The next big innovation in the grocery industry isn’t happening inside the store. It’s changing how families shop before they ever walk through the door.
The grocery industry has experienced rising prices, dynamic pricing, and changing consumer behavior, leaving many families searching for better ways to stretch their budgets. In this episode, Jim Schleckser talks with entrepreneur Andy Ellwood, founder of Stretch, about using AI and technology to bring greater transparency to grocery shopping while sharing lessons from building and scaling multiple successful startups.
By listening to this episode, you’ll learn how to:
- Discover how technology is reshaping the grocery industry by helping consumers make smarter purchasing decisions.
- Learn why the best startup ideas begin with solving real customer problems instead of chasing technology trends.
- Hear Andy’s philosophy of “Make Room for Many” and how an abundance mindset can help entrepreneurs build stronger businesses and lasting communities.
Listen now to learn how innovation in the grocery industry is creating new opportunities for consumers and entrepreneurs, while picking up practical lessons about AI, startup growth, and building businesses that solve meaningful problems.
Innovation in the Grocery Industry
00:00 | Solving a Problem Every Family Faces.
Jim Schleckser welcomes Andy Ellwood, founder of Stretch, to discuss how innovation in the grocery industry can help families navigate rising food costs with greater transparency and smarter shopping decisions.
03:55 | Why Grocery Shopping Needed a Source of Truth.
Andy explains how his experience as a new father exposed a gap in the grocery industry and inspired him to build a platform that compares prices across multiple retailers before shoppers leave home.
08:30 | How Dynamic Pricing Is Changing Grocery Shopping.
The conversation explores how pricing changes throughout the day and across retailers, giving consumers more reasons to compare options before making purchasing decisions.
12:45 | Building Technology That Solves Real Problems.
Rather than chasing the latest trends, Andy shares why the best startups begin by identifying a meaningful customer pain point and building technology around that need.
17:20 | AI Is Accelerating Startup Growth’
Andy explains how AI has transformed product development, allowing his team to build faster, improve quality, and move at a pace that wasn’t possible just a few years ago.
Leadership Lessons Beyond the Grocery Industry
21:35 | Creating an AI Learning Culture.
One of the company’s most effective practices is a weekly AI Show and Tell session, where team members share new discoveries that help everyone become more productive and innovative.
26:10 | Why Abundance Beats Scarcity.
Andy introduces his “Make Room for Many” philosophy, explaining how creating opportunities for others has shaped his leadership style and entrepreneurial success.
31:15 | Learning From Success and Failure.
After multiple successful exits and one difficult startup failure, Andy reflects on the lessons that only experience can teach and why resilience is essential for every entrepreneur.
36:20 | Building for the Future of the Grocery Industry.
Andy shares his long-term vision for the grocery industry, explaining why earning consumer trust today creates opportunities for AI-powered recommendations and intelligent shopping experiences tomorrow.
41:10 | Solving Decade-Long Problems.
The episode concludes with Andy’s advice for entrepreneurs: build businesses around problems worth dedicating ten years to solving, and focus on creating lasting value instead of chasing quick exits in the grocery industry or any other market.
About Andy Ellwood
Andy Ellwood is the founder of Stretch, a new AI platform reimagining how families navigate the grocery aisle. A serial entrepreneur behind companies acquired by Facebook and Google, Andy has built everything from global learning communities to purpose-driven tech startups. His philosophy—Make Room For Many—guides his work as he uses technology to create more access, clarity, and opportunity for everyday consumers.