Omni Talk Retail

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss how Wonder has scooped up Tastemade for $90 million as part of its grand plan to become the super app of mealtime. Chris and Anne dissect the strategy behind combining streaming food content with real-time delivery via Grubhub and Blue Apron—and whether Wonder’s vision of democratizing personal chefs can actually scale.(0:02) – Wonder acquires Tastemade to fuel its mealtime super app ambitions(0:33) – Wonder’s pivot from food trucks to centralized kitchens and restaurants(1:14) – Grubhub and Blue Apron acquisitions—building blocks of a food empire(1:40) – Marc Lore’s bold plan: Personalized chefs for everyone?(2:03) – The appeal: choice, convenience, and reducing friction in mealtime decisions(2:52) – Is it about delivery... or empowering consumers to cook with ease?(3:36) – Advertising potential: Tastemade as a platform to subsidize costs(4:46) – Scaling the logistics: Can Wonder handle the complexity at a reasonable price?(5:29) – Bezos’ rule of choice, food as friction, and the psychology of convenience(7:00) – Final verdict: Big risk, big vision—but is it big enough to work?Marc Lore is betting big on food—and the way we eat might never be the same. Will Wonder change the game... or burn through billions chasing an impossible dream?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/K-LainhQQyY#wonderapp #tastemade #foodtech #mealdelivery #superapps #grubhub #cloudkitchen #venturecapital #retailinnovation #foodstartupThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Walmart going all-in with Klarna as its sole Buy Now, Pay Later provider—ditching Affirm and integrating BNPL into its OnePay FinTech app. Chris and Anne explore why this is more than a simple switch, and how it positions Walmart to become a dominant force in payments.(0:03) – Walmart drops Affirm, partners exclusively with Klarna for BNPL(0:30) – Klarna to underwrite loans, Walmart’s OnePay to handle customer experience(1:10) – Walmart’s OnePay valued at $2B+ with $200M in annual revenue(1:54) – Why Walmart’s customers won’t notice a difference—and why that matters(2:26) – Klarna’s global reach gives Walmart valuable data and fraud prevention potential(3:06) – Is BNPL becoming the next Visa or Mastercard for retail?(3:24) – Walmart’s strategy: Growth through ownership of payment capabilities(4:26) – Signing up is shockingly easy—Chris’s experience and $60 in credits(4:42) – Walmart’s long game: becoming the “payment conduit for America”(5:08) – Why simplicity and trust in one provider can be more powerful than choiceWith millions of daily shoppers, Walmart’s bet on Klarna and OnePay could reshape how Americans pay. Will other retailers follow suit?For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/K-LainhQQyY#walmart #klarna #buynowpaylater #retailtech #retailinnovation #retailtechThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Wayfair going BIG in Atlanta with a new 150,000 sq ft store—but is this retail expansion smart or risky? Chris and Anne break down why Wayfair’s move into physical stores could challenge IKEA, fill a key market gap, and provide crucial data to enhance their omnichannel strategy in this latest episode of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital and Infios.(0:03) – Wayfair announces its second large-format store in Atlanta for 2026(1:00) – Chris shares the backstory: Wayfair's initial reluctance to go big(2:19) – In-store dwell time up 25%—why shoppers linger at Wayfair(2:45) – The white space: serving customers between IKEA and luxury brands(4:30) – Same-day pickup, easy returns, and why convenience wins(5:39) – Can Wayfair connect in-store behavior to online reviews and sales data?(6:44) – AI or no AI? The power of real-time retail data to optimize inventory(7:02) – The caveat: 15% sales bump might not be enough—store must be profitableWill Wayfair’s big store bet pay off? The verdict’s out—but this move could reshape how we shop for furniture in 2025 and beyond.For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/K-LainhQQyY#wayfair #furnitureshopping #homedecor #retailstrategy #omnichannelretail #furnituretrends #retailinnovation #homefurnishingsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Ulta Beauty going big with a new curated online marketplace—what does this mean for customers, loyalty, and retail media? Chris and Anne break down why this is a savvy move for Ulta, how Mirakl enables quick marketplace rollouts, and why 2025 is shaping up as the year of marketplace dominance in retail in this latest episode of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital and Infios.(0:02) – Ulta Beauty’s official marketplace announcement(0:20) – “Curated” marketplaces—real or just marketing?