When Relationships Matter: KeHe’s Partnership Approach to Talent Challenges

In this candid conversation, Zach Peluso, Director of Talent Acquisition at KeHe Distributors, sits down with Shaker’s VP of Client Services Jimmy McCourt to explore how authentic partnerships solve real talent challenges.

Zach takes us inside KeHe Distributors, one of North America’s largest natural and specialty food distributors, sharing the day-to-day realities of talent acquisition in a competitive market. From late-night worries about filling critical roles to breakthrough moments that transformed their hiring approach, this episode reveals what happens when talent leaders move beyond transactional vendor relationships.

The conversation dives deep into KeHe’s groundbreaking fair chance hiring initiative: how it started, what convinced leadership to take the leap, and the measurable business results that followed. Zach shares specific examples of how Shaker’s partnership approach helped tackle their most pressing talent challenges, proving that when relationships matter, everyone wins.

Whether you’re a talent leader wrestling with similar challenges or curious about innovative hiring practices that drive real business impact, this episode offers actionable insights and honest perspectives on building partnerships that deliver results.