Bridging the Gap Between DTC Brands and Retailers

The digital era has created a sharp divide between agile DTC brands and traditional retail. While many brands thrive online, they face a costly, complex maze when trying to reach store shelves. At the same time, retailers struggle to discover and manage innovative new products without adding operational burdens.

Today, more than 90% of grocery shoppers buy both online and in-store, creating an omnichannel reality where brands can’t afford to play in just one channel (FMI–NielsenIQ report, 2025). The challenge for both sides is clear: how to bridge the gap between digital agility and physical scale.

The Grocery Supply Chain OS: A Unified Model for Growth

The solution to this divide lies in a fundamentally new approach - one that redefines how brands and retailers connect. Instead of a fragmented network of legacy distributors, a new paradigm is emerging: a unified system that powers the entire supply chain, from access and activation to delivery and insights.

This is the very essence of the Grocery Supply Chain Operating System. It’s a model built on the foundation of innovation and powered by technology. By integrating every stage of the supply chain into a single operating system, this new paradigm eliminates the operational friction that has long plagued the industry.

For brands, the OS provides a single point of entry to a holistic growth ecosystem that includes capital, creative support, and marketing insights. This goes far beyond just cutting through the complex maze of traditional distribution. For retailers, it offers a streamlined, centralized hub to discover and onboard the most innovative brands without the operational burden of managing hundreds of individual relationships. It's a direct, data-driven bridge designed to connect the agile world of digital with the expansive world of physical retail, turning a fragmented process into a seamless ecosystem for omnichannel growth.

Unlocking Omnichannel Growth: How Pod Delivers for DTC Brands and Retailers

The shift from a traditional, fragmented distribution model to a unified OS isn't just a technological upgrade; it's a strategic advantage that unlocks profitable growth for every player in the ecosystem. Pod delivers this value through four core pillars that redefine the grocery supply chain.

Pod as the Sourcing Hub for Innovative Brands

For retailers, the constant pressure to innovate means finding the next great product is a full-time job. Navigating countless vendor relationships and fragmented supply chains makes this a tedious and inefficient process. Pod changes this dynamic by acting as the ultimate sourcing hub. Our platform gives retailers direct, consolidated access to thousands of innovative and platinum-tier brands, helping them diversify their shelves and stay ahead of consumer trends with unprecedented ease.

From Fast Launch to Full Shelves: Redefining Retail Success

Speed and reliability are the lifeblood of grocery retail. For many brands, the journey from handshake to stocked shelf can take months - while retailers constantly risk losing loyalty from out-of-stock aisles.

Pod redefines this process. Our extensive network of relationships with top national retailers - including Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Walmart - is what allows us to integrate brands into the retail ecosystem faster. Brands can go from a handshake to a stocked shelf in as little as four weeks, capturing market share faster than ever before. 

Even a small improvement in reliability can make a big difference: according to McKinsey & Company, boosting on-shelf availability by just 1% can lift sales by 20 to 35 basis points(McKinsey, 2021). That’s why Pod has built a national network of fulfillment centers and strategic logistics partners, guaranteeing that products are always where they need to be. Our weekly freight schedule provides consistent replenishment, ensuring retailers never have to face an empty aisle.

A Trusted Partner for Profitable Omnichannel Growth

Traditional distributors operate on a transactional model, focusing on moving products from Point A to Point B. Pod, however, operates as a true growth partner. With our transparent 18% flat fee, brands can finally say goodbye to hidden costs and unpredictable fees that erode their margins. This model builds trust and empowers DTC brands to scale with full confidence in their financial projections. 

Beyond logistics, our platform provides integrated marketing and activation support, from merchandising design to influencer marketing, ensuring your products not only get on the shelf but also find their way into shoppers’ carts.

The retail landscape is no longer defined by a choice between digital and physical. The future of grocery is omnichannel, and the key to unlocking its potential is a unified system. Pod’s Grocery Supply Chain Operating System is not just a technological advancement; it's a strategic partnership that empowers DTC brands and retailers to thrive. By eliminating the friction of traditional distribution and replacing it with a data-driven, transparent, and streamlined ecosystem, Pod is building the future of grocery - one that is faster, smarter, and more profitable for everyone.

Ready to build the future of grocery together? Contact us at hi@podfoods.co to get started.