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: [email protected] Barry's LinkedIn

Rachel's contact information: [email protected] 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: [email protected] Barry's LinkedIn

Rachel's contact information: [email protected] Rachel's LinkedIn

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: [email protected] Barry's LinkedIn

Rachel's contact information: [email protected] 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/

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: [email protected] Barry's LinkedIn

Rachel's contact information: [email protected] 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/

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: [email protected] Barry's LinkedIn

Rachel's contact information: [email protected] 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