(1:02) – Why this is a smart move for Ulta’s customers(2:08) – Retail media revenue and loyalty points as key drivers(3:14) – The role of Mirakl in accelerating marketplace adoption(4:30) – 2025: The year of the marketplace (Best Buy, Janie and Jack, Ulta)(5:46) – Data value in high-frequency beauty purchasing(6:03) – How Ulta’s platform could attract CPG advertisersIf you're in retail or beauty, this is one trend you can't afford to miss. Ulta's move could reshape the future of digital commerce in beauty and wellness.For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/K-LainhQQyY#ultabeauty #ecommercetrends #retailinnovation #beautyindustry #retailmedia #customerloyalty #OmnichannelRetail #digitalcommerce #retailtech #beautytechThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss how Kroger is betting big on e-commerce—but is its strategy already flawed? In this segment, brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital and Infios, Chris and Anne debate Kroger’s controversial decision to separate online operations into a standalone unit, question the leadership choice, and unpack whether this sets Kroger up for success—or disaster.(0:03) – Kroger forms new e-commerce business unit(0:11) – Yael Cosset promoted to EVP and Chief Digital Officer(0:32) – Kroger CEO Ron Sargent emphasizes digital growth(0:56) – Should e-commerce be a separate division?(1:46) – Why this goes against omnichannel best practices(2:53) – Is Kroger stuck in the sunk cost trap with Ocado?(3:54) – Concerns over leadership structure and priorities(6:07) – Are digital sales underperforming despite the investment?(7:14) – Final thoughts: too many risks, not enough clarityDon’t miss this deep dive into a major retail shakeup—and what it could mean for the future of grocery e-commerce. For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/K-LainhQQyY#kroger #ecommercestrategy #retailnews #grocery #ocado #omnichannelretail #digitaltransformation #onlinegroceryshopping #retailtech #retailinsightsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this packed episode, Omni Talk hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga interview the most innovative retail technology providers attending Shoptalk 2025, giving listeners an insider’s guide to the conference’s must-see tech solutions.Key Moments:1:33 – Interview with Big Sur AI’s CEO Vinod Ramachandran on their AI sales agent, content marketer, and data scientist tools17:12 – Lucky Labs’ Sneh Parmar explains how they connect brands to major retailers with real-time inventory and attribution data27:47 – Lily AI’s Purva Gupta breaks down how they bridge the gap between merchant language and consumer search terms44:33 – Syrup’s James Theuerkauf discusses their AI decision support system for optimizing inventory management56:50 – Placer.AI’s Ethan Chernofsky shares insights on location analytics and understanding retail traffic patterns1:12:34 – Treasure Data’s Mark Tack on intelligent data platforms transforming retail customer experiences1:25:01 – Mirakl’s Alex Hase explains the rising trend of specialty retailers launching marketplace platforms1:35:33 – Signifyd’s Raj Ramanand reveals how AI is solving the $890 billion returns problem in retail#retailtech #shoptalk #aiinretail #retailinnovation #ecommerce #retailstrategy #customerexperience #retailanalytics #digitaltransformation*Sponsored Content*This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This episode dives into Kroger's bold move to launch a standalone e-commerce unit amid skepticism. Ulta is making waves with its new digital marketplace through Mirakl, while Wayfair plans to expand its physical presence with a second store in Atlanta. Klarna's exclusive partnership with Walmart aims to revolutionize buy-now-pay-later services. They also debate the merits of a 'super app' for mealtime and share their top Adam Sandler movie picks. Plus, a sprinkle of Mariah Carey and Irish names adds to the fun!

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Alvarez & Marsal, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, along with guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group Chris Creyts and David Schneidman break down the week’s retail news. In this short, they cover: A Ride Or Die Lightning RoundFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/zoe5hsCC9jUThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Alvarez & Marsal, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, along with guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group Chris Creyts and David Schneidman break down the week’s retail news. In this short, they cover:  If Portillo's App Fatigue IS Real And A Reason To Move To Digital WalletsFor the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/zoe5hsCC9jUThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Alvarez & Marsal, Mirakl, Simbe, Infios, and Ocampo Capital Chris Walton, Anne Mezzenga, along with guest hosts from the Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group Chris Creyts and David Schneidman break down the week’s retail news. In this short, they cover: Buying or Selling: Reckitt’s Claim AI Has Reduced Product Development Lead Times By 60%For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/zoe5hsCC9jUThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy