The CPGGUYS hosts Sri Rajagopalan & Peter VS Bond discuss the emerging themes that dominated the first quarter of 2026 in the CPG and retail industry. From their iconic visit to CAGNY summarizing the presentations of 21 CEO's of some of the largest brands in the world to the reality of AI, there's something for everyone in this episode.

Follow Sri on Linkedin at : https://www.linkedin.com/in/sri-rajagopalan-09a0062/

Follow Peter on Linkedin at : https://www.linkedin.com/in/pvsbond/

Here's what we discuss :

1. Sri - The CAGNY 2026 Reality Check: Moving from "Pricing Power" back to "Volume Growth."
2. PVSB - Agentic Commerce & PXM: How AI bots are changing the way product data is managed (via Syndigo/NielsenIQ).
3. PVSB - The Walmart "Flywheel" 2.0: Analyzing their 41% ad growth and the Vizio integration.
4. Sri - The "Death of Validation" in Insights: Bob Nolan (Conagra) and the shift to behavioral science.
5. Sri - Retail Execution at Scale: The Trax + FORM merger and the "Command Center" for the shelf.
6. Sri & PVSB - Joint Value Creation (JVC): Moving beyond JBP with insights from Bimbo Bakeries.
7. PVSB - Social Commerce as a Mainstream Channel: The Ampd/TikTok Shop explosion.
8. Sri - The "K-Shaped" Consumer: Dealing with sticky inflation vs. the luxury/wellness surge.
9. Sri * PVSB - Super Bowl 60 Ad Analysis: Which CPG brands won the "Emotional Connection" war?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast. 

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. 

This week’s topics:

• McKinsey AI Breach
• Ulta Beauty Results
• Target price reductions
• Kroger Growth Priorities

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast. 

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by David Gottlieb, Chief Revenue officer and Jeff Wrona, VP Product, Image Recognition for FORM, the makers of the award-winning market execution software GoSpotCheck and FORM OpX, and Trax, the industry-recognized global pioneer of Image Recognition, delivering AI-powered shelf-level insights that help brands and retailers improve execution, availability, and growth in the physical store, have merged. 

Follow David on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmgottlieb/ 

Follow Jeff on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gospotcheckjw/

Follow FORM online at: https://www.form.com/ 

This episode is sponsored by FORM.

They answer these questions:

1. When you combine Trax’s global reach with FORM’s innovative model training and deployment capabilities, what fundamentally changes for CPG brands on the ground?
2. How does proactively onboarding the most popular SKUs in each region shift Image Recognition from just reactive reporting to a proactive competitive advantage?
3. What does 'agentic AI' realistically look like inside a CPG organization over the next three to five years? Is it hype, or are we looking at an operational revolution?
4.  If you were building the modern CPG tech stack from scratch today, what happens when IR data is integrated directly into sales, supply chain, and marketing systems?
5. Could shelf-level data become the fastest leading indicator of these generational behavior changes—even faster than syndicated data?
6. In this margin-compressed world, does flawless in-store execution become the single biggest lever brands still control?
7. How does integrating FORM’s AI-powered image recognition directly with FORM’s mobile task management fundamentally close that gap between identifying a shelf issue and executing a fix right there in the aisle?
8. What unique execution challenges do traditional CPGs face when competing with the speed and emotional connection of these newer brands?
9. How does leveraging AI and granular, SKU-level shelf intelligence help brands manage their physical presence with the same precision and responsiveness as their digital storefronts?
10. If two brands have equal product quality and trade support, does the one with superior IR-driven visibility win every time?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast. 

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Oksana Sobol, Vice President of Insights & Decision Intelligence at The Clorox Company, 

Follow Oksana on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oksanasobol/

Follow The Clorox Company online at: https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/

Download the white paper on "Home Care Redefined" here: https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/home-care-redefined/

Oksana answers these questions:

1. The report shows emotional outcomes from cleaning are up 13 points since 2016 — how did that finding land internally at Clorox, and how does it change the way you brief brand and innovation teams?
2. How should CPG brands be thinking about product placement, pack size, and on-shelf adjacencies to meet consumers where they actually clean — rather than where we assumed they did?
3. 31% of consumers think their products are disinfecting when they’re not. Where does the responsibility sit — on the brand, the retailer, or the shopper marketing ecosystem — to close that gap?
4. The report highlights Gen Z rebranding chores through cultural frameworks like “Giving the Dishes a Bath” and #CleanTok. How is Clorox thinking about reaching this cohort?
5. How are sensory experiences becoming a legitimate product development and marketing discipline at Clorox, and do you see this creating new shelf segmentation opportunities at retail?
6. How do you help retailers and their buyers understand that this isn’t cannibalization, it’s a category expansion opportunity?
7. Given that laundry dissatisfaction skews toward younger and multicultural households, what does a winning insights-to-innovation pipeline look like for that category?
8. Pet owners use ~21 cleaning products and clean floors more frequently, yet most don’t buy separate laundry products for pet-related loads. How big is the unmet need here commercially, and is the challenge one of product innovation, consumer education, or retail shelf organization?
9. How does Clorox use insights to make portfolio and price-pack architecture decisions that serve both ends of that spectrum without diluting brand equity?
10. As VP of Decision Intelligence alongside Insights, how are you thinking about where AI accelerates your work versus where human closeness to the consumer remains irreplaceable?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast. 

