#061 Why Integrity Still Wins in Business with Terry Stanley

Built For This Podcast, with Carly Pepin

July 6, 2026 by

Carly Pepin

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In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Terry Stanley, a grocery industry veteran and former CEO of Fresh Value, to explore the timeless leadership principles that have shaped more than five decades of business success.

Over the course of his career, Terry helped grow Fresh Value from nine stores to fifteen, expanding into new markets while preserving the close-knit culture that made the company successful. Rather than relying solely on systems or strategy, he built the business by developing people, empowering leaders, and creating an environment where trust and accountability could flourish.

Throughout the conversation, Terry shares practical lessons on leadership development, succession planning, financial discipline, and scaling businesses without sacrificing culture. He explains why the grocery industry has become one of the greatest training grounds for leadership, teaching resilience, decision-making, and operational excellence in an environment where margins are thin and every decision matters.

Carly and Terry also discuss the importance of preparing organizations to thrive beyond their founders, building teams that take ownership, and creating workplaces where employees genuinely feel valued. His decades of experience offer a refreshing reminder that while industries evolve, the fundamentals of leadership remain remarkably consistent.

This episode is filled with practical wisdom for business owners, executives, and aspiring leaders who want to build organizations that continue growing long after they step away.

Key Themes

Great Leaders Build Great People

Terry believes that businesses grow when leaders invest in developing others. By hiring people with character, empowering them to make decisions, and giving them the confidence to lead, organizations become stronger, more adaptable, and better prepared for long-term success.

Succession Begins Long Before Retirement

One of Terry's greatest achievements wasn't simply growing the business, but ensuring it could continue thriving after his departure. Through intentional mentoring and a carefully planned leadership transition, he created continuity that allowed the company to move forward with confidence.

Financial Discipline Creates Opportunity

Years of operating in the highly competitive grocery industry taught Terry the importance of managing cash flow, controlling costs, and making thoughtful growth decisions. Consistent financial discipline provided the stability needed to expand while remaining resilient through changing market conditions.

About Terry Stanley

Terry Stanley is a respected grocery industry leader with more than 50 years of experience building businesses, developing leaders, and driving operational excellence. As former CEO of Fresh Value, he helped guide the company through significant expansion while maintaining a culture centered on trust, accountability, and strong leadership.

Throughout his career, Terry has become known for his practical, people-first approach to leadership, believing that long-term business success comes from investing in employees, empowering future leaders, and maintaining unwavering integrity in every decision. Today, he shares those lessons with organizations and audiences across the country through speaking, mentoring, and leadership development.

Memorable Quotes
"Not making the decision is way worse than making a bad decision."
"I wanted to run this company as a family. I wanted it to feel like family."
"The grocery store is the greatest management training ground in America."

Terry Stanley