Omni Talk

In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, Chris Walton sits down with Experion Technologies' Mahesh Vijayaraghavan (VP of Retail & Consumer Goods) and Siraj Alimohamed (Global Head of Data & AI) to cut through the AI hype. From platform-first strategies to the pilot fatigue epidemic, Mahesh and Siraj break down why AI is overhyped at the dashboard level but underappreciated where it matters most, i.e. in 6 a.m. inventory decisions and real-time store operations. Learn why building AI like a muscle beats treating it like a project, how to escape automation chaos, and why your digital experience is about to become your biggest competitive advantage.

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, looks at BJ's Wholesale Club's experiment with smaller-format stores. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by A&M's Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, discuss whether clubs can win quick-trip shopping missions, who should be most concerned, and how this move could reshape regional grocery competition. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/zqyHBYoL9N4 #BJsWholesale #ClubStores #RetailFormats #GroceryRetail #ConvenienceRetail #RetailStrategy #RegionalGrocers #RetailTrends #OmniTalk

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, explores why grocery ecommerce has quietly reached 19% penetration. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside A&M's Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, unpack what this milestone means for regional grocers, curbside economics, and whether grocery leaders are underestimating how fast digital adoption is accelerating. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/zqyHBYoL9N4 #GroceryEcommerce #OnlineGrocery #CurbsidePickup #RetailTrends #DigitalRetail #GroceryIndustry #RetailStrategy #OmniChannel #OmniTalk

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, examines eBay's decision to ban AI-powered shopping bots. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside A&M's Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, debate the risks and rewards of agentic commerce, why collectibles marketplaces may need tighter controls, and whether other retailers will follow eBay's lead. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/zqyHBYoL9N4 #eBay #RetailAI #AgenticCommerce #EcommerceAutomation #MarketplaceTrust #RetailPolicy #AIinRetail #RetailInnovation #OmniTalk

This Lightning Round segment of the OmniTalk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, closes out the show with rapid-fire takes on culture, fashion, and the lighter side of retail. From Ralph Lauren's Olympic uniforms and Cracker Barrel's employee dining rules to winter travel escapes and Kelly Clarkson nostalgia, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by A&M's Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, keep things moving with quick hits and strong opinions. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/zqyHBYoL9N4 #RetailLightningRound #RetailCulture #FashionRetail #PopCulture #RetailNews #OlympicsFashion #CrackerBarrel #OmniTalk

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Amazon's decision to shut down its palm payment technology and close select Amazon Fresh stores. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by A&M's Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, debate why biometric payments failed to gain traction, whether consumers were ever ready for palm-based checkout, and what Amazon's renewed focus on Whole Foods signals about the future of grocery retail. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/zqyHBYoL9N4 #Amazon #RetailTech #BiometricPayments #AmazonFresh #WholeFoods #CheckoutTechnology #RetailInnovation #RetailStrategy #GroceryRetail #OmniTalk

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Walmart's launch of cross-border marketplace shipping. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, joined by A&M's Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar, explain why this move strengthens Walmart's marketplace flywheel, expands retail media opportunities, and positions Walmart as a true competitor to Amazon's FBA ecosystem. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/zqyHBYoL9N4 #Walmart #Marketplace #CrossBorderEcommerce #RetailMedia #EcommerceStrategy #AmazonFBA #GlobalRetail #RetailNews #OmniTalk

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, A&M's Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar joined Chris and Anne to discuss: Amazon shutting down its Amazon One palm recognition payment system and closing all 72 Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores (Source) Grocery E-commerce hitting a record 19% penetration in December 2025 (Source) Walmart launching a cross-border shipping program called Walmart Exports (Source) eBay banning AI shopping bots from its platform (Source) BJ's Wholesale opening its second small format BJ's Market in Delray Beach, Florida (Source) There's all that, plus Ralph Lauren Olympic uniforms, Cracker Barrel meal mandates, and whether Ken prefers Taco Bell or Ruth's Chris. Music by hooksounds.com #AmazonFresh #GroceryEcommerce #WalmartExports #eBayBots #BJsWholesale #RetailNews #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #RetailTech #MarketplaceCommerce

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, unpacks Amazon's plan to eliminate 30,000 corporate roles as CEO Andy Jassy targets bureaucracy and organizational bloat. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn explore why this move is about structure... not just AI... and what retail leaders can learn about talent, layers, and operational discipline. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/2z-nIHsIgfQ #Amazon #RetailLayoffs #RetailLeadership #AIinRetail #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFive

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down American Eagle's decision to shut down Quiet Logistics after acquiring the company for $360 million. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn discuss why selling logistics tech proved harder than expected, when retailers should avoid becoming software companies, and what this means for future retail tech bets. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/2z-nIHsIgfQ #AmericanEagle #RetailLogistics #RetailTech #Omnichannel #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFive

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Walmart's sweeping leadership reorganization as the retailer reshapes its structure to accelerate AI-driven growth. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn discuss why Walmart elevated the Chief Growth Officer role, how centralized platforms change accountability, and what this shift signals about the future of retail leadership and execution. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/2z-nIHsIgfQ #Walmart #RetailLeadership #RetailAI #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFive

