Kantar Retail Sound Bites podcast series provides a provocative view of global retail trends, business issues, and other shopper and retail related news.
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As part of the Retail Sound Bites summer replay series, Barry Thomas revisits one of the podcast's most impactful conversations, highlighting the evolving role of category management and its growing importance across the retail landscape. Featuring insights from Ferrero's Bala, this episode explores how retailers and CPG manufacturers can use category thinking to drive growth, strengthen shopper…
In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, hosts Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton welcome Sunny Khamkar, a leading food and beverage trends expert, to discuss the forces reshaping the future of foodservice, retail, and consumer dining habits. From rising food costs and the impact of GLP-1 medications to the growing demand for protein-rich options, global flavors, functional beverages, and personalized…
The next billion-dollar brands won't be invented by legacy CPG; they'll be acquired from founders. On the latest episode of Retail Sound Bites , Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton sit down with Danny Stepper, CEO and co-founder of L.A. Libations, to unpack the realities behind scaling a beverage brand. This conversation dives into what separates brands that break through from those that stall,…
What if TikTok matters to your business more than Amazon? On the latest Retail Sound Bites, we explore why TikTok has become one of the most powerful demand engines retail has ever seen. Featuring Jordan Kremm and Steve Light of L&R Distributors, this episode breaks down how TikTok Shop is reshaping product discovery across generations, why brands are launching on TikTok first, then scaling to…
What did NACDS really reveal this year? In this Retail Sound Bites episode, Rachel Dalton, Leigh O'Donnell, and Barry Thomas share their candid take on the trends, tensions, and leadership moments shaping drug retail right now. In this conversation, Rachel Dalton, Leigh O'Donnell, and Barry Thomas look beyond the conference agenda to unpack what NACDS really revealed about the state of drug…
In this episode of Retail Sound Bites , Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton welcome back Andy Murray, former Executive Chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi X and CEO of BigQuest Advisory, to discuss the future of AI through the lens of original research titled Minds on the Machine . Based on insights from graduating seniors at the University of Arkansas' Walton College of Business, the conversation reveals a…
Retail buying groups are reshaping the balance of power in Europe's grocery landscape. In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton are joined by Paida Mugudubi to unpack how buying groups work, why they've grown so influential across Europe, and what they mean for brands navigating pricing, negotiations, private label, and retail media in a world where "nothing stays…
Retail Sound Bites marks a major milestone with its 100th episode, celebrating four years of conversations at the intersection of retail, CPG, and commerce transformation. Hosts Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton kick off the episode by reflecting on the journey so far and spotlighting the top 10 most ‑ listened ‑ to episodes from the past four years. The episode also features Ted Riedel, President of…
What will value really mean for food and beverage in 2026? On the latest episode of Retail Sound Bites , Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton sit down with Brian Choi , CEO of The Food Institute , to unpack the forces reshaping the industry, including deeply value‑obsessed consumer to the rise of challenger brands and experience‑led innovation. 🎙️ Key takeaways from the conversation: Consumer…
In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, Barry and Rachel are joined by Amar Singh and David Marcotte for a rapid‑fire download on everything we saw, heard, and learned at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show. From global tech innovation to the rise of agentic commerce, frictionless checkout, robotics, synthetic data, and the power of creators, this episode is packed with the signals shaping the next era of…
In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, Jeff Maloy, vice president of retail, sales, and shopper, and Rohan Mazumdar, vice president of retail consulting, at Kantar, join hosts Rachel Dalton and Barry Thomas in a discussion about this year's PoweRanking® findings. Kantar's PoweRanking® report is the industry's leading assessment of best-in-class manufacturers and retailers. In an annual survey,…
In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, Rachel Dalton and Anna Estlund, VP of strategy, insights, and analytics at Pernod Ricard, discuss five critical steps to turn insights into real-time activation for commercial teams. They also discuss the blurring boundaries between alcohol and non-alcohol categories, the rise of modern health and moderation trends, premiumization despite economic headwinds,…
