Artwork for podcast The Buyer's Desk
BACKSTOCK: The Power of Independence with Natural Factors
Episode 6818th November 2025 • The Buyer's Desk • Independent Natural Food Retailers Association
00:00:00 00:16:59

Shownotes

Originally aired 7/13/23 

In this episode, we're revisiting our conversation with Roland Gahler, founder and owner of Natural Factors – in Roland’s first public interview – to share his story and philosophy on what it means to be independent. Hear more about Natural Factor’s stringent commitment to non-GMO, the importance of purity and efficacy in natural supplements, and Roland’s own reasonings for maintaining independence.  

Next week, we continue our backstock series with Paul Lightfoot from Patagonia Provisions, who illuminates their commitment to being Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC).  

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube

More Episodes
68. BACKSTOCK: The Power of Independence with Natural Factors
00:16:59
67. BACKSTOCK: The Secret Sauce with Bachan's
00:28:10
66. What's Brewing in Beverages: SPINS & Saint James Tea
00:18:04
65. Introducing The Good Collective: An Exclusive Brand for INFRA Members
00:27:11
64. From Concept to Shelf: How CADIA Supports Independent Retailers
00:34:56
63. The Private Label Playbook with Kelly Miles
00:24:42
62. Unpacking Private Label with SPINS
00:20:37
61. From Family Roots to Industry Impact with True Grace
00:28:41
60. Organic Integrity in a Changing Marketplace with Max Goldberg
00:34:57
59. Revolutionizing Agriculture with the Rodale Institute
00:30:57
58. Farming the Future with CCOF
00:22:38
57. From Roots to Regeneration: Celebrating Organic Month with SPINS
00:24:54
56. Longevity and Leadership with Cornucopia Natural Foods
00:35:47
55. The All One Approach to Leadership with Dr. Bronner's
00:39:21
54. How to Be a Courageous, Intentional Leader with Plucky
00:34:58
53. Redefining Grocery Leadership with Michele Lamppa
00:38:26
52. Embracing Integrity with Just Ice Tea
00:28:31
51. From Corporate to Community: Coleen Noel’s Journey to Independent Retail
00:25:55
50. Independence in Every Bite with Grandy Organics
00:37:13
49. Organic, Independent, and Informed with The Cornucopia Institute
00:30:46
48. Celebrating Independent Innovation with SPINS
00:27:02
47. Practical Strategies for Merchandising Success with Mark Rodriguez
00:29:29
46. Merchandising Roundtable: Displays that Deliver
00:28:50
45. Too Gouda to Miss: Cheese Merchandising with GFI
00:35:05
44. Merchandising that Moves with SPINS
00:31:43
43. The Fight for Food Label Transparency with Cornucopia Institute
00:27:16
42. Inside Ethical Egg Farming with OrgaNick Pastures
00:30:18
41. Prioritizing Animals and the Earth with Regenified
00:43:40
40. Inside the Shift Toward Ethical Animal Products with SPINS
00:22:26
39. Elevating In-Store Coffee Experiences with Grace Tara-Hileman
00:27:53
38. Exclusive Roastery Tour & Brewing Tips with Peace Coffee
00:19:15
37. Behind-the-Scenes: Peace Coffee Roastery Tour
00:31:06
36. What's Brewing: Coffee Trends with SPINS
00:19:00
35. INFRA's Retailer Zen Podcast
00:06:56
34. Business for a Greener Future with Bi-Rite Market
00:29:00
33. Balancing Purpose & Growth with Purely Elizabeth
00:25:06
32. The Future of B Corp Certification with Ryan Honeyman
00:22:23
31. B Corp 101 with SPINS
00:24:40
30. The Art and Science of Category Management
00:31:07
29. Optimizing Your Category Management with KeHE
00:33:36
28. Building a Stronger Brand with Startup CPG
00:30:40
27. Elevate Your Product Mix with SPINS
00:20:04
26. Shaping the Future of INFRA with Pat Sheridan
00:29:05
25. Tracking the Trends with Nick Auzenne
00:22:36
24. From Start-Up to Success with Painterland Sisters
00:26:58
23. Inside INFRA's Growth With Pat Sheridan
00:22:13
23. bonus EXTRAS: Partnering for Success with Natural Factors
00:25:47
22. Unwrapping the Ethics of Chocolate Making
00:54:00
21. A Fiesta of Flavor: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
01:16:16
20. Marketing Matters: Crafting Your Strategy
01:06:54
19. Sourcing Smarter, Sourcing Local
01:09:29
19. bonus EXTRAS: KeHE Holiday Show Highlights
00:54:46
18. Making Waves with Sea Food Sustainability
00:49:13
17. AAPI Innovators in the Retail Space
01:04:06
bonus EXTRAS: Exploring Expo West 2024
00:24:12
16. Retail for a Greener Tomorrow
01:13:00
15. Mind, Body, Wellness
01:02:50
14. From Soil to Shelf: Black Voices in Farming
01:09:37
13. Dancing the Tradeshow Tango
01:10:47
bonus EXTRAS: Brand Buzz at Expo East 2023 (Part 2: SPINS Steals the Mic)
00:23:36
bonus EXTRAS: Brand Buzz at Expo East 2023 (Part 1)
00:30:18
12. Make Room for Shrooms in your Stocking
01:03:22
11. The Secret Sauce of Product Mix
01:03:41
10. Getting Funky with Fermentation
00:55:41
9. Maximizing Promotional Lift Through Strategic Merchandising
01:16:41
8. Preserving Biodiversity to Safeguard Soil Health
01:07:11
7. Celebrating Independents
01:07:27
bonus EXTRAS: The Buyer's Desk at the 2023 INFRA Tabletop Event
00:37:28
6. Embracing Diversity to Build Community
00:49:54
5. Dignity, Respect, and Fair Trade
00:52:18
4. Earth Month: Boots in the Soil
00:45:02
3. Women-Owned, Women-Led, Women-Inspired
00:47:50
2. Regenerative Organic: The New Gold Standard?
00:49:15
1. Persevering Through the Pandemic
00:48:12