RETHINK RETAIL
RETHINK Retail
RETHINK Retail - the evolution of retail in today’s connected world.
Join us as we explore the most recent trends and innovations in commerce.
Join us as we explore the most recent trends and innovations in commerce.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 20, 2025 • 26min
The Self-Service Inflection Point: How Grocery Leaders Are Pulling Ahead
Self-checkout is hitting its inflection point in retail!
From frictionless AI-powered produce scanning to better integration with loyalty and payment systems, the future of in-store shopping is all about speed, efficiency, and smart tech.
Key takeaway: Success comes from getting the basics right, integrating technology, measuring the right KPIs, and aligning staff, not just chasing the “next shiny thing.”
Check out the full insights from our Rethink Retail podcast with Host Trevor Sumner, Nino Hörttrich from Diebold Nixdorf and Amar Mokha from Incisiv.

Oct 17, 2025 • 22min
Retailer Tech Tips: The Future of Grocery Modernization
In this special episode of Retailer Tech Tips from Groceryshop 2025, Theo Schweitz, CEO of Drive Wheel and Top Retail Expert, sits down with Rakesh Thaploo, Sr. Partner at Kyndryl, to explore the next era of grocery retail transformation.
Together, they discuss how modern grocers are leveraging AI, analytics, and digital store technologies to reduce shrink, boost margins, and deliver richer customer experiences.
From the evolution of in-store engagement to the rise of connected data ecosystems, this episode offers practical insights into how retailers can modernize operations while staying true to their consumers.
👉 Listen now and discover the strategies shaping the future of grocery retail.

Oct 17, 2025 • 25min
First Stop for New Products? Your Local C-Store
C-stores aren’t just convenience stops, they’re labs for bold new ideas.
On the latest RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Jessica Couch talks with:
- Yvette Fossum from Ferrero about their newest c-store launches and how they test big ideas in small spaces
- Isabella Chia from Wells Enterprises on how ice cream innovations in c-stores spark brand-wide strategies
Fun, fast, and full of real-world insights, hear why brands are leaning on convenience stores to innovate

Oct 17, 2025 • 19min
Inside the Future of Grocery: Lidl US and Diebold on Balancing Efficiency & Customer Experience
How do grocery leaders balance efficiency and customer experience in the age of automation?
Recorded at Groceryshop, this RETHINK Retail podcast brings together:
🎙️ Zara Ngouen, VP of Information Technology, Lidl US
🎙️ Matt Miles, Director of North America Retail, Diebold Nixdorf
Hosted by Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures, IGD, + RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert
Together, they unpack what it takes to design customer-centric self-service experiences, turn data into action, and build partnerships that power progress.
Listen now to explore the future of grocery, where operational excellence meets shopper delight.

Oct 10, 2025 • 42min
Next‑Gen POS: Fiscal Compliance as a Launchpad for Innovation
Fiscal Compliance Isn’t a Hurdle. It’s Your Launchpad for Innovation
Compliance is complex, but ignoring it is riskier. In the latest episode of Next‑Gen POS, host Scott Wueschinski talks with Darko Pavic, CEO of Fiscal Solutions, about how fiscalization can reshape modern retail.
You’ll learn:
- Why fiscalization is more than e-invoicing
- How compliant POS systems enable livestream shopping, self-checkout, and omnichannel promotions
- How AI tools like FiscalGPT simplify country-specific compliance
#RetailTech #POSInnovation #FiscalCompliance #Omnichannel #DigitalRetail

Sep 23, 2025 • 13min
Balancing Heritage and Digital Transformation
How does a 200-year-old porcelain icon stay relevant in the digital age?
Alex Baker interviews, Vista Alegre’s Chief Digital Officer, Carla Graça, shares how the brand is blending rich heritage with bold digital transformation by:
- Building a strong digital presence and expanding globally
- Driving innovation in factories and design while preserving craftsmanship
- Using technology to empower people, not replace them
- Creating seamless omnichannel customer experiences online and in-store
From heritage storytelling to AI-driven tools, Vista Alegre proves that tradition and innovation can thrive together.
Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

Sep 22, 2025 • 34min
Disruption-Proof Retail: Building Resilience Before the Storm
Extreme weather and unexpected disruptions can hit retailers hard, from spoilage and theft to costly downtime.
In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Andrew Smith (Top Retail Expert & Co-Founder, ThinkUncommon) sits down with Jeff Kenniston (Sr. Manager of Solutions Engineering, T-Mobile) to explore how retailers can prepare before disaster strikes.
💡 What you’ll learn:
- Why preparedness is a strategic must-have
- The real risks of outages: spoilage, theft & downtime
- How connectivity & tech like network slicing safeguard operations
- Practical steps to build resilience at scale
🎧 Tune in now and learn how to keep your retail operations disruption-proof!

Sep 18, 2025 • 24min
Building Loyalty Through Flavor and Innovation
Skinny Mixes isn’t just about syrups, it’s about creating everyday moments that are simply sweeter.
Melissa Minkow sits down with Tim Snyder, CEO of Skinny Mixes, to explore how the brand grew from a cult favorite into a social-forward powerhouse with over 100 flavors and a community of raving fans.
Highlights include:
- Why listening is Skinny Mixes’ secret sauce for loyalty and engagement
- How fans drive recipe sharing, product discovery, and viral trends like #WaterTok
- The role of DTC, retail partnerships, and the brand’s own app in reaching consumers
- Limited-time flavors like apple crisp and nostalgic soda collections that keep fans coming back
🎧 Listen now to hear how creativity blends with customer connection, and commerce to win in a competitive market.

Sep 15, 2025 • 53min
AI in Action: Expert Views on the Future of Retail and CPG
How are leading retailers and brands using AI to transform shopping?
Nordstrom’s Brad Tucker, Mars’ Shashank Kadetotad, and HCLTech’s Debraj Bhattacharya join Rethink Retail to explore:
- Smarter personalization and recommendations
- Greater operational efficiency
- Faster product innovation
- AI’s role in sustainability and customer loyalty
From generative to agentic AI, discover how companies are turning data into insight and creating the future of retail.
🎧 Tune in to hear how they’re shaping the future of AI in retail and CPG.

Sep 15, 2025 • 53min
Transparency, Bold Storytelling & Gen Z Leadership
Global Healing calls itself the “Rolls Royce of supplements”, and for good reason.
With 28 years in the industry, the brand leads with transparency, quality, and an unapologetically bold voice.
In this episode, David Polinchock sits down with Kendall McMullen to explore:
- Why manufacturing transparency and supply chain control set Global Healing apart
- How storytelling, authenticity, and “brand humanification” drive trust with Gen Z and beyond
- The bold stance on cutting through “AI fluff” to deliver real substance
- Leadership insights from a Gen Z marketing manager building empowered, cross-channel teams
- Why being “unapologetically bold” beats playing it safe in today’s noisy wellness market
🎧 Tune in to hear how Global Healing is redefining trust, quality, and leadership in supplements.
Join the conversation with our global retail community atwww.globalretailleaders.com