This Lightning Round segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, closes out the show with rapid-fire takes on pop culture, consumer trends, and the lighter side of retail. From Netflix's AI predictions and rotisserie chicken subscriptions to mushroom coffee and internet-fueled food trends, Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn keep things fast, fun, and unpredictable. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/2z-nIHsIgfQ #LightningRound #RetailCulture #ConsumerTrends #OmniTalk #RetailFastFive

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, examines Dollar General's rapid expansion of same-day delivery and why rural America may be its biggest competitive advantage over Amazon. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn discuss how physical proximity, store density, and cost structure give Dollar General an edge — and why convenience doesn't always require cutting-edge tech. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/2z-nIHsIgfQ #DollarGeneral #Amazon #LastMileDelivery #RuralRetail #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFive

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, looks at why grocery stores are increasingly winning lunchtime trips from quick-service restaurants. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn discuss how ready-to-eat meals, pricing pressure, and changing consumer routines are driving this shift and why lunch may be grocery's most underrated growth opportunity. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/2z-nIHsIgfQ #Grocery #Foodservice #RetailTrends #LunchRush #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFive

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, Chris and guest host Jenn Hahn discussed: Walmart's sweeping leadership changes as new CEO John Furner reorganizes for AI transformation (Source) Dollar General expanding same-day delivery to 17,000+ rural stores to compete with Amazon (Source) Amazon planning 30,000 corporate job cuts—the largest in company history (Source) Traditional grocers stealing lunch customers from quick-service restaurants (Source) American Eagle shuttering Quiet Logistics after a $360 million bet gone wrong (Source) And Jenn Hahn also helped us hand out this month's OmniStar award in partnership with Quorso to Tricia Snider, Divisional VP for Dollar General's Northeast/New England Division. There's all that, plus Netflix binge-prediction AI, rotisserie chicken subscriptions, Harry Styles residencies, and whether Jenn has evolved beyond black coffee. Music by hooksounds.com #RetailNews #WalmartLeadership #DollarGeneral #AmazonLayoffs #GroceryLunch #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #RetailTransformation #LastMileDelivery #RetailInnovation #QuietLogistics #JennHahn

Recorded live at FMI 2026, Omni Talk Retail hosts Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton wrap up their conference coverage with Benjamin Bond, SVP, Strategy & Client Success at Simbe, from the Simbe booth. In this final interview of the conference, Ben shares how Simbe thinks about long term strategy while working day to day with retailers to ensure value realization at scale. He explains why shelf intelligence succeeds when entire organizations align around the store associate, and how Simbe's technology helps teams prioritize, act in real time, and run better stores. The conversation goes beyond the robot demo to explore how retailers move from pilot programs to full chain deployments, how CFOs evaluate emerging technology investments, and why shelf data is becoming one of the most foundational datasets in retail. Ben also looks ahead to how Simbe's platform, AI, and computer vision continue to evolve across grocery and other retail verticals. Key Topics Covered - Ben Bond's role spanning strategy and client success at Simbe - Empowering store associates with real time shelf intelligence - Moving from pilot programs to large scale deployments - Building the business case and ROI for retail robotics - Operating models that drive long term retailer success - The future of computer vision, AI, and multimodal platforms - Expanding beyond grocery into additional retail sectors This conversation closes out Omni Talk Retail's live coverage from FMI 2026, recorded at the Simbe booth. #FMI2026 #OmniTalkRetail #Simbe #RetailTechnology #ShelfIntelligence #RetailOperations #StoreExecution #RetailRobotics

Recorded live at FMI 2026, Omni Talk Retail hosts Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton sit down with Justin Weinstein, EVP, Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer at Giant Eagle, Inc., from the Simbe booth. Justin shares an update on Giant Eagle's progress since their last conversation, including how the company is reinvesting in stores, sharpening value, and doubling down on fresh and quality across the business. He discusses how Giant Eagle is thinking about store prototypes, department level differentiation, and how trends like GLP 1s are influencing merchandising, space allocation, and customer engagement. The conversation also explores agentic AI in grocery, where the hype is real but still evolving, and why operational rigor, real time insight, and strong partnerships are critical to serving customers when it matters most. Key Topics Covered: - Progress on Giant Eagle's growth and reinvestment strategy - Store of the future thinking and department differentiation - Value, pricing, and promotional focus - Fresh, protein, and nutrient dense foods - GLP 1s and implications for merchandising and space planning - Agentic AI and its role in grocery commerce - Operational execution and real time visibility through technology partners For more insights from grocery and retail leaders, continue following Omni Talk Retail's live coverage from FMI 2026, recorded at the Simbe booth. #FMI2026 #OmniTalkRetail #GroceryRetail #GiantEagle #Merchandising #RetailMarketing #FoodRetail #RetailTechnology #Simbe

