Deane Parkes - Retail Leadership, Industry History, and the Heart of Health Food Stores
From In Conversation With Bruce W. Cole · 57:37
Show by Bruce W. Cole
In this episode of In Conversation with Bruce W. Cole, Bruce sits down with Deane Parkes, a Canadian Health Food Association Hall of Famer and one of the most respected voices in the natural health products industry.Deane reflects on a remarkable career that spans retail, distribution, consulting, and brand building. From owning early health food stores in North Vancouver to founding Preferred Nutrition and working with leading companies such as Purity Life and Genuine Health, Deane has spent decades helping shape the Canadian natural health landscape.Now living in a small community in British Columbia, Deane has returned to the retail floor, where he enjoys the simplicity of stocking shelves, serving customers, and reconnecting with the fundamentals of the health food store experience.Bruce and Deane also share memories from the early days of the industry, discuss the evolution of CHFA trade shows, and reflect on the importance of community within the natural products sector.Throughout the conversation, Deane offers thoughtful insights on leadership, retail culture, and what truly determines the success of a health food store. From the importance of emotional connection between staff and customers to the critical role of merchandising, systems, and frontline staff, his perspective offers valuable lessons for retailers, distributors, and brand builders alike.This episode is both a reflection on the history of the industry and a reminder that at the heart of every successful health food store is a simple principle: genuine care for people.
More episodes of In Conversation With Bruce W. Cole
More episodes
- From Incarceration to Innovation: Entrepreneurship and Second Chances with Emily O'Brien
- The Future of Natural Health: Challenges, Change & Opportunity with Andrea Benson
- From Retail Floor to Brand Excellence With Johnny Larocque
- Mastering Supply Chain Realities & Scaling Brands with Stacey Kravitz
- Building Brands from the Ground Up With Amanda Kenny
- Exploring Planetary Health and the Power of Retail Community with David Nelson
- What’s Happening CHFA West 2026 With Aaron Skelton and Special Guest Lorrie Ingram
- How Education Drives Retail Success with Mark Vasil, and Special Guest Christina Barrett
- Margins, Freight, and Retail Reality With Brad Winsor and Deb Larocque
- Listening Wins Sales | Marc Curcio on Retail, BioSteel, and Building Authentic Brands
PodSearch is a free, independent podcast search engine. Read about PodSearch, the privacy policy or contact us.