Omni Talk Retail

Live from the Vusion Podcast Studio at NRF Retail's Big Show Europe in Paris, Omni Talk's Chris Walton sits down with Andy Laudato, EVP and COO of The Vitamin Shoppe, for a deep dive into AI, assortment, and operating discipline.

Andy walks through Shop Advisor, The Vitamin Shoppe's new AI-powered discovery tool built on the company's own proprietary product data, and shares his read on where AI is really working across retail right now as co-founder and chair of the Retail AI Council. He also breaks down how GLP-1 medications are reshaping assortment and education, and the prioritization rules that keep his team focused.

In this episode:

• Inside Shop Advisor and The Vitamin Shoppe's AI innovation store
• Why "human in the middle" AI applications are winning right now
• The mission behind the Retail AI Council
• How GLP-1s are reshaping assortment and customer education
• Andy's rule: cut every list by 15% and "stop starting, start finishing"

🎧 Subscribe to Omni Talk Retail for more conversations with the leaders shaping retail.

In this episode, sponsored by Instacart Enterprise, Portager, Vusion, and Sifter Solutions, Ben Miller is joined by Chris Walton, President and CEO of Omni Talk, live from NRF Retail’s Big Show Europe in Paris, to unpack the latest grocery news and trends shaping the global grocery and CPG industry.

This week, they discuss:

• Kroger’s stalled performance and lowered 2026 sales outlook, examining whether the challenges facing the supermarket giant are specific to Kroger, the broader supermarket format, or consumer confidence. (Source)

• Instacart and Shipt launching AI-powered shopping assistants, and what the latest developments in AI-powered grocery shopping mean for the customer experience retailers should be working toward. (Source)

• Walgreens partnering with Looma to deploy in-store advertising screens, and whether working with a partner that provides hardware, content production, and measurement is the right approach to in-store digitization. (Source)

• Albertsons expanding its board and naming Meg Whitman as its first Executive Chair, examining what the appointment could signal for the company and the wider grocery industry. (Source)

Plus, Kim Schneider of Vestcom joins us for Five Insightful Minutes to explore how grocers can maximize their investment in shelf-edge technologies.

A few things worth checking out from this week’s episode:

Don’t miss our exclusive interviews from NRF Retail’s Big Show Europe in Paris, featuring the retail leaders and innovators shaping the future of grocery and retail. Catch them on the Omni Talk LinkedIn page, podcast channels and YouTube.

Register for Omni Talk’s Fall Conference Season “Must-See” Tech Preview: https://www.linkedin.com/events/omnitalk-sfallconferenceseason-7486477216600518656/theater/

Episode 005. Welcome to GrocerTalk.

P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/

Music by hooksounds.com.

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, ZenlineAI, and Mirakl.

In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:

• Kohl's expands its Babies R Us shop-in-shops to 56 more stores and adds an exclusive collection, even as Sephora at Kohl's sales decline for a second straight quarter.
• Walmart+ adds CITGO to its Gas Savings benefit, growing the network from 13,000 to more than 17,000 stations without raising the membership price.
• Harps Food Stores names Will McDoniel its first-ever director of AI strategy and innovation as the grocer looks to modernize beyond store growth.

The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights.

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, ZenlineAI, and Mirakl.

In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:

• Kroger trims its full-year same-store sales outlook as IRA pharmacy pricing and a lettuce-linked outbreak weigh on results.
• Amazon expands Shop the Show and Shop the Scene to more than 8,000 Prime Video titles, pushing further into shoppable streaming.
• Planalytics forecasts an early fall chill that could shift consumer demand toward seasonal categories fast.

The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights.

It’s lightning round time, and Chris Walton and Shelley Huff are making some very important decisions, from their Super Bowl picks to choosing between Genie and Samantha and naming the Adam Sandler movie they’d keep forever.

Plus, one very specific wish involving a dog that may or may not be possible.

▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY

Sprouts has named Nick Konat as its next CEO, with the leadership transition set to take effect in January 2027.

Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss what Konat should focus on as he takes the reins, from staying disciplined on the retailer’s existing strategy to executing the roadmap already in motion.

The big question: Does Sprouts need a new strategy, or simply a new leader to execute the one it already has?

▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY

Sephora is testing monthly exclusive product drops on TikTok Shop, giving the beauty retailer another way to create demand and build community around new products.

Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss how TikTok Shop differs from Amazon, and why the platform may be more valuable for creating demand than simply capturing it.

The big question: Can TikTok Shop turn product drops into a repeatable retail habit?

▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY

Costco has quietly shut down Costco Next, its member-only online marketplace that connected shoppers with products from outside brands.

Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss why Costco’s club model may not translate neatly to a marketplace business, and what the move says about where Costco wants to focus its digital strategy.

The big question: Does Costco really need a marketplace when its core model is already working?

▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY

Ulta is facing backlash over its use of Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader technology, raising bigger questions about transparency, communication, and how retailers handle technology that can impact their customers.

Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss whether the bigger problem is the technology itself or the way Ulta communicated its use of it.

The big question: When retailers use controversial technology, how much transparency do customers deserve?

▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY

Amazon is bringing back its digital grocery pop-up for Labor Day, but the bigger question is what these short-term grocery pushes actually accomplish for the retailer.

Chris Walton and Shelley Huff discuss whether Amazon’s grocery pop-ups are a smart way to build share and stay top of mind, or just another temporary promotion in an increasingly crowded grocery market.

The big question: Is Amazon building a grocery business, or just building grocery moments?

▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here:https://youtu.be/x4hGqvRTilY