In this episode, Rachel Dalton and Barry Thomas sit down with Bala Gurumoorthy, VP of Category Management at Ferrero USA, to discuss the evolving landscape of convenience retail and the future of category management. Together, they uncover fantastic insights from the recent NACS event, Ferrero's approach to omnichannel strategy, and how category management is transforming from a back-office…
In this special episode of Retail Sound Bites, we unpack the most compelling themes and takeaways from three powerhouse industry events— Shoptalk , Groceryshop , and Velocity . Hosts Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton are joined by two of Kantar's leading voices in shopper intelligence: Leigh O'Donnell , Head of Shopper and Category Insights, and Julie Craig , Vice President of Shopper Insights.…
"Smaller households mean different product configurations, different product features, different ways of taking them to market… Even the fact of the aging population emphasizes certain categories and new benefits that these older consumers will desire. So, these forces point to new pockets of opportunity." In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, we welcome Oksana Sobol, consumer insights lead at…
What happens when neuroscience meets AI in the world of CPG? We sat down with Dr. Pradeep, CEO of Sensory AI and a pioneer in NeuroAI, to explore how the nonconscious mind and large language models are transforming innovation, marketing, and product development. 🎧 In this episode, you'll hear: Why "the action is in the nonconscious"—and how uncovering hidden consumer desires leads to breakthrough…
Personalization, engagement, and "food as medicine" programs are shaping the future of preventive care. This episode features a conversation with Jared Childs and Julie Fleisher from Soda Health ; a company focused on improving access to preventive healthcare through benefits platforms. Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton sat down with Jarden and Julie to explore how their innovative platform is…
Agility drives challenger brand success in traditional retail – and the same holds true in beauty. Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton just wrapped an inspiring conversation with Brian King, chief customer officer at RoC Skincare, on Episode 90 of Retail Sound Bites. Brian shares his journey from leading teams at CPG legacy brands to scaling a challenger brand with startup agility. From 20 consecutive…
Traditional ecommerce and social commerce are diverging, with social commerce platforms like TikTok Shop showing significant growth and engagement. Hear from Charlotte Harris, senior analyst at Kantar, as she walks through discovery-led journeys through social media, modern retail activations, changing shopper expectations, and more with hosts Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 89 of Retail…
There are three things that retailers must do to create stronger connections with shoppers: when the customer walks in the store, make them smile, make them hungry, and do what the competition can't or won't do. Hear from Kevin Coupe, author and prime storyteller at morningbeatnews.com, as he highlights several pressing issues in retail today, including consolidation, threats like tariffs and…
Great creativity requires constraints. The presence of media, data, and technology partners at events like Cannes creates new opportunities and constraints that enhance creative culture. Hear from Andy Murray, Founder & CEO of bigQuest Advisory, Inc., as he explores emerging technology, deepening consumer engagement and insights, and what's next for Cannes with Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on…
Is volatility our new normal? As tariff policies change frequently, uncertainty is likely to be the new normal for the foreseeable future, making long-term planning and decision-making more challenging. Hear from Kantar's Doug Hermanson and David Marcotte as they join Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 86 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites to discuss global tariffs, policy changes, and impacts…
The drug channel in the US is undergoing significant changes, with CVS and Walgreens trying to reposition themselves as health and wellness destinations but facing challenges such as store closures and shopper shifts to other channels. Hear from Kantar's Amar Singh and Leigh O'Donnell as they join Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 85 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites to discuss current…
Consumers and customers must remain at the heart of every decision, regardless of your industry. Hear from Julie Hamilton, former Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Global Sales at Diageo PLC, as she joins Kantar's Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 84 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites to discuss customer value creation, world-class customer leadership, career navigation, and more. Have a…
Adaptability, collaboration, and authenticity are traits that can get you far as a professional and leader. Hear from Cathy Horgan, foodservice and on-premise lead for OLIPOP, and Stephen Horgan, co-founder of InterContinental Beverage Capital, as they join Kantar's Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 83 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites to discuss career progression, leadership, and finding…
