Book Review — The Secret Life of Groceries by Benjamin Lorr
Like any expose of any industry, Lorr’s book about Grocery was no different: at times I found myself appalled, laughing, reading the mundane, or glued to see where he was taking me next.
Having worked most of my professional career supporting Consumer Packaged Goods most of what I had read was not surprising. Certainly the section about the seafood supply chain echoed much of what I had already read in greater detail in Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina.
I couldn’t help but be sympathetic to the truck driver Lynne who was chronicled moving goods across the country and through vast and complex supply chains. It cannot be said enough that almost all goods are transported at some point by truck and often those truck drivers and their experiences are not fully understood. Lorr does a great job telling Lynne’s story in a way that you can begin to empathize with the people who maintain the flow of goods and start to get a glimpse of the industry as a whole.
I found the most interesting section to be about Julie, someone who embodies an entrepreneurial spirit. Julie owned a company who’s main product is Slawsa . SLAWSA breaks the mold of modern condiments, boldly creating a whole new category of food, and standing alone in its realm of flavor. Julie was diligent in growing Slawsa, managing costs, and providing a product that the end consumer could enjoy.
The book was a quick read and provided a deeper insight into an already fascinating subject.
Notable Quote(s)
“It [the store] was an inverted assembly line with the customer as belt.” Page 29
Book Rating: 7/10
