The CPG Guys

The CPG Guys are joined by Justin Honaman, Host of the ContentCast podcast and Head of Worldwide CPG & Retail Go-To-Market at Amazon Web Services as they recap the key themes discussed at the 2024 Shoptalk Conference which took place in Las Vegas Sept 17-20, 2024.

Follow Justin Honaman on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinhonaman
Follow The Contendercast podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contendercast-with-justin-honaman/id1253179


CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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 Neil Murphy, Chief revenue Office of Bridg, a division of Cardlytics, a data and audience platform built exclusively for brick and mortar retailers and their CPG partners that powers retail media success. The platform solves a longstanding challenge – identifying and targeting in-store customers that aren't part of loyalty or rewards programs – using an exclusive offline resolution capabilities and clients' point of sale (POS) data.

This episode is sponsored by Bridg.

Follow Neil Murphy on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-murphy-49b940/
Follow Bridg on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridgplatform/
Follow Bridg online at: https://www.bridg.com/

Neil answers these questions:

1. Neil, let’s dig into some of your pivotal career moments and how you came to join Bridg? 
2. Now walk me through what types of companies or archetypes at these companies are most in need of this solution.
3. What sets you apart from the competition? There are so many data platforms out there what makes Bridg so unique?
4. Can you share more about your clients and how they are using Bridg today?
5. Let’s say a retailer or a brand wanted to get started, how would they go about it? What is the entry point for working with you?
6. Looking into the future - what do you see coming? Transformative in the future and how as an organization tackle this.

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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 Kayla Winstead, VP of Retail Media at Hy-Vee, the Iowa-based grocery retailer with over 280 large-format grocery stores in 8 states. Hy-Vee's Retail Media Platform in known as Red Media.

Follow Kayla Winstead on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylabasart/
Follow Hy-Vee on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hy-vee/
Follow Hy-Vee Red Media online at: https://www.hredmedia.com/

Kayla answers these questions:

1. Let’s start with a look at your professional career and what experiences you think have been pivotal in helping you lead the retail media program at Hy-Vee?
2. What, from your perspective, makes retail media such a powerful marketing channel for brands and what do you see Hy-Vee bringing to the mix in terms of assets that makes your company well-suited to deliver value to brand advertisers and to your shoppers?
3. You launched a platform 3 years ago in partnership with Quotient. Last year, you decided to sunset that relationship and relaunched as RedMedia. What was the thinking behind this decision?
4. Ok, let’s start digging into the ad products that you are offering starting with onsite. What are the core offerings and what type of bidding system is available for sponsored search?
5. What other offerings do you have for offsite or in-store discovery?
6. While many of your capabilities are within Hy-Vee’s tech stack, you still require partnerships. What partnerships have you established to support on-site, offsite & in-store products (LiveRamp, Trade Desk, CTV, Samsung Ads) and what integrations have you made to enable brands to leverage existing 3rd party platforms to execute campaigns on Hy-Vee? (Citrus)
7. For brands to invest in RMNs, they need to ensure that the performance measurement meets their standards. What is Hy-vee offering brands to support measurement in-house or via third-party  Are you offering clean room access to anonymized, aggregate data & what are your thoughts on the movement to standardize how RMNs define and measure performance under the guidance of the IAB?
8. Looking into 2024 and even 2025, what should our audience expect to see from Hy-Vee that will make RedMedia an even more compelling platform for brand equity investment?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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 Doug Baker, VP of Industry Relations at the Food Marketing Institute. As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply. FMI is a champion for the food industry and the issues that make a difference to our members’ fundamental mission of feeding and enriching society. The reach and impact of our work is extensive, ultimately touching the lives of over 100 million households in the United States and representing an $800 billion industry with nearly 6 million employees.

Follow Doug Baker on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debaker/                         
Follow FMI on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmithefoodindustryassociation/
Follow FMI online at: https://www.fmi.org/

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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 episodee by Bharat Pulgam, Founder & CEO of Buncha, a last-mile technology company that uses W2 shoppers and refrigerated vehicles
to provide best in class service. With a unique batching system, Buncha is able to work with retailers to maximize deliveries in a reliable and efficient manner. What sets Buncha apart is commitment to quality, ensuring customer satisfaction in every interaction.