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. 

This week’s topics:

• Kroger's new CEO
• Milen Mahadevan named Chief Data & AI Officer at Kroger
• Target's new strategy
• Costco pursues tariff refunds

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast. 

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Particia Corsi, Chief Growth Officer & Craig Slavtcheff, Chief R&D Officer at Kimberly-Clark, manufacturer of trusted brands that are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries and territories. The portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, Goodnites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries. Our company's purpose is to deliver Better Care for a Better World. 

Follow Patricia on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciacorsi/

Follow Craig on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-stephen-slavtcheff-7115455/

Follow Kimberly-Clark online at: https://www.kimberly-clark.com/en-us/

They answer these questions;

1. Under the 'Powering Care' strategy, you talk about the need to 'out-innovate, out-market, and out-activate' together. Practically speaking, how have you re-wired your teams to work in lockstep? Does R&D sit in on the creative briefings now?
2. How do you engineer that kind of premium performance into a value-tier product without breaking the margin structure? That seems like an R&D magic trick.Can you give us an example of a product that worked in one market that you rapidly adapted and deployed to another? How are you customizing for local needs without losing the efficiency of a global chassis?
3. How do you balance the functional 'science' that Craig’s team builds with the 'brand love' you need to build? Can you talk about the creative strategy behind your recent Cannes wins and how that translates to actual market share gains?
4. How is Kimberly-Clark 'breaking through the noise' right now? Is it about being more provocative with the creative, or is it about being more precise with the targeting?
5. You’ve just wrapped year two of the 'Powering Care' transformation—the largest in the company’s 154-year history. And now, you have the Kenvue deal on the horizon later this year. When you look at the combined potential of these portfolios, how does your mission to 'raise the standard of care' evolve? What does the next 12 months look like for your respective organizations?
6. Craig, talk to us about one favorite innovation you’ve launched in the last year & one consumer trend that is keeping you up at night?
7. What is the one thing you want the retail partners listening to this to know about Kimberly-Clark’s plans for 2026?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast. 

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Dr. Jeffrey Hendrix D.B.A., Chief Customer officer at Bimbo Bakeries USA, part of Grupo Bimbo, the world’s largest baking company with operations in 35 countries. Bimbo Bakeries USA employs 22,000 associates across the Country in bakeries, sales centers, corporate offices and on sales routes to ensure our consumers have the freshest products to feed their families at every meal.

Follow Jeff on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrixj/

Follow Bimbo Bakeries USA online at: https://www.bimbobakeriesusa.com/

Jeff answers these questions:

1. As Chief Customer Officer at Bimbo Bakeries USA, how are you evolving the customer organization to drive both topline growth and profitability in today’s omnichannel retail environment? 
2. With your background bridging commercial and supply chain, how are you using customer transaction and POS data to reduce out of stocks and improve execution at the shelf? 
3. Retail media can create immediate lift but also real risk. How do you think about governance and readiness before committing trade dollars to retailer media platforms? 
4. When digital demand moves faster than replenishment systems, where do you see the biggest execution breakdowns today? 
5. What customer and supplier data signals matter most to closing the loop between demand creation and shelf availability?
6. The industry is shifting from joint business planning to joint value creation. How does that show up in day-to-day decisions, not just quarterly plans?
7. Beyond revenue and share, what KPIs best reflect whether marketing, sales, and supply are truly working together? 
8. As AI and automation become more embedded, where should algorithms guide decisions and where must frontline judgment remain essential? 
9. What are the hardest organizational barriers to making convergence real: systems, incentives, or culture?
10.  Looking ahead, what capabilities will separate companies that can compress the response cycle from those that cannot?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast. 

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. 

This week’s topics:

• Walmart settles with FTC
• Consumers prioritize protein
• Tariff refunds
• Grocery prices

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast. 

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by returning guest Nik Modi, Co-Head of Global Consumer & Retail Research at RBC Capital Markets for a CAGNY 2026 post-mortem conversation.

Follow Nik Modi on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nik-modi-675926/

Follow RBC Capital Markets on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rbc-capital-markets/

Follow RBC Capital online at: https://www.rbccm.com/en/=

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast. 

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. 

This week’s topics:

• CAGNY Recap
• Bath & Body Works
• Walmart Connect Q4 results
• Walgreens Layoffs

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.