HARRISBURG, PA (Feb 2026) — The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) will debut Season 9 of its podcast, Shelf Confidence, on Thursday, March 12, with new weekly episodes every Thursday focused on practical leadership and real-world challenges across Pennsylvania’s Food and Beverage Industry.
The Season 9 trailer will be released Monday, March 9, with full episodes launching weekly each Thursday beginning March 12.
Hosted by PFMA’s John Zimmerman, Shelf Confidence brings together industry leaders, nonprofit partners, policy experts, and business innovators to deliver operator-focused conversations designed to help retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and service providers navigate change with clarity and confidence.
“Season 9 reflects the breadth and complexity of issues shaping Pennsylvania’s Food and Beverage Industry,” said Alex Baloga, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association. “From food access and workforce strategy to energy planning, marketing, and emerging technology, these conversations highlight the partnerships and practical leadership that keep our industry strong and our communities supported.”
Episode 1 — March 12
Julie Bancroft, Chief Executive Officer and Ryan Prater, Director of Public Policy at PFMA member Feeding PA, join the season premiere to discuss SNAP, food access trends, food rescue innovation, and how collaboration between food banks and retailers strengthens communities across the Commonwealth.
Episode 2 — March 19
Ray Sheehan, Founder of PFMA member Old City Media, shares insights on experiential marketing, in-store activation strategies, and how food and beverage brands can connect directly with consumers in meaningful, measurable ways.
Episode 3 — March 26
PFMA + Woodland Biomass Innovations
Founder of PFMA member Woodland Biomass Innovations Luca Pandolfi explores renewable fuels, sustainability, and forest-based energy innovation, and how emerging energy solutions may intersect with transportation, logistics, and long-term sustainability goals for food and beverage operators.
Episode 4 — April 2
Evan Ehlers, Founder and Executive Director of PFMA member Sharing Excess, discusses food recovery, waste reduction, and how retailers and wholesalers can strengthen food access efforts while minimizing operational burden.
Episode 5 — April 9
Robert Stoudt, Employee Benefits Consultant at PFMA member Assured Partners, provides practical guidance on employee benefits strategy, workforce planning, and risk management tailored to the Food and Beverage Industry.
Episode 6 — April 16
Cheryl Hefft, Senior Manager, and Jude Clemente, Energy Price Risk Manager at World Kinect, break down energy sourcing, fuel strategy, and price volatility, offering insight into how operators can better manage costs and protect margins.
Episode 7 — April 23
Mike Sanders, Chief Executive Officer of PFMA member Upshop, examines agentic AI and its application in retail operations, focusing on how technology can improve execution, efficiency, and store-level decision-making.
Episode 8 — April 30
PFMA + DoorDash and Hunger-Free Pennsylvania
Daniel Riff, Head of Government and Nonprofit Operations at PFMA member DoorDash, and Stuart I.R. Haniff, Executive Director of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania, discuss Project DASH and how logistics and nonprofit partnerships are expanding home-delivered food access across the Commonwealth.
New episodes of Shelf Confidence will be available weekly beginning March 12 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms.
About PFMA
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association has advocated for the food and beverage industry across the Commonwealth since 1952. Today the association represents nearly 500 member companies from across the globe that operate thousands of retail food stores, production facilities and distribution centers, and collectively employ more than 350,000 Pennsylvanians. For more information on PFMA, visit pfma.org.
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