Kantar Retail Sound Bites

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

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, companies are ranked on a range of factors, from strategic metrics to business fundamentals, capturing input from several key industry leaders.
This year's report found that in a year defined by market fluctuation and growth challenges, "relevance" is key to joint retailer and manufacturer growth.
View the executive summary to understand how to win the relevance battle and learn strategic imperatives for 2026 and beyond.
Exclusive | NYC's Meadow Lane gourmet grocery debuts amid affordability crisis | New York Post​
First Walmart-branded store opens in Africa | Chain Store Age​
The AI trifecta transforming CPG and retail​
https://www.retaildive.com/news/winners-losers-black-friday-2025/806610/​
https://news.adobe.com/news/2025/12/adobe-cyber-monday-hits-record​

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, and more.
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
https://kriq.kantarretailiq.com/en/p-iq/insights/blogs/top-10-lessons-from-the-create-2025-restaurant-show
The 2025 Retail Intelligence Report | Progressive Grocer
https://www.grocerydive.com/news/amazon-whole-foods-store-within-store-automated-micro-fulfillment/804749/
https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-shop-exec-ai-is-powerful-tool-for-ecommerce-fraud-2025-11
https://www.modernretail.co/technology/walmart-adds-ai-generated-audio-summaries-to-select-product-pages/

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 function to a true growth driver.
A few of our favorite insights from Bala:
"Category management is evolving from back office to growth architect."
"Don't just report the news—create the news."
"Be bold. Stay current. Stay externally focused."
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
https://www.retaildive.com/news/retail-ai-chatbot-consumers/803573/
Dollar Tree enhances multi-price strategy with AI
Playbook: 5 Shopper Missions Every Category Manager Should Be Watching | Path to Purchase Institute
https://www.retaildive.com/news/retail-ai-chatbot-consumers/803573/
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/21/wawa-stealing-customers-from-wendys-burger-king-starbucks.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/style/nordstrom-catalog.html

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.
Together, they explore how the retail landscape is evolving across formats, cultures, and consumer behaviors. From the lasting impact of GLP-1 medications on grocery shopping habits to the reinvention of the in-store experience, this episode dives into the forces reshaping how shoppers engage with brands. The conversation also highlights the rise of omnichannel strategies, the growing influence of Latino consumers, and the importance of cultural relevance in building brand loyalty.
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