Recorded live at FMI 2026, Omni Talk Retail hosts Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton sit down with Alyssa Vescio, Chief Merchandising Officer at The Fresh Market, from the Simbe booth. In this conversation, Alyssa shares her career journey from Target to Whole Foods Market and now The Fresh Market, and how each chapter shaped her approach to merchandising, leadership, and purpose. She discusses why healthy discontent has fueled her career, how purpose driven retail can scale responsibly, and what excites her most about The Fresh Market's brand, people, and potential as she looks ahead to 2026. The discussion explores how merchandising sits at the center of guest experience, supplier relationships, and long term business impact, especially in food retail where quality, freshness, and human connection matter most. Key Topics Covered: - Alyssa Vescio's path from Target and Whole Foods to The Fresh Market - Building strong merchandising foundations across disciplines - Purpose driven retail and the stakeholder model - Why food is a powerful human connector - Approaching the first 90 days in a new leadership role - Unlocking brand love, discovery, and differentiation - Accessibility and expanding access to high quality food For more conversations from grocery and retail leaders, continue following Omni Talk Retail's live coverage from FMI 2026, recorded at the Simbe booth. #FMI2026 #OmniTalkRetail #GroceryRetail #Merchandising #FoodRetail #RetailLeadership #TheFreshMarket #Simbe

Recorded live at FMI 2026 from the Simbe booth, Omni Talk Retail interviewed with Lei Duran, SVP at Lowes Foods, to discuss how a regional grocer is redefining what it means to compete through experience, culture, and guest centricity. In this conversation, Lei shares her career journey across Walmart, agencies, and retail strategy roles, and why she ultimately chose grocery as the most powerful place to build lasting brand preference. She explains how Lowes Foods is blending food, entertainment, and community to create destinations customers are willing to drive past competitors for. The discussion also explores how marketing at Lowes Foods goes beyond campaigns, evolving into a true business transformation strategy that connects data, personalization, in store experience, and long term growth. Key Topics Covered: - Creating grocery experiences rooted in culture, community, and entertainment - How Lowes Foods differentiates through in store moments and human connection - Using guest data and personalization to inform go to market strategy - Balancing creativity, speed, and authenticity in a regional grocery environment - Measuring success through preference, market share, and customer behavior Stay tuned for more live interviews and insights from Omni Talk Retail at FMI 2026, recorded from the Simbe booth. Stop by booth 118 to say hello and catch the conversations in person. #FMI2026 #OmniTalkRetail #GroceryRetail #FoodRetail #RetailMarketing #CustomerExperience #RetailLeadership #Simbe

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 in San Diego at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton connected with Madhav Durbha, Group Vice President of CPG & Manufacturing at RELEX Solutions. Madhav shares a practical and grounded perspective on what it really means to adopt an AI-first mindset in grocery and supply chain organizations. Drawing from his experience working with leading companies, he outlines a portfolio-style approach to AI adoption, balancing proven solutions, emerging use cases, and aspirational moonshots. The conversation emphasizes why people remain at the center of supply chain transformation, even as AI accelerates. Madhav explains why organizations must invest heavily in education, culture, and change management, and why successful AI adoption requires as much unlearning as learning. The discussion also explores how leaders are navigating AI with cautious excitement, filtering hype from reality, and rethinking processes instead of simply automating legacy workflows. Key Topics Covered: - What an AI-first mindset really looks like - A 70/20/10 framework for AI adoption - Why people and culture determine AI success - Filtering AI hype from real business value - Rethinking processes instead of automating them - The role of unlearning in digital transformation Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, recorded live from the Simbe booth in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #OmniTalkRetail #ArtificialIntelligence #SupplyChain #RetailTechnology #AIFirst #RELEX #FutureOfRetail

Live from FMI 2026 in San Diego, Omni Talk Retail's Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Thom Blischok, Chairman and CEO of The DiaLogic Group, at the Simbe booth to discuss why 2026 will be the year retail robotics finally move from pilots to scale. Thom breaks down what's driving broader adoption of in store robotics, including rising cost to serve, labor productivity pressures, and the growing need to improve shelf execution and shopper experience. He also shares why change management is often the missing piece in successful deployments and what independent grocers must get right to compete with larger retailers. Key topics covered: - Why 2026 is the year retail robotics scale - Moving from pilot programs to enterprise deployment - Cost to serve, labor productivity, and shelf efficiency - Change management as a critical success factor - Robotics, shelf intelligence, and the connected store - How independent grocers can compete using technology - Lessons from Schnucks and other early adopters Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, recorded live from the Simbe booth in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #GroceryRetail #RetailTechnology #RetailRobotics #InStoreInnovation #ShelfIntelligence #FutureOfRetail #OmniTalkRetail

