspire you to consider what you can do to show compassion and support to children in need. Learn more and get involved.

CAREtrade's mission is to identify and promote a set of brands that advance a higher purpose than commercial success and are aligned with KeHE's dedication to serving. Small Axe Peppers is a brand that has fully embraced our culture and the network provided through the program. Listen as Laura McCord—executive director over CAREtrade—and Daniel Fitzgerald, the founder of Small Axe share the journey brands go on from concept to consumer!

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In this episode, Randy Shaw interviews two KeHE Cares partners who are on the frontlines in this war: Chris Baker with INK180 and Simone Halpin from Naomi's House. It is estimated that more than 40 million women and children worldwide are currently enslaved as sex workers—an issue not just around the world, but in our own communities as well. Awareness is one of the first steps in freeing people from this horrible exploitation.

Employee Benevolence seeks to provide a holistic, restorative solution to relieve heavy burdens experienced through catastrophic events in life: unexpected medical costs, natural disasters, or other problems that create overwhelming needs. Jenn Ricks, SVP of People Operations, and Eric Fields, Sr. Dr. of Stewardship and Advocacy, tell the story of how KeHE employees help one another through generosity.

Ownership has its privileges. And its responsibilities. As an employee-owned company, KeHE grants shares to its employees in the ESOP retirement program. That means employees are also owners of the company. In this episode, Adrienne Binder, senior communications manager and podcast host, interviews KeHE employees Paul McDowell and Tiffany Valdez on what it means to work with the ownership mindset. Paul is a truck driver in Florida, and Tiffany is in territory sales in Southern California. While they hold completely different jobs within KeHE, both Paul and Tiffany exemplify what it means to think and act like an owner.

The KeHE Cares Foundation (KeHE Cares) captures the heart and soul of our company.  In this episode, Adrienne Binder interviews Randy Shaw, who leads KeHE Cares and helps our employee-owners discover volunteer opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. Randy explains the philosophy of KeHE Cares and how employees can participate in bringing goodness to our local communities, the U.S., and even the world.  

In this inaugural episode of "Fruit of Your Labor," Senior Vice President Rusty Bland and CEO Brandon Barnholt discuss the benefits of the KeHE ESOP and what makes it so important for the future of KeHE employees. The KeHE ESOP share price grew by 62% in 2020!