This episode is sponsored by Buncha.

Follow Bharat Pulgam on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bpulgam/
Follow Buncha on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gobuncha/
Follow Buncha online at: https://www.gobuncha.com/

Bharat answered these questions:

1. Much like how the CPG Guys started, the onset of the pandemic is the catalyst for the Buncha origin story. Please share it with us and I would mention that this is not your first startup is it?
2. Many of the immediate delivery services are modeled using gig workers for the last mile delivery. Buncha took a different approach. What is that and why is it proving to be a major differentiator for Buncha? How does that value vs. urgency equation play a role here?
3. You advertise that Buncha's delivery costs are 20% cheaper than competitive offerings. At a high level, please walk us through the financial model that underpins this, especially given that you have W2 employees.
4. What is the customer experience in utilizing Buncha. Do they need to shop through your branded app, do you reside inside retailer apps as a delivery option? What's the deal?
5. What is the value proposition for retailers that might want to partner with Buncha as a delivery mechanism and how are you able to represent their real-time assortment in your app environment?
6. How are you targeting markets and through what marketing efforts are you cost-effectively acquiring new customers? 
7. Are there currently or future plans to make your platform available for brands to engage consumers.
8. What are the last mile delivery trends you see developing in tis industry over the next few years that you expect will fuel Buncha's success?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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. 

We are partnering on today’s episode with Pricespider, who helps the world’s brands, big and small, to enrich the consumer journey and build long-lasting relationships with their shoppers, resulting in more revenue and higher profit margins. 

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by SVP of strategy & Director of strategy for PriceSpider - Brett Banner & Rae Guimond.

Follow Brett on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettbanner/
Follow Rae on Linkedin at : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmguimond/
Follow Pricespider on Linkedin at : https://www.linkedin.com/company/pricespider/
Follow Pricespider on the web at : https://www.pricespider.com/

They answer these questions :

1. What is the origin story of pricespider? How and why did the company get started? What is the vision and mission behind pricespider? What problems are you trying to solve?
2. What’s happening right now in the shoppable ecosystem that brands need to be aware of? With so much change happening in the space right now, what are the “back to basics” activities that brands need to stay on top of?
3. AI is here with a bang - its loud, its everywhere and its actually been around over a decade. Seems every brand is chasing its implications and vendors are anchoring to it everywhere. Thoughts and implications for you guys?
4. Consumer shopping habits are changing rapidly, especially post-pandemic. How do you see services like PriceSpider evolving to meet changing habits around discounts/deals, buying online vs in-store, etc?
5. Measurement - how do you create a cohesive and equivalent view of the shopper ecosystem when measuring different channels side by side, whether it’s different retailer marketplaces, or even next to D2C sites or a click-to-buy experience on social media?
6. How does PriceSpider gather, validate and keep pricing data up-to-date across so many retailers? What are the challenges in keeping pricing accurate and timely
7. Why is it important to look at the digital shelf side by side with shoppable media and where to buy?
8. Can you share any insights into the future of this space? What are you guys planning for and what capabilities will you be doubling down on?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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 Jack Shannon - co founder and CEO of Recess.is

Follow Jack on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonjack/
Follow Recess online at http://recess.is

Jack answers these questions :
1. Would you walk our audience through your own experience in this space and how you got from graduating Indiana university with a finance degree into experiential marketing as CEO of Recess? Note this is about your career to date and YOU
2. How did the company get founded - what was your inspiration and what makes you feel that recess is qualified to lead in this space?
3. I’d like to double down on sampling. Over the pandemic this completely died. What are you seeing now, are brands excited on sampling, what role do you actually play in the physical sampling?
4. Take us through your software capabilities - believe you think of it as picking an affinity, then a target audience while keeping it omnichannel - explain?
5. Give us examples of categories where you have already succeeded, like case studies and what returns brands are seeing?
6. That’s a good transition to talking about retailers. Believe you recently released a research report to help marketers understand where gym goers, college students and other audiences are most likely to shop, therefore highlighting targeted sampling opportunities - give us the scoop? What did you learn?
7. Are CPG brands the only ones to benefit from recess’ capability? What other categories have you focused on and what role does the retailer play in this?
8. Here on the CPGGUYS, the last question is fast forward - Can you share any insights into the future of this experiential and out-of-store sampling space - what's your prediction and then role in shaping it?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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 James H. Dickerson, PhD, former Chief Scientific Officer at Consumer Reports.