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 in San Diego at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga speak with Bruce Burrows, former CIO of Loblaw and Sobeys and current Strategic Advisor at Simbe, about how technology, AI, and shelf intelligence are reshaping grocery retail. Bruce shares his perspective on why retailers should focus on being great retailers, not software developers, and how the buy versus build debate is evolving in an era of AI and private LLMs. The conversation explores where grocery sits on the maturity curve for connected stores, why in store execution is becoming table stakes, and how retailers can use data to drive better decisions across merchandising, supply chain, and store operations. Bruce also outlines a practical crawl, walk, run framework for adopting shelf intelligence, starting with fixing out of stocks and pricing issues, then moving toward smarter merchandising, supply chain integration, and new monetization opportunities. The discussion touches on agentic AI, avoiding solution sprawl, and why mid market grocers are often moving faster than larger enterprises. Key Topics Covered - Buy versus build in retail technology - The role of AI and private LLMs in grocery - Shelf intelligence and the connected store maturity curve - Crawl, walk, run adoption of smart store technology - Improving in stock, pricing accuracy, and execution - Using store data to enhance merchandising and supply chain - Agentic AI, solution sprawl, and platform strategy - Why mid market grocers are leading tech adoption Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, recorded live from the Simbe booth in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #RetailTechnology #GroceryRetail #AIinRetail #ShelfIntelligence #SmartStores #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 in San Diego at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Russell Zwanka, Director of the Food Marketing Program at Western Michigan University. Russell shares insights from decades in grocery retail and merchandising, paired with his current role shaping the next generation of industry leaders. The conversation explores how Gen Z and Gen Alpha are entering the workforce, what retailers often misunderstand about younger talent, and why flexibility, culture, and in-person learning still matter. The discussion also dives into AI, agentic commerce, GLP-1 adoption, and how grocery store formats are beginning to diverge. Russell explains why shelf intelligence, human judgment, and operational understanding remain critical, even as automation and AI accelerate across the industry. Key Topics Covered - What retailers get right and wrong about Gen Z talent - How AI and agentic commerce are changing food marketing - Why human curation still matters in an AI-driven world - The growing divide between grocery store formats - How GLP-1s are influencing shopping behavior and nutrition - What future grocery careers will look like for students Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, recorded live from the Simbe booth in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #GroceryRetail #FoodMarketing #RetailEducation #AIinRetail #GLP1 #FutureOfGrocery #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga speak with Brad Bogolea, Co-founder and CEO of Simbe, about how shelf intelligence is reshaping store execution and why real-time visibility inside the store is becoming essential for retailers. Brad shares the thinking behind Simbe's newly announced Tally 4.0, the company's fourth-generation autonomous inventory robot, and how advancements in battery life, edge compute, and optical sensing are unlocking more frequent store coverage and faster time to value. He explains how real-time shelf data is evolving into predictive intelligence that supports merchandising, replenishment, and forecasting decisions across the retail enterprise. The conversation also explores why shelf intelligence is foundational in an increasingly agentic and AI-driven retail environment, how retailers across geographies are prioritizing physical store data, and what Simbe's first decade has revealed about building long-term retailer partnerships and scaling innovation in grocery and beyond. Key Topics Covered - What's new in Simbe's Tally 4.0 platform - Why shelf intelligence is gaining urgency across retail - Real-time visibility versus predictive intelligence - How edge AI and advanced sensing improve store execution - The role of shelf data in merchandising and replenishment - Lessons from Simbe's first 10 years in retail automation - What the next decade of store intelligence could look like Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, recorded live from the Simbe booth, #118, in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #Simbe #ShelfIntelligence #RetailAutomation #StoreExecution #RetailTechnology #AIinRetail #GroceryRetail #OmniTalk

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Simbe's launch of Tally 4.0, the most advanced generation of its autonomous shelf-scanning robot. Live from FMI, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss why expanded coverage across produce, freezers, and top stock is a game-changer, how real-time shelf data becomes the foundation for the connected store, and why in-store robotics may offer one of the clearest ROIs in retail heading into 2026. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #Simbe #Tally40 #RetailRobotics #ConnectedStore #RetailTech #GroceryRetail #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk

This Lightning Round segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, closes out the show with rapid-fire takes on culture, fashion, and the lighter side of retail. From retro love letters and typewriter nostalgia to celebrity wedding drama, fashion legacy, and Broadway's Magic Mike Live, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga keep things fast, fun, and unpredictable. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #LightningRound #RetailCulture #PopCulture #OmniTalk #FMI2026

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down why entertainment has become retail's latest buzzword... from Fanatics launching Fanatics Studios to Gap appointing its first-ever Chief Entertainment Officer. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga debate whether retail entertainment is a true growth engine or just modern marketing, why Fanatics' sports flywheel gives it a massive edge, and whether Gap's LA-based “fashiontainment” strategy will drive ROI or simply add cost. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #Fanatics #Gap #RetailEntertainment #Retailtainment #BrandMarketing #RetailStrategy #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Walmart's push into trendier, more upscale home goods as it looks to attract higher-income shoppers and take share from Amazon. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss why home is ultimately a price-and-search-driven category, how Walmart's scale, returns, and Walmart+ advantages change the game, and why selling high-end items may be far less risky than it appears. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #Walmart #HomeGoods #RetailStrategy #Ecommerce #RetailTrends #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Kroger's nationwide rollout of grocery delivery through Uber Eats, Uber, and Postmates... putting nearly 2,700 stores on yet another major platform. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss why Kroger is embracing every delivery channel, how this strategy compares to Walmart and Amazon's owned networks, and whether expanding third-party delivery is a smart hedge in a post-Ocado world or a long-term road to being squeezed. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #Kroger #UberEats #GroceryDelivery #RetailStrategy #OmniChannel #RetailTech #RetailFastFive #OmniTalk

