How Kroger Built 84.51 to Innovate at Scale, with Todd James, Founder & CEO of Aurora Insights

How do you build a high-speed, AI-driven data business inside a $140B grocery retailer without getting swallowed by legacy systems and org charts?

In this episode of Beyond the Core, Ben and Marcus sit down with Todd James, former Chief Data & Technology Officer at 84.51° and Head of AI at Kroger, now Founder & CEO of Aurora Insights. Todd unpacks how Kroger built a wholly owned data science subsidiary to serve both internal and external customers, without killing innovation or losing touch with the core business.

Todd shares war stories, tactical lessons, and playbooks for:

- Building a shadow brand that serves the mothership

- Structuring orgs for fast decision-making at scale

- Embedding AI into business strategy (not just use cases)

- Knowing when to kill your own ideas (and how to do it right)

Whether you're building a Venture Studio, scaling AI across a large org, or launching a new business unit inside a legacy company, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

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