In this episode of The Uplow’d, we welcome Director of Kroger Merchandising, DSD & Alcoholic Beverage, Mike Wessel. Mike gives us the low down on the 84.51° New Item Concept Screener (NICS) tool, and how it provides insight into how well a new product might resonate with customers before it ever hits the shelves.   

Mike Wessel works with Kroger Merchandising Teams analyzing loyalty card data to solve for customer needs, which includes consulting on which products are the best to sell.  A Cincinnati native and father of three, Mike is an avid reader and home improvement aficionado. Besides his work in merchandising consulting, Mike also holds a law degree and is a licensed attorney in the state of Ohio.