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down OpenAI's move to begin testing ads on ChatGPT — a major shift in how AI-powered search may monetize. Live from FMI, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga debate whether users will care about ads at all, why UI and buying friction matter more than privacy fears, and what this signals about the escalating battle between OpenAI and Google. They also explore how brands may respond as AI-driven searches continue to convert at higher rates. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/jVDymvwAUXg #ChatGPT #AIAdvertising #RetailMedia #SearchWars #AgenticCommerce #OmniTalk #FMI2026

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga speak with Karen Fang Grant, Managing Director and Global Research Lead at Accenture, about how technology, health trends, and AI are reshaping the future of grocery retail. Karen shares how forces like GLP 1 adoption, evolving definitions of health and wellness, and changing consumer expectations are influencing assortment, operations, and enterprise decision making across grocery. The conversation explores why AI is moving from experimentation to execution, how agentic AI and automation are beginning to drive real operational impact, and what retailers must do to scale these technologies responsibly. Karen also discusses why organizational readiness, strong data foundations, and cross functional collaboration matter more than any single technology investment, and what separates retailers successfully deploying AI from those still stuck in pilot mode. Key Topics Covered - How GLP 1 and health trends are reshaping grocery retail strategy - The evolving role of AI and automation in retail operations - Why agentic AI represents the next phase of enterprise transformation - Moving from AI pilots to scalable, real world impact - The importance of data readiness and organizational alignment - How retailers can responsibly adopt AI while maintaining trust - What grocery leaders should prioritize heading into 2026 Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, recorded live from the Simbe booth in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #Accenture #GroceryRetail #RetailTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #HealthAndWellness #RetailLeadership #DigitalTransformation #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga speak with Julian Mintz, VP of Sales at Albertsons Media Collective, about how retail media is evolving and what brands are looking for next. Julian shares how Albertsons Media Collective is leveraging national scale, local banner strength, and true omnichannel reach to help brands connect with shoppers from the couch all the way to checkout. The conversation explores why in store media is moving into the spotlight, how measurement and closed loop attribution are shaping brand confidence, and what it takes to align media, merchandising, and promotion into a single strategy. Julian also discusses how Albertsons works with CPG partners to break down silos between traditional media, shopper marketing, and retail media, and why education and internal collaboration are critical to driving unit sales and long term growth. Key Topics Covered - What differentiates Albertsons Media Collective in a crowded retail media landscape - How Albertsons defines true omnichannel reach - Why in store media is still early but gaining momentum fast - The role of measurement and closed loop attribution in brand adoption - Aligning media, merchandising, and promotion for better outcomes - Breaking down silos between brand, agency, and shopper budgets - How technology enables precision across banners and demographics Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, recorded live from the Simbe booth in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #AlbertsonsMediaCollective #RetailMedia #InStoreMedia #GroceryRetail #RetailTechnology #Omnichannel #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Brian Monahan, SVP of Albertsons Media Collective, to discuss how retail media is evolving and why in store media is emerging as the next major growth frontier. Brian shares his background across Walmart, Pinterest, Dentsu, and now Albertsons, and explains why retail media is far from a bubble. The conversation explores how first party data, authenticated shoppers, and trip based insights are reshaping how brands measure performance and drive growth across grocery retail. The discussion also dives into Albertsons Media Collective approach to collective growth, the competitive realities of operating as a challenger retail media network, and why local banner equity creates differentiated value for brand partners. Brian outlines why in store media represents the third leg of the retail media stool and how connecting the shopper journey from couch to checkout will define the next phase of retail media innovation heading into 2026. Key Topics Covered - How retail media is evolving beyond sponsored ads - Why first party data and authenticated shoppers matter - The role of trip based insights in driving brand growth - Albertsons Media Collective approach to collective growth - Competing as a challenger retail media network - Why in store media is the next major retail media unlock - Connecting off site, on site, and in store media touchpoints - Where in store media stands on the adoption curve heading into 2026 Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, and be sure to visit the Simbe booth, #118, in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #Albertsons #RetailMedia #InStoreMedia #GroceryRetail #RetailTechnology #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Tim Horton, Vice President of Center Store at Schnucks, to discuss how center store strategy is evolving as consumer health trends, technology, and store execution continue to collide. Tim shares his personal journey growing up in the grocery business and why center store remains a critical frontier for physical retail. The conversation explores how trends like GLP 1 adoption, higher protein demand, and changing definitions of health and wellness are reshaping assortment decisions, space allocation, and the in store experience. The discussion also dives into Schnucks approach to store technology, including electronic shelf labels and robotic scanning, and how these tools are being used to improve execution, compliance, and customer facing service without removing labor from stores. Tim outlines how data, digital engagement, and shelf level personalization will play a growing role as Schnucks looks ahead to 2026. Key Topics Covered: -How center store is changing amid GLP 1 and health focused consumer trends -Balancing space changes with customer trust and shopping habits -Schnucks approach to technology, including electronic shelf labels and robotics -Using data and automation to improve merchandising execution -Elevating health and wellness categories in center store -The role of digital and personalization in supporting in store discovery -Priorities for Schnucks center store strategy heading into 2026 Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, and be sure to visit the Simbe booth, #118, in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #Schnucks #CenterStore #GroceryRetail #RetailTechnology #HealthAndWellness #StoreExecution #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, Chris and Anne discussed: ChatGPT beginning to test ads for logged-in users (Source) Kroger launching on Uber nationwide across 2,700 stores (Source) Walmart leaning into trendier, upscale home goods (Source) Fanatics launching an entertainment studio while Gap creates a Chief Entertainment Officer role (Source) Simbe unveiling Tally 4.0 with advanced AI capabilities (Source) There's all that, plus graduation speech confessions, Magic Mike on Broadway, and whether Victoria Beckham should've hijacked her son's first dance. P.S. Be sure to check out all our other podcasts from the past week here, too: https://omnitalk.blog/category/podcast/ P.P.S. Also be sure to check out our podcast rankings on Apple Podcasts and on Feedspot Music by hooksounds.com #RetailNews #ChatGPTAds #WalmartHome #RetailTech #FanaticsStudio #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #SimbeTally #RetailInnovation #KrogerUber

In this episode of Confessions of Supply Chain Executives, host Chris Walton sits down with Kim Baudry, Market Development Director at Dematic, to unpack why 2025 wasn't a year of transformation for retail. It was a year of survival. Despite continued investment in automation and analytics, many retailers are more cautious than ever. Inventory levels are rising. Capital spending is slowing. And behind the scenes, fear, not strategy, is driving decisions. Kim calls 2025 a “vanilla” year. Stable on the surface, but defined by hesitation, uncertainty, and defensive plays. This episode breaks down where retail supply chains are stalling, why flexibility has replaced scale as the priority, and how labor inefficiencies and planning blind spots are quietly draining performance across warehouses and distribution networks. Key Topics covered: • Why 2025 became a “vanilla” year for retail investment • How fear and geopolitical uncertainty are driving excess inventory • Why just in time has quietly become just in case • The hidden cost of warehouse labor tied up in spreadsheets and planning • Why big bang automation is stalling and what is getting funded • The rise of flexible, brownfield friendly automation strategies • Robots as a Service and SaaS as lower risk entry points • Why AI and agentic decisioning may impact warehouses faster than any other function • What retailers must do to move from survival mode to strategic progress

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026, Mike Wier, Vice President of Store Brands at CVS, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss how CVS is rethinking private brands as a core growth engine across health, wellness, and everyday convenience. Mike explains what it means to run store brands like a “mini CEO,” overseeing product development, sourcing, branding, and growth across a 9,000-store footprint. With most CVS customers shopping quick, mission-driven trips, the conversation focuses on how simplicity, clarity, and trust at the shelf are shaping CVS's private brand strategy. Looking ahead, Mike outlines his vision for CVS private brands evolving beyond the store, becoming trusted consumer brands that extend outside of CVS's four walls and operate more like modern CPG companies. Key Topics Covered: -What it means to lead private brands as a “mini CEO” inside CVS -Why CVS simplified dozens of brands into a focused brand portfolio How short, mission-driven trips shape private brand strategy -Repositioning the CVS brand for health, wellness, and trust -Packaging simplification and shelf clarity as competitive advantages -Competing with national brands in wellness and everyday essentials -Why CVS private brands may expand beyond CVS stores -How private brands are becoming long-term growth platforms Thank you to Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail's NRF 2026 coverage, and thank you to our listeners for following along throughout the show. #NRF2026 #CVS #PrivateBrands #StoreBrands #RetailStrategy #HealthAndWellness #RetailBranding #RetailInnovation #OmniTalkRetail

In this Retail Technology Spotlight episode, Amy Vener, Global Retail & Consumer Goods Marketing Director for Commercial Cloud & AI at Microsoft, joins Omni Talk to unpack the main takeaways from NRF and where retailers should focus next as agentic commerce moves from theory to execution. Drawing on her experience across Walmart, Pinterest, and Microsoft, Amy shares how retailers are shifting away from AI hype and toward real, measurable outcomes. From conversational shopping agents and merchandising insights to connected stores and cultural readiness, this episode breaks down how retailers can drive real return on intelligence in 2026 and beyond. If you're trying to figure out where AI fits into your merchandising, marketing, store operations, or supply chain strategy (and how to start without boiling the ocean), this conversation is for you. Key Topics covered: • 00:03:08 – Why “what problem are you trying to solve?” still matters more than the tech • 00:07:34 – Agentic commerce use cases across marketing, merchandising, and operations • 00:15:50 – How conversational data is influencing assortment and product development • 00:10:01 – The role of connected stores and digital twins in retail decision-making • 00:09:09 / 00:19:58 – Lessons from brands like Estée Lauder, Ralph Lauren, and Coca-Cola • 00:23:07 – Why culture and team readiness are critical to AI adoption • 00:25:42 – How retailers should engage Microsoft to drive faster business impact

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, Chris and Anne discussed: Amazon's plans to build a 225,000 square foot retail store in Orland Park, Illinois (Source) Google's launch of a Universal Commerce Protocol with backing from major retailers (Source) Circle K expanding its partnership with Corso to over 7,800 US locations (Source) Small merchants upset over Amazon's Buy for Me AI feature listing products without permission (Source) Walmart and Wing scaling drone delivery to 270 stores by 2027 (Source) And Ulta Beauty's SVP of Digital and E-Commerce, Josh Friedman, also stopped by to share five insightful minutes about Ulta's marketplace plans. There's all that, plus banana water, birthday drone deliveries, and why Chris thinks Amazon's supercenter concept might be their last retail experiment. Music by hooksounds.com #RetailNews #GoogleUCP #AmazonRetail #WalmartDrones #AgenticCommerce #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #CircleK #UltaBeauty #RetailTech #DroneDelivery #RetailInnovation

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Jacob Tveraabak, Group Chief Executive Officer of StrongPoint, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss how in-store order picking, grocery efficiency, and store-based fulfillment are becoming critical to profitable grocery ecommerce. Jacob explains why grocery presents a fundamentally different operational challenge than other retail categories, driven by high item velocity, low margins, and large basket sizes. Drawing on StrongPoint's Scandinavian roots, he shares how high labor costs have forced retailers to engineer ultra-efficient picking solutions and why those lessons are increasingly relevant for U.S. grocers. Key Topics Covered: -Why grocery order picking requires a fundamentally different technology approach -How labor costs drive efficiency and innovation in Scandinavian retail -The role of in-store picking in profitable grocery ecommerce -Store-based fulfillment vs centralized fulfillment centers -Integrating order picking with shelf visibility and store data -Reducing substitution, mis-picks, and wasted labor -How connected store infrastructure improves execution at scale -Why stores are becoming the backbone of future grocery fulfillment Thank you to Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail's live coverage from NRF 2026, and thank you to our listeners for tuning in throughout the week. #NRF2026 #StrongPoint #GroceryRetail #OrderPicking #StoreBasedFulfillment #RetailOperations #ConnectedStores #RetailTechnology #OmniTalkRetail

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Martin Bailie, Senior Advisor at Vusion, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain why the execution gap has become the biggest risk facing retailers in 2026. As retailers invest heavily in AI, data platforms, and digital transformation, many are discovering that strategy alone does not drive results. Martin breaks down why execution at store level, not vision decks or pilot programs, determines whether technology delivers real P & L impact. From disconnected systems and poor data quality to organizational silos and change management challenges, this conversation examines why retailers struggle to move from ideas to outcomes. Key Topics Covered: • Why the execution gap is now retail's biggest competitive risk • The difference between strategy, pilots, and scalable execution • How disconnected store systems undermine AI and analytics investments • Why data quality and real time visibility matter more than new tools • The role of connected store platforms in driving consistent execution • Organizational barriers that prevent technology from delivering value • How retailers can align store operations, IT, and leadership priorities • Turning technology investments into measurable P & L results • What retailers must do in 2026 to avoid permanent execution debt Stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello! #NRF2026 #RetailExecution #ConnectedStores #RetailTechnology #RetailAI #StoreOperations #Vusion #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Mark Williamson, AVP of Retail Media at Costco, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss how Costco is building its retail media business in a way that stays true to its culture, values, and member-first philosophy. Mark shares how Costco's retail media organization has evolved over the past year, including major investments in people, data infrastructure, and foundational capabilities designed to support personalization at scale. Rather than prioritizing short-term monetization, Costco is intentionally building a retail media platform that serves its broader member communication and personalization strategy. Looking ahead to 2026, Mark outlines upcoming product launches including a new clean room, expanded offsite media measurement, search and shopping integrations, and a rebuilt onsite ad server designed to connect identity, data, and in-warehouse sales outcomes. The discussion closes with a look at how Costco views scan-and-go style experiences, warehouse mode, and the role of the app as a one-to-one personalization channel. Key Topics covered: -How Costco's retail media business has evolved since NRF 2025 -What it means to build retail media “the Costco way” -Hiring from within and preserving Costco culture at scale -Why retail media is subordinated to member communication strategy -The role of AI in delivering personalization across 135 million members -Why data readiness is the foundation for scalable retail media -Balancing national brands and Kirkland Signature within retail media -Clean rooms, offsite measurement, and growing advertiser expectations -New search, shopping, and onsite ad server capabilities for 2026 -How Costco thinks about scan-and-go, warehouse mode, and the member app Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #Costco #RetailMedia #RetailTechnology #Personalization #RetailAI #OmnichannelRetail #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Mary Beth Laughton, President and CEO of REI, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss her first year leading the iconic outdoor co-op and the priorities shaping REI's next chapter. Mary Beth reflects on stepping into the role during a pivotal moment for the business, balancing retail fundamentals with innovation while staying deeply rooted in REI's mission and values. She shares how REI is sharpening its customer focus around what the company calls the “Outdoor Evangelist” and why community, trust, and human expertise remain core differentiators in an increasingly digital retail world. Looking ahead to 2026, she outlines REI's focus on reinventing its membership program, strengthening emotional loyalty, expanding partnerships like its new collaboration with Intrepid Travel, and continuing to elevate service and assortment for a rapidly changing outdoor consumer. Key Topics covered: -Mary Beth Laughton's first year as CEO of REI -How REI defines and serves the “Outdoor Evangelist” customer -Why customer-centric decision-making is embedded into REI's culture -Holiday performance, gifting growth, and the rise of experience-led shopping -The role of membership in driving long-term loyalty at REI -Why AI is becoming table stakes, not a retail differentiator -Blending human expertise with technology through REI's green vests -Reinventing loyalty to be emotional, not just transactional -New partnerships and experiences shaping REI's future -What excites REI most about the road ahead in 2026 Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #REI #RetailLeadership #CustomerExperience #RetailInnovation #Membership #Loyalty #OmnichannelRetail #RetailAI #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Aimee Bayer Thomas, Chief Retail Officer at Ulta Beauty, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain why physical stores remain the foundation of Ulta's omnichannel strategy and how experiences are becoming a powerful growth driver in beauty retail. Overseeing more than 1,500 stores and 60,000 associates, Aimee shares how Ulta Beauty is scaling experiential retail through services, technology, and one of the industry's most ambitious event strategies. From salons and beauty services to birthday parties, brand-led activations, and Ulta Beauty World, she explains how Ulta executed more than 80,000 in-store events and why guests increasingly come in pairs and groups to discover, play, and connect. Key Topics covered: -What the Chief Retail Officer role covers at Ulta Beauty -Why Ulta believes stores are still central to omnichannel retail -How beauty services like salons, brows, and piercings create differentiation -The strategy behind executing 80,000 plus in-store events -Scaling experiential retail without creating noise or inconsistency -How Ulta partners with brands to deliver high-touch experiences -The role of technology and the Ulta app in discovery and store engagement -Why guests shop beauty experiences in pairs and groups -Birthday parties, celebrity events, and Ulta Beauty World as loyalty drivers -Balancing centralized event governance with local store execution Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #UltaBeauty #ExperientialRetail #OmnichannelRetail #RetailLeadership #StoreExperience #RetailInnovation #BeautyRetail #CustomerExperience #OmniTalk

In this OmniTalk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion podcast studio, Ankur Mittal, Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director of Lowe's India, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain why Lowe's is commercializing its internal retail technology and what that means for the future of point of sale and omnichannel retail. Ankur shares how Lowe's India supports more than 5,000 associates across core corporate and technology functions, and why the company decided to launch a SaaS offshoot to bring its internally built POS platform to market. From hardware-agnostic design and AI-driven capabilities to modular, plug-and-play architecture, this conversation breaks down how modern POS systems are evolving into the backbone of omnichannel retail. The discussion also explores why mid-sized retailers are responding strongly to flexible, software-first POS solutions, how long POS change cycles have held retailers back, and why true omnichannel requires shared item, pricing, promotion, and inventory data across every channel. Key Topics covered: -Why Lowe's decided to commercialize its internally built retail software -Point of sale as the heart of omnichannel retail -Hardware-agnostic POS and why it matters for retailers -AI-driven capabilities including shrink identification -Modular commerce architecture and plug-and-play systems -How mid-sized retailers can modernize POS without big-bang upgrades -POS stability, speed, and operational reliability -What true omnichannel really means beyond BOPIS -Lowe's roadmap for POS, commerce engines, and enterprise platforms in 2026 Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #OmniTalkRetail #RetailTechnology #RetailInnovation #PointOfSale #OmnichannelRetail

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 in New York, Emily Erusha-Hilleque, SVP of Private Brands at Macy's and an OmniStar of 2025, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to discuss how private brands are becoming a core growth driver for modern retailers. Emily shares how Macy's is evolving its private brand portfolio to meet the needs of a multi generational, value conscious customer while delivering inspiration, quality, and relevance at scale. From filling white space across the brand matrix to launching new brands and elevating existing ones, this conversation explores what it takes to build private brands customers truly buy into. The discussion also covers how Macy's is using collaborations and experiential retail to create cultural moments, including the recent Inc. partnership with Christian Siriano, as well as how AI is supporting storytelling, personalization, and basket growth across Macy's private brand ecosystem. Key Topics covered: • Why private brands are central to Macy's long term growth strategy • How Macy's serves a multi generational and value conscious customer • The role of private brands in driving loyalty and lifetime value • How private brands fill white space across Macy's brand portfolio • Collaborations as a growth engine for private brands • The Inc. partnership with Christian Siriano and experiential retail moments • Making fashion and design more accessible through private brands • How AI supports brand storytelling, personalization, and selective selling • Raising basket size and customer engagement with private brands • What to expect from Macy's private brand strategy in 2026 Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026. #NRF2026 #PrivateBrands #RetailStrategy #RetailInnovation #RetailAI #CustomerExperience #Macys #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to break down how physical AI, smart carts, and connected store platforms are reshaping retail operations and customer relationships in 2026. As retailer boards demand real AI strategies, Instacart is positioning connected stores as a long-term competitive advantage. David explains how solutions like Caper smart carts, Store View, digital shelves, and agentic analytics work