Kantar Retail Sound Bites

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 strong theme of pragmatic optimism. While students recognize AI's growing role across industries, they are deeply focused on preserving human judgment, creativity, and connection. Andy explains why taste and judgment remain the true human advantage as AI becomes more efficient yet increasingly homogeneous.
The episode explores agentic AI, the future of marketing and commerce, and why brands and retailers must invest not only in technology, but equally in developing human capabilities to thrive in an AI‑enabled world.
Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast.
Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn
Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn

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 local."
Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast.
Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn
Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn

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 Kantar's North American Retail Practice, and James May, EVP of CPG & Hospitality. In a fast‑paced, candid conversation, they explore:
·       How modern health, GLP‑1s, and protein‑led innovation are reshaping portfolios
·       Why agentic commerce, AI, and algorithmic decision‑making are the next frontier
·       The evolving, often fractured but interdependent relationship between brands and retailers
·       Which KPIs matter less today and why incrementality, precision, and proprietary data matter more
·       What it really takes to future‑proof a CPG organization in 2026 and beyond
Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast.
Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn
Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn
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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 confidence remains historically low, forcing brands to clearly justify price through either affordability or unmistakable quality
Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and older shoppers are fragmenting demand, making one‑size‑fits‑all strategies obsolete
Premiumization isn't disappearing, but it's migrating to value‑oriented retailers like Walmart and Costco
2026 is shaping up to be the Year of the Challenger Brand, with speed, authenticity, and flavor‑forward innovation winning
Health, policy pressure, and global flavors are converging to redefine what "winning" products look like
If you're leading strategy in CPG, retail, or food service, this episode is a must‑listen.
Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast.
Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn
Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn

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 retail.
🎧 Highlights include:
• Why data is king and trust is the new currency in AI‑powered retail
• Emerging global tech players redefining innovation
• RFID's leap into frictionless checkout + storewide intelligence
• What Lowe's, Walmart, Google, and Ralph Lauren are doing to accelerate AI adoption
• The growing influence of creators, community, and under‑priced attention
 
Listen in for the trends that matter and what they mean for retailers, brands, and the future of commerce.
Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar's Retail Sound Bites Podcast.
Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn
Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn