
Kantar Retail Sound Bites
Kantar Retail Sound Bites podcast series provides a provocative view of global retail trends, business issues, and other shopper and retail related news.
Latest episodes

Dec 19, 2024 • 43min
Episode 76: AWS ascends in retail with Justin Honaman
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

Dec 4, 2024 • 1h 1min
Episode 75: Private label applies pressure with Tom Bailey of Rabobank
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

Nov 20, 2024 • 1h 7min
Episode 74: More than media - What’s on a CMO’s mind with Aisha Khan
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

Nov 5, 2024 • 54min
Episode 73: Revolutionizing retail media with Lisa Matos
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

Oct 18, 2024 • 41min
Episode 72: Live at Groceryshop 2024 with Ryan Roberts and our top 10 takeaways
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

Oct 3, 2024 • 55min
Episode 71: Building bright emerging brands with Buff Greebe
In episode 71 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, welcome Buff Greebe, executive director, SKU, to discuss emerging CPG brands, resources founders need to accelerate the growth of their brands, and much more 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 Harris Teeter launches HT Traders Ready Made Meals line (supermarketnews.com) Bold Prices. Bold Packaging for PENNY - Interviews (adforum.com) The autonomous FMCG organization on the horizon (kantarretailiq.com) https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/24/this-latin-american-e-commerce-platform-is-beating-amazon-in-2024-.html https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/cvs-board-conducts-strategic-review-of-company-81dc996f?mod=retail_news_article_pos1 https://www.grocerydive.com/news/amazon-fresh-new-stores-grocery-supermarkets/728044/

Sep 23, 2024 • 52min
Episode 70: Inside the club channel with Gina Logan
In episode 70 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, welcome Gina Logan, principal analyst, Kantar, to club channel trends, innovations in tech, corporate supply chain mergers between Sam’s Club and Walmart, holiday season preview and predictions, and much more. This episode also features Mary Brett Whitfield, senior vice president of shopper insights, to discuss shopper expectations across the club channel. 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 https://progressivegrocer.com/convenience-stores-embrace-private-brands?utm_source=swiftmail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PG_NL_Daily5&mkt_tok=ODI1LUxTUC01NDUAAAGVvUwyCssXEQ9SahDE8lFCT_IyvmnD5wNWcN7qI11d8di7Cwrk3eB9MgotxiWci-w-hd41YwE_2Nz-jb3DobhfjpzK_2WbhrIOHHAiTwvpaJo https://insideretail.asia/2024/09/16/7-eleven-philippines-teams-up-with-pokemon-for-merch-and-in-store-experience/ https://kriq.kantarretailiq.com/en/p-iq/insights/blogs/eight-insights-into-the-future-of-market-research?utm_campaign=RetailIQ&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_content=Market_Research https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/fed-cuts-rates-by-half-percentage-point-03566d82 https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/dollar-stores-expanding-sales-lag-8118cb7d?mod=retail_news_article_pos4 https://www.retaildive.com/news/instacart-diversifying-tech-ad-partners-grocery-ecommerce/727404/

Sep 5, 2024 • 1h
Episode 69: Food service frenzy with Jonathan Maze
In episode 69 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, welcome Jonathan Maze, editor-in-chief, Restaurant Business Magazine, to discuss food service trends, restaurant bankruptcies, loyalty programs, and more. This episode also features Julie Craig, vice president of shopper insights, to discuss Gen Z expectations in the grocery store. 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 https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/eli-lilly-zepbound-vials-weight-loss-drug-9b568ae5?mod=health_lead_story https://www.qsrmagazine.com/sponsored_content/62-percent-of-americans-are-eating-less-fast-food/ https://www.forestshipping.com/top-US-E-commerce-platforms-of-2024-amazon-leads-tiktok-soars#:~:text=07-,Top%20U.S.%20E%2Dcommerce%20Platforms,2024%3A%20Amazon%20Leads%2C%20TikTok%20Soars&text=On%20July%202%2C%20according%20to,are%20poised%20to%20surpass%20Walmart. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/kroger-and-albertsons-defend-merger-with-food-prices-in-political-crosshairs-3b57da33?mod=retail_more_article_pos14 https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/24/two-day-shipping-americans-expect-faces-climate-change-threat.html https://nrf.com/blog/2024-hot-25-retailers

Aug 28, 2024 • 1h 5min
Episode 68: Blueprint for Brand Growth: The evidence-based framework for marketers with Marc Glovsky
In episode 68 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, welcome Marc Glovsky, senior brand strategist, at Kantar to discuss Kantar's latest evidence-based framework for marketers, Blueprint for Brand Growth. Access Kantar's Blueprint for Brand Growth 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

Aug 9, 2024 • 59min
Episode 67: It's giving Gen Z: How, where, and why Gen Z shoppers shop
In episode 67 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, welcome a panel of Gen Z shoppers including Misha Jethwa, Taylre Stumpf, Jake Kalotai, and Vidusshi Hingad, to discuss how, where, and why they shop. 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