In this episode of Strong Source, we’re joined by Nicholas Bond, Buying Director at ALDI South Group, for our first conversation with a retailer guest. Nicholas takes us inside the world of retail buying, from how ALDI manages own-label pricing and supplier relationships, to the practical role of market data and benchmarks in everyday decisions. We explore how external forces like COVID and inflation have reshaped supplier dynamics, how consumer trends such as the surge in high-protein products influence the shelf, and how retailers think about risk when delivering consistent value to the end consumer.

In this episode, Alfonso Peccatiello, Founder & CIO of Palinuro Capital and creator of The Macro Compass, breaks down how the global dollar system truly works. He explains why commodities priced in USD force countries to recycle dollars into U.S. Treasuries, how government deficits and private-sector leverage create money, and why the U.S. dollar remains dominant despite recurring predictions of its decline. A clear, accessible deep dive into macro forces shaping markets today.

In this episode, we sit down with Gert-Jan van den Akker, former EVP of Cargill. We dive into his 30+ year career in commodities, from his first role as a trainee to reshaping global freight trading and leading at the top of Cargill. An honest, inside look at strategy, leadership, and navigating volatile markets.