Podesto’s Market & Deli: New Owners Committed to Value, Quality and Community

s the new owners of Podesto’s Market & Deli in Stockton, Casey Rodacker and his cousin, Tyler Kidd, hold enviable positions. Truth be told, however, they aren’t new to the grocery business at all and were in the perfect position to take on the responsibility as well as bring exciting new things to Podesto’s shoppers.

“I was born into it,” said Casey of his upbringing as a third-generation member of their family grocery business, Mar-Val, which now owns 13 stores throughout northern California. “My grandfather, Mardee, started our family’s first store in 1952 on Kettleman Lane and Hutchins in Lodi. When my dad, Steve Rodacker, stepped in, he managed every aspect of the business without the advantage of a formal education. I learned pretty much all I know from my dad, who had me cleaning shelves as a young kid, maybe around age eight. I remember it was fun to go to work with him and punch in and out on a real timecard,” he reminisced.

“Eventually, my cousin Tyler and I had some definite advantages in the way of education,” Casey elaborated. “Tyler went to Brigham Young University-Idaho and I earned my degree in business from University of Nevada-Reno.” They both went on to complete the prestigious food industry management program at University of Southern California, with Casey being the youngest person ever to attend. In their current positions, Casey and Tyler are unusually accessible. “We take pride as owners that our phones are always on,” Casey said.

Perfect Business Fit
Looking back, Casey remembers how much he always admired Podesto’s grocery store and the way owners Bernie and Debbie Morgenstern ran the business for over 42 years. “I always knew that if we ever had the opportunity, Podesto’s would be a perfect fit for our business style. Like them, we are family owned and operated, and we are staying true to our slogan,” Casey said, “Big enough to serve you, small enough to appreciate you.”

As Casey and Tyler prepared for their October 15, 2025, start date of officially overseeing Podesto’s, they wanted to honor what Bernie and Debbie, along with Mark and Jeff Podesto, had built and to ensure any changes would be in the form of additions rather than subtractions. “We did not want to take anything away from the 65 employees or the customers,” Casey affirmed. “We consciously chose to do things that way, to not change any of the bakery and deli recipes, for example.” Instead, the pair expanded the store’s inventory while making significant price reductions, a move that achieved the best of both worlds and was enthusiastically welcomed by shoppers.

The Additions
They expanded the floral and gift department, installed a gourmet soup and salad bar, and added over 2,500 natural and organic products—canned, frozen, bottled and fresh. The store now features a reverse osmosis water dispenser at which customers can fill bottles with their choice of pH-controlled ionized, alkaline drinking water or deionized water. The produce aisle now offers fresh-cut fruits and a new Healthy Living Drinks section with an expansive array of kombuchas, fresh juices, immunity shots, raw milk and probiotic sodas.

The wine department has seen a similar overhaul and carries multiple high-end selections by local vintners and Italian imports. “We have really good wines here!” he exclaimed. They now offer bulk coffees by Peerless, an Oakland company, and an in-house grinder for customers who want to grind their coffee beans before taking them home. This fall the store’s popular outdoor barbecue space will be fully remodeled to include attractive outdoor seating, additional smoked meat selections and an expanded menu.

Harold Van Airsdale, one of the store’s longtime butchers, commented, “I’ve known the Rodackers a long time. It’s a really pleasant relationship with their whole family. All the employees I know are very happy with the store’s new ownership. We are still running it the way we always have. People can still make special orders, enjoy lower prices, and with thousands of new items, we are busier than ever.” Harold’s daughter runs Calaveras River Farms, where she raises pure, 100 percent grass-fed and finished beef available at Podesto’s in addition to her tallow-based beauty products and rendered tallow for cooking.

The Specialties
Casey described their new line of spices and smokehouse foods. “We are really proud of our private label spices for their high quality and value. We built our own smoke house in Valley Springs where we make our Artisan Butcher™ brand that includes over 25 different flavors of sausages, cheeses, beef sticks and my personal favorite, our mac-n-cheese sausage. Our hot Italian sausage even won the National Champion Award. These products are all thanks to our Master Smoker, Michael Porter.”

Kids and families are just as important to Casey as providing communities with the best grocery stores. Ten years ago, he started a scholarship foundation for high school seniors and college students. The foundation puts on a yearly golf tournament and annually awards 13 students a $1,000 scholarship. “Most of our stores are in rural mountain towns, about 45 minutes from the nearest city,” he explained. “The students in those communities don’t often have access to scholarship opportunities and I wanted to help with that.”

Casey and his wife, Megan, have a child of their own, 11-month-old Cole. When he is not working, Casey enjoys spending time with them as well as snow skiing, boating, fishing, travel and playing golf. Tyler and his wife, Kara, are parents to Kobe and Brody.

“We are still a family business” Casey concluded, “and we plan to be around for a long time to come, growing Podesto’s into a store for everyone, offering much more than what the store is already so well known for: meats and deli foods, but also good value and selection on our entire inventory, and making sure we stay competitively priced. It’s such a good feeling to see the positive response from people who appreciate how competitive our prices are compared to other grocery stores.”

Visit podestosmarket.org for more information and weekly specials.