Follow James on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-h-dickerson-phd/

James answers these questions:

1. Would you walk our audience through some of the pivotal professional experiences in your career that have led you to AMTIL?
2. Can you share your most memorable experience during your tenure as Chief Scientific Officer at Consumer Reports?
3. How did you navigate the balance between scientific rigor and communicating findings to the general public?
4. What do you consider the most significant achievement in advancing consumer awareness and safety during your time at Consumer Reports?‘
5. How did you approach incorporating emerging technologies into Consumer Reports’ testing methodologies?
6. What role do you see consumer advocacy organizations playing in shaping industry standards and regulations?
7. How did you prioritize the testing and evaluation of products to address the most pressing consumer concerns?
8. Can you share any insights into the future of consumer advocacy and the role of scientific officers in shaping it?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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 welcome Daniella Harkins from LiveRamp to discuss the clean room revolution in identity - for both company-company and internal data connectivity.  We specifically focus on LiveRamp's recent acquisition of clean room specialist Habu and what that means for the future of identity-driven marketing.  LiveRamp enables companies and their partners to better connect, control, and activate data to transform customer experiences and generate more valuable business outcomes.

This episode is sponsored by LiveRamp.   

Follow  Daniella Harkins on LinkedIn at :https://www.linkedin.com/in/dharkins/
Follow LiveRamp on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liveramp/
Follow LiveRamp online at: https://liveramp.com/

Our conversation covered the following topics:

1) Talk a little bit about your personal journey to data identity leader - what's your background before LiveRamp?
2) Clean room technology lets you more easily collaborate with another data partner wherever your data lives, right?
3) Why does a cookieless world make this capability even more important than it was before?
4) Moving data (even temporarily) sounds like hard work – how hard or easy is this to actually do, and how will it be easier after the Habu integration?
5) So, what are some of the big ideas this type of data connection enables…this has got to make big multi-braded programs way easier, right?
6) What are some of the intra-company examples of use cases?
7) How can clean rooms help with understanding an integrated purchase journey, that often involves either cross-screen measurement or stitching together insights from a variety of walled gardens?
8) What do you think the next 12-24 months really look like as cookies begin to crumble – what will winning brands and retailers be doing better than the rest?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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 by Craig Dubitsky, a serial entrepreneur who created Eis Lip Blam, Hello oral care products and now happy Coffee (along with actor Robert Downey Jr.)

Follow Craig on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-dubitsky
Follow happy on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-happy-products/
Follow happy online at: https://www.happyproducts.com/

We ask Craig these questions:

1. Why don’t we start with when did the entrepreneurial spirit first take hold in your career and why has it become a habit for you?
2. You founded eos 16 years ago. Why did you think lip balm was the category to disrupt and how did you seek to engage consumers in terms of product and message? 
3. In 2012, you founded hello products. What about the oral care category told us you that it was ripe for delight?
4. How did you seek to create a thriving culture at hello and were you concerned about how it might transform when you decided to sell the company to CP?
5. After joining CP, you didn’t just fade into the sunset with a big bank account, you remained as Chief Innovation Strategist for nearly 3 years. What exactly were you doing and how did it help a 100+ year old company innovate for growth?
6. I remember in Orlando, you posting both your email and your direct phone number for anytone to reach out. You are an incredibly accessible and responsive person. How has this served you in your professional pursuit?
7. In the summer of 2023, you founded happy. What is happy, how are you seeking to delight people who consume coffee and why did you partner with a super hero to launch it?
8. How are you leveraging today’s media ecosystem to drive happy’s success?
9. What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs based upon your vast experience to ensure that they position their business for maximum success?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com
NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys
RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com

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.