Expert Insights
August 12, 2026
What role does employee ownership play in the success of grocery and retail businesses?
In this Expert Insights interview, Mike Hetisimer talks with Clint Adams, President of Moser’s Foods, about his 40-year career in the grocery industry and his leadership at PFS Brands. From vertical integration to open book management, Clint explains how empowering employees through ownership and financial literacy creates a culture of growth, efficiency, and opportunity.
Watch the full video to hear how employee ownership and purpose-driven values are shaping the future of grocery retail.
Employee ownership drives engagement: At PFS Brands, being 100% employee owned gives every team member a stake in success and boosts motivation.
Open book management empowers staff: Sharing financials, labor metrics, and profit data with all employees builds trust and financial literacy across the organization.
Vertical integration strengthens operations: PFS Brands not only runs grocery stores but also manufactures, distributes, and sells products across the country.
Culture is built on purpose and values: The company’s core purpose is helping others become more successful in work and life, aligning leadership vision with employee growth.
Promoting from within is prioritized: Strong training and predictive assessments help place employees in roles where they can thrive, with internal promotion as the first choice.
Labor efficiency is critical: With nationwide workforce shortages, tools like TimeForge help optimize scheduling and productivity while maintaining service quality.
Recruitment is employee-driven: Positive workplace culture turns employees into the best recruiters, attracting top talent and allowing the company to remain selective.
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Employee Ownership (ESOP): A structure where employees own shares in the company, giving them a financial stake in success.
Vertical Integration: A business model where a company controls multiple stages of production and distribution, from manufacturing to retail.
Open Book Management: A practice of sharing financial and operational data with employees to foster transparency and literacy.
Predictive Index: A behavioral assessment tool used to match employees with roles suited to their strengths.
Labor Optimization: Using tools and strategies to ensure employees are scheduled efficiently, maximizing productivity without burnout.
Grit Summit: A business coaching and leadership development event hosted by PFS Brands.
00:07 – Mike Hetisimer:
Yeah.
00:13 – Clint Adams:
And most recently, President of Moser’s Foods.
00:19 – Mike Hetisimer:
Will you tell me a little bit about yourself?
00:21 – Clint Adams:
Yeah. My name is Clint Adams. I’ve been in the grocery business 40 years — truly the only job I’ve ever had. I started stocking and bagging groceries, worked for one company for 35 years, and had a very successful career there. I branched out and ended up at PFS Brands, an employee-owned company. We recently bought nine retail supermarkets and one convenience store, plus we opened our first standalone QSR restaurant, Champ Chicken. All those retail establishments fall under me.
01:02 – Mike Hetisimer:
So what’s it like trying to manage different concepts — C-stores, restaurants, grocery stores — under one group?
01:09 – Clint Adams:
It’s not easy, but it’s exciting. TimeForge helps make it easier by providing a platform that works across all locations. I’m looking forward to introducing it to our convenience store, which isn’t yet connected.
01:29 – Mike Hetisimer:
I know PFS Brands is diverse beyond just Mosers and Champs Chicken, right?
01:44 – Clint Adams:
Yes, very diverse. We have a blending facility that makes breading for chicken and other items. We also have wholesale and retail licensed products like Champs Chicken, Hanger 54, Blue Taco, and others, plus private label products nationwide.
02:14 – Clint Adams:
We’re in about 2,200 locations across the country. It’s vertical integration — manufacturing, distributing, and selling.
02:43 – Clint Adams:
In our Mosers locations, chicken is one of the main features of our hot deli program. We distribute products widely through wholesalers to retailers.
03:07 – Mike Hetisimer:
How do you manage consistency across so many concepts?
03:17 – Clint Adams:
We have a strong team. Everyone knows their job and works together. As employee owners, we all have a stake in the company and pull in the same direction.
03:42 – Mike Hetisimer:
And being employee owned helps empower the staff?
03:52 – Clint Adams:
Yes. PFS is 100% employee owned through an ESOP. Sean Bergman founded the company, grew it from a garage business, and six or seven years ago sold it to the employees. He’s still CEO today.
04:38 – Clint Adams:
We also have a coaching company, Grit Business Coaching, and that’s why we’re here at the Grit Summit. It’s been a fantastic experience for me and my team.
05:10 – Clint Adams:
We’re an open book company. We share numbers — labor, sales, profit — and every employee shares in profit. We teach open book and financial literacy to all.
05:51 – Clint Adams:
It’s had a big impact on PFS Brands. Now we’re starting to apply it at Mosers, which we just acquired. I believe financial transparency will be very powerful in grocery.
06:33 – Clint Adams:
At the end of the day, we have to make money. Most people don’t start in grocery expecting a lifelong career, but if you do your best every day, it can take you far.
07:12 – Clint Adams:
Our core purpose at PFS is helping others become more successful in work and in life. That’s what drew me here — my values align with that vision.
08:09 – Clint Adams:
We use assessments like the Predictive Index to make sure employees are in the right roles. Promoting from within is always our first choice.
09:16 – Clint Adams:
Our HR team is called the People Success Department. We recruit carefully, align roles to strengths, and sometimes move candidates into better-fitting positions.
09:49 – Clint Adams:
With workforce shortages nationwide, we need efficiency. Tools like TimeForge help us schedule better, moving away from pen-and-paper. Productivity has improved, and conditions feel better.
11:30 – Clint Adams:
Competitiveness matters too. Employee ownership makes us a great place to work, and our employees are our best recruiters.
12:27 – Clint Adams:
We hire less than 20% of applicants, but we don’t face shortages. People want to work here because of our culture.
13:26 – Clint Adams:
At PFS, the core purpose is helping others succeed. We’ll train you, give you opportunities, and help you grow. Just do your best every day, and the opportunities will come.
13:58 – Mike Hetisimer:
Thank you.
13:59 – Clint Adams:
That was a really good time. Thank you.
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