Spark: Igniting a Store Culture of Excellence

Store leaders are doing some of the hardest and most important work in grocery: managing teams, serving customers, solving problems in real time, and keeping the store stocked and staffed amid constant pressure and change. Whether they are brand new to leadership or have been leading teams for years, their impact is felt in every aisle, every department, every shift, and every customer interaction.

In this interactive leadership workshop, participants will explore how to build a store culture where people feel energized, trusted, clear, connected, and proud of the work they do together. Through a blend of keynote-style inspiration, hands-on instruction, practical reflection, and real-world application, leaders will gain strategies for growing in their roles, empowering their teams, navigating challenging situations with confidence, leading with empathy, and elevating the customer experience throughout the store.

Rather than offering abstract culture theory, this session focuses on the everyday leadership moments that shape performance: the rushed shift change, the missed expectation, the stressed-out team member, the difficult customer interaction, the hard conversation, and the small win that either gets noticed or disappears into the noise. Participants will leave with practical tools to strengthen trust, accountability, resilience, connection, and excellence in the day-to-day realities of grocery leadership. 

Key Takeaways

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Grow their leadership impact in the everyday moments that shape store culture
   Recognize how tone, trust, clarity, presence, and follow-through influence the energy and effectiveness of their teams. 
2. Empower teams through clarity, ownership, and practical accountability
   Learn how to set expectations in ways that reduce confusion, increase follow-through, and help team members take greater pride in their work. 
3. Navigate challenging situations with confidence and curiosity
   Approach problems, pressure, and breakdowns in ways that reduce defensiveness, strengthen trust, and improve how the team works together. 
4. Lead with empathy while still driving performance
   Strengthen the ability to notice pressure, support people well, and create a culture where care and high standards work together instead of competing. 
5. Elevate the customer experience by strengthening the team experience
   Understand how energized, connected, and trusted teams create better interactions, stronger service, and a more excellent store environment.

Chris Failla

Founder & Lead Facilitator, See the Human, LLC

Chris Failla is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, leadership coach, and Gallup-certified Strengths Consultant. He worked in mental health for five years in China, and has a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Chris has worked with leaders and teams on every inhabited continent, and helps humans from all industries find their WHY, stress-proof their life, and play to their strengths, so that they are energized, fulfilled, and productive!

Chris has been married to Sarah for over 20 years, and they have three boys. As a family they enjoy traveling (he’s been to over 50 countries and speaks three languages), time in the snow, and planning their next adventure.

This March California’s grocery community will come together for CGA’s premiere advocacy event, Grocers Day at the Capitol. With the industry facing a slate of proposed bills that would undermine affordability, this is our opportunity to use our collective voice to educate lawmakers on why Californians pay the highest grocery prices in the country.

For the second year in a row, the industry is contending with a bill targeting so-called “surveillance pricing.” On this important day of advocacy we’ll squash misconceptions and educate lawmakers on the realities of “surveillance pricing” and lobby industry priorities including pennies, protections around SNAP, and CGA-sponsored legislation regarding compostable pre-checkout bags.

In addition to our face-to-face meetings with lawmakers, our morning program will include policy briefings and two panel discussions, see descriptions below. We hope to see you in Sacramento on Wednesday, March 25. Register below or reach out to Tim James with questions.

A Conversation With the Problem Solvers

CGA will host a panel discussion with Juan Alanis and Anamarie Avila‑Farias of the California Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan, bicameral caucus of members putting policy before politics. The legislators will reflect on the final year of the 2025–2026 legislative session, offering insights into the caucus’s approach to addressing California’s most pressing policy challenges. The conversation will explore legislative priorities heading into the end of session and what they mean for businesses, communities, and the state’s economy—including issues impacting California’s grocery industry.

Election Outlook: Inside a Crowded Governor’s Race

While California’s race to succeed Governor Newsom is a crowded one, it lacks star power. Come the primary in June, eight Democrats and two Republicans will be on the ballot. The two recipients that earn the most votes in the primary, regardless of party, will advance to the general election this November. A panel of top political consults including Mike Madrid (GrassrootsLab), Josh Walters (Walters Strategies), and Hector Barajas (Amplify 360 Inc) will join CGA to offer their insights on the upcoming governor’s race.

Grocers Day Agenda:

• 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast 
• 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 p.m. Morning Program 
• 11:45 a.m. Lunch Buffet 
• 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. Legislative Meetings
  • 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Ice Cream Social
• 5 – 7 p.m. President’s Reception
  • 6 p.m. Legislative Bagging Competition

The Forecast: What Our Future Holds

The latest issue of CGA’s flagship magazine explores what lies ahead for business and California in 2026 and beyond. In a climate of heightened anxiety around emerging technologies, politics, and affordability, the pages of this issue will offer insights and important context to help you prepare for what’s to come.

Read about California’s evolving demographics, how economic anxiety may lead to progress on affordability, and how the Governor’s race, $20B budget deficit, and widespread skeptisim towards AI will shape retail in 2026. Finally, get to know new board chair Rich Wardwell (Superior Grocers) and learn about CGA’s partnership with Sacramento State University to meet student needs on campus.

Don’t miss the following must-read sections from Issue 4:

• Forecasting California Politics in 2026: A Year of Uncertainty and Opportunity
• Pg. 18 | Tim Townsend
• The New California Plurality: When Demographics Stop Being Destiny
• Pg. 24 | Mike Madrid
• Incoming Chair Rich Wardwell, a Driven Leader with Compassion
• Pg. 30 | Dorsey Griffith
• A Political Earthquake with Economic Roots
• Pg. 36 | Matt Rodriguez

Click here to read Issue 4.

Mid-October was the deadline for the federal government to take action to fund SNAP benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown. No action was taken, meaning SNAP recipients nationwide will lose their benefits next month. In California, that means that CalFresh food benefits, which are completely federally funded, will not be provided to 5.5 million Californians during the month of November.

CDSS provided CGA with in-store flyers retailers can use to notify customers of the shutdown and direct them to resources. Access the flyers below in both English and Spanish:

• CalFresh Shutdown Flyer (English)
• CalFresh Shutdown Flyer (Spanish)

State officials confirmed with CGA that once a budget deal is reached and the federal government releases funding, it will take two to four days before benefits could be issued.

While SNAP benefits will not be funded, the WIC program received additional funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and will remain fully operational through November 30. The USDA also confirmed SNAP recipients will be able to use their EBT card unspent October balances in November.

It’s important for retailers to remember that despite these challenging circumstances, the SNAP Equal Treatment rule remains in effect.

Please reach out to Tim James for questions or more information.