Will the tradition SEO we've come to know and master soon become obsolete? As generative AI reshapes search, learn what's next from James Cadwallader, co-founder and CEO of Profound , as he joins Kantar's Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 81 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites to discuss traditional to predictive search, new digital shelf strategies, human discovery, and more. Have a topic…
Disruption is inevitable for US retailers and suppliers in the months ahead. Discover provocative and transparent ways to combat challenges ahead from Marissa DeMaio, Vice President of Marketing and Retail Sales Atalanta Corporation, as she joins Kantar's Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 81 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites to discuss…
It's time to break through the complexities surrounding AI and its implementation across retail. Kiri Master, retail media and expert and host of Retail Media Breakfast Club , joins Kantar's Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, on episode 80 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites the powerfully transformative AI agents that have the potential to change…
Kantar's annual industry benchmarking report PoweRanking® identifies retailers and suppliers that set the standard of performance, ranked by their trading partners. Download your complimentary executive summary to discover this year's rankings. Rohan Mazumdar, vice president of retail consulting at Kantar, and Jeff Maloy, senior vice president of consulting at Kantar, join Barry Thomas, senior…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
In episode 68 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, welcome Marc Glovsky, senior brand strategist, at Kantar to discuss Kantar's latest evidence-based framework for marketers, Blueprint for Brand Growth. Access Kantar's Blueprint for Brand Growth Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail…
In episode 67 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, welcome a panel of Gen Z shoppers including Misha Jethwa, Taylre Stumpf, Jake Kalotai, and Vidusshi Hingad, to discuss how, where, and why they shop. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Barry's contact information:…
In episode 66 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss best-in-class uses of AI in retail with Mischa McInerney, CMO, Digital Marketing Institute. This episode also features Julie Craig, vice president of shopper insights at Kantar, to discuss how politics are impacting shopping. Have a topic you'd like us to…
In episode 65 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss challenger brands, mergers and acquisitions, and more with Richard Baum, managing partner of Consumer Growth Partners, Kara Posner, partner at Giannuzzi Lewendon, and Patrick McKeever, publisher of The Daily on Retail. This episode also features Kantar's…
In episode 64 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss category management, leadership, and best practices with Chris Perry, chief learning officer, firstmovr. This episode also features Mary Brett Whitfield, senior vice president of shopper insights at Kantar, to discuss welcomed trends being tracked in…
In episode 63 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss eB2B and digital commerce disruptions, revenue growth management, and more with David Martin, group digital director, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Barry's contact…
In episode 62 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss challenger brand disruption across direct-to-consumer brands with Eric Ryan, co-founder of method, OLLY, Welly, Cast, and WILL Perform . This episode also features Julie Craig, vice president of shopper insights, to discuss the changing role of the store and…
In episode 61 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss challenger brand disruption in the beverage industry with Danny Stepper, CEO & Co-founder at L.A. Libations and Globestepper Productions. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast . Barry's contact information:…
In episode 60 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss findings from the 2024 NACDS Annual Conference with Amar Singh, senior director of retail insights, at Kantar. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast . Barry's contact information: barry.thomas@kantar.com…
In episode 59 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss portfolio management, health and wellness trends, and upskilling initiatives with global CEO and tenured leader, Don Kerrigan. This episode also features Mary Brett Whitfield, Kantar's senior vice president of shopper insights, who sheds light on recent…
In episode 58 of Kantar's Retail Sound Bites, Barry Thomas, senior retail thought leader, and Rachel Dalton, head of retail insights, discuss digital commerce and omnichannel advancements made at Sam's Club with executive vice president and chief growth officer Diana Marshall. This episode also features Doug Hermanson, Kantar's principal economist, who sheds light on the current macroeconomic…
