Leadership, Culture & Innovation in Food Distribution with Brenna Garrett

In this episode of Crave – The IFDA Podcast, host Julien LeBlanc sits down with Brenna Garrett, Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer at Sysco, to explore how leadership, culture, and innovation are shaping the future of food distribution.

Brenna shares her journey from retail at Macy’s to leading one of the largest global foodservice organizations, offering a fresh perspective on why foodservice is still a “young” and rapidly evolving industry. She breaks down how strong culture drives high-performance teams, why trust is the foundation of success, and how leaders must consistently reinforce vision and expectations.

From navigating supply chain complexity to embracing AI as a tool — not a crutch — this conversation dives deep into the balance between technology and human connection in a relationship-driven industry.

You’ll also hear powerful leadership lessons on saying yes to new opportunities, learning from frontline employees, breaking down silos in large organizations, and why internal partnerships are just as critical as external ones.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders looking to build resilient teams, foster innovation, and lead with clarity in a fast-moving industry.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• 00:00 – Introduction + Leadership Themes
• 00:41 – Why Culture Matters More Than Strategy
• 01:18 – Meet Brenna Garrett, Sysco Leadership
• 01:42 – Inside Sysco’s Global Food Distribution Role
• 02:37 – Transition from Retail to Food Industry
• 03:20 – Why Foodservice Is a Dynamic Industry
• 04:08 – Biggest Surprises in Food Supply Chains
• 05:16 – Why Foodservice Is Still a “Young” Industry
• 06:00 – Leadership Focus: Culture + High-Performance Teams
• 06:47 – Building a Strong Team Culture
• 07:30 – Culture as a Daily Practice, Not a One-Time Effort
• 07:48 – Lessons from Sports Leadership + Team Chemistry
• 09:15 – Trust vs Toxic Culture in Teams
• 10:19 – Proactive Culture and Anticipating Change
• 10:36 – Technology, AI, and Leadership Evolution
• 12:07 – Using AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
• 12:25 – Balancing Technology with Human Connection
• 13:18 – Why Relationships Still Drive Foodservice
• 14:19 – AI’s Rapid Impact on the Industry
• 15:01 – The Importance of Strategic Partnerships
• 16:00 – Internal vs External Partnerships Explained
• 17:00 – Breaking Down Silos in Large Organizations
• 18:01 – Why Internal Alignment Matters Most
• 19:36 – Leading Through Organizational Change
• 19:55 – Setting Vision + Gaining Team Buy-In
• 21:18 – The Power of Consistent Messaging
• 21:56 – Career Growth: Saying Yes to Opportunities
• 22:45 – Why Career Growth Is Not Always Vertical
• 23:36 – Lessons from Retail Store Leadership Experience
• 25:20 – Why Frontline Experience Matters
• 27:23 – Why Everyone Should Ride Along with Drivers
• 29:00 – Supporting Internal Customers First
• 30:01 – Learning from Frontline Workers
• 31:08 – Leadership Development: Books + Podcasts
• 31:25 – “Multipliers” Leadership Book Insight
• 32:18 – Why Learning Outside Your Industry Matters
• 33:32 – Growth Through Discomfort
• 34:18 – What Excites Brenna About the Industry
• 35:23 – Innovation in Food Distribution
• 36:11 – Building a Culture of Innovation
• 37:09 – Leadership Style: Staying Calm Under Pressure
• 38:15 – Why Focus Beats Reactivity in Leadership
• 39:04 – Final Thoughts on Leadership Consistency

More About Our Guest

Brenna Garrett
SVP & CCO at Sysco

Brenna Garrett serves as Sysco’s Chief Commercial Officer, bringing more than two decades of leadership in merchandising and inventory management. Since joining Sysco in May 2022 as Vice President of Local Merchandising, she has steadily expanded her impact – taking on Revenue Management in September 2023 and most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Field Merchandising, Pricing, and Inventory management. Before joining Sysco, Brenna held a series of leadership roles in May Merchandising Company and Macy’s, where she led fashion merchandising and inventory planning across both store and digital channels. Brenna holds a B.S. with Honors from Washington University in St. Louis.