Kantar Retail Sound Bites

Disruption is inevitable for US retailers and suppliers in the months ahead. Discover provocative and transparent ways to combat challenges ahead from Marissa DeMaio, Vice President of Marketing and Retail Sales Atalanta Corporation, as she joins Kantar’s Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 81 of Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites to discuss solution-based selling, product innovation, winning in club, and more. This episode also features Doug Hermanson, Kantar’s principal economist, who dives into the macroeconomic state of retail. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn

It’s time to break through the complexities surrounding AI and its implementation across retail. Kiri Master, retail media and expert and host of Retail Media Breakfast Club, joins Kantar’s Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 80 of Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites the powerfully transformative AI agents that have the potential to change the game in retail media. This episode also features Julie Craig, Kantar’s vice president of shopper insights, who dives into the issues most pressing to shoppers. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn

Kantar’s annual industry benchmarking report PoweRanking® identifies retailers and suppliers that set the standard of performance, ranked by their trading partners. Download your complimentary executive summary to discover this year's rankings. Rohan Mazumdar, vice president of retail consulting at Kantar, and Jeff Maloy, senior vice president of consulting at Kantar, join Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 78 of Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites to discuss intensified retailer concerns about shoppers' reluctance to spend more on consumer goods. Discover more findings in Kantar's PoweRanking® 2024 This episode also features Doug Hermanson, Kantar’s principal economist, who dives into the macroeconomic state of retail, post-tariff implications in the US, and more. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn

Storytelling is crucial in category strategy, creating narratives that resonate with consumers, retailers, and internal teams, aiming for a triple win. Stephen Aramburu, category strategy manager, frozen meals, Nestlé, joins Kantar’s Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 78 of Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites to discuss identifying growth opportunities in category management, and product innovation in the face of trends like GLP-1. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/27/nvidia-calls-chinas-deepseek-r1-model-an-excellent-ai-advancement.html​ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/technology/what-is-deepseek-china-ai.html https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/jason-buechel-whole-foods-market-worldwide-grocery-store https://www.retaildive.com/news/dollar-general-expanding-private-label-clover-valley/738339/​ Here's why Dutch Bros outperformed Starbucks last year Walmart will now let suppliers test products in its customers' homes Danone’s yogurt sales surge among US consumers using GLP-1 drugs | Food Dive

With competition for the digital shelf at an all-time high, how can you make your products stand out, look attractive, and drive conversions? Lindsey Aitken, senior director of ecommerce planning at Coca-Cola, joins Kantar’s Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 77 of Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites to discuss the future of the digital shelf. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/food-fight-with-kroger-spells-trouble-for-albertsons-279eb4b8?mod=retail_news_article_pos5 https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/05/dollar-general-tests-same-day-delivery-as-discounter-chases-walmart.html https://chainstoreage.com/2025-look-ahead-year-retail-tech RFK Jr.’s regulatory earthquake: Five impacts on FMCGs https://www.numerator.com/resources/blog/walgreens-store-closures-hit-home/ Taco Bell is testing a beverage concept called Live Más Café

Amazon’s ecosystem is robust and diverse, with growth accelerating across retail, fulfilment, entertainment, and services. As Andy Jassy puts it, “progress is made across all facets of Amazon, perhaps none more so than the continued reacceleration in AWS growth.” Justin Honaman, head of retail and consumer goods industry strategy and business development team at Amazon Web Services, joins Kantar’s Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 76 of Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites to discuss AWS’s rapid rise to fame across retail and CPG organizations. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn Taco Bell is testing a beverage concept called Live Más Café https://www.numerator.com/resources/blog/walgreens-store-closures-hit-home/ RFK Jr.’s regulatory earthquake: Five impacts on FMCGs https://chainstoreage.com/2025-look-ahead-year-retail-tech https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/05/dollar-general-tests-same-day-delivery-as-discounter-chases-walmart.html https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/food-fight-with-kroger-spells-trouble-for-albertsons-279eb4b8?mod=retail_news_article_pos5

In the heat of economic pressures, market dynamics, and retailer shifts, shopper sentiment has triggered the expansion of private labels in the US. Tom Bailey, senior analyst of consumer foods at Rabobank, joins Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 75 of Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites to discuss private labels uprising in US grocery stores. This episode also features Doug Hermanson, Kantar’s principal economist, who dives into the macroeconomic state of retail and post-election predictions. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn https://www.rabobank.com/knowledge/q011443795-with-wind-in-its-sails-us-private-label-charts-its-path-to-growth https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2024/12/02/ecommerce-value-channels-drive-up-cpg-volumes/ https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/it-was-ugly-quarter-fast-food-business https://www.ndtvprofit.com/business/zepto-to-blinkit-impulse-buying-drives-quick-commerce-boom-as-kirana-stores-struggle-report https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/12/03/black-friday-cyber-monday-holiday-shoppers/76590647007/ https://www.retaildive.com/news/dicks-sporting-goods-simone-biles-dak-prescott-texas-holiday-campaign/734163/ https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-drove-100-million-in-us-black-friday-sales-livestream-2024-12

A CMO’s world encompasses more than media. Aisha Khan, Executive Director of Global Commerce Acceleration at GroupM, under WPP, joins Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 74 of Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites to discuss the vast decisions and practices on a CMO’s mind when it comes to retail media networks, upskilling, and innovation. This episode also features Mary Brett Whitfield, Kantar’s senior vice president of shopper insights, who dives into a preview of the holiday season. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn https://massmarketretailers.com/circana-hispanic-consumers-drive-16-of-total-u-s-cpg-growth/ https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-one-medical-pharmacy-prescriptions-common-conditions https://kriq.kantarretailiq.com/en/p-iq/insights/blogs/agentic-ai-what-it-means-for-the-enterprise-and-fmcgs?utm_campaign=RetailIQ&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Agentic_AI https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/affordable-products-amazon-20-dollars-and-under https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/business/ev-chargers-store-parking-lots.html?searchResultPosition=8 https://www.wsj.com/articles/taco-bell-and-kfcs-owner-says-ai-driven-marketing-is-boosting-purchases-ab3a5f36?page=1

In episode 73 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, welcome Lisa Matos, vice president, sales capabilities and commerce at Conagra Brands, to discuss the challenges and opportunities CPGs face while navigating retail media networks. This episode also features Doug Hermanson, principal economist, who dives into the macroeconomic state of retail. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Barry's contact information: barry.thomas@kantar.com Barry's LinkedIn Rachel's contact information: rachel.dalton@kantar.com Rachel's LinkedIn Inside Amazon’s AI Cloud Strategy with AWS CEO Matt Garman – WSJ Kroger begins rollout of RFID tech to fresh departments | Grocery Dive Better-for-you candy brands go all in on Halloween https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/7-eleven-open-500-food-focused-stores https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2024/10/16/US-private-label-grocery-market-to-hit-25-30-share?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=16-Oct-2024&cid=DM1163875&bid=529561310# Walmart goes live with same-day pharmacy delivery | Chain Store Age

In episode 72 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, and Julie Craig, vice president of shopper insights, recap Groceryshop 2024 with Kantar’s top 10 insights from the event. Kantar also welcomes Ryan Roberts, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Hy-Vee, live at the event to discuss the retailer’s strategy, approaching holiday promotions, and more. Read more: Groceryshop 2024: Kantar’s top 10 insights Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Barry's contact information: barry.thomas@kantar.com Barry's LinkedIn Rachel's contact information: rachel.dalton@kantar.com Rachel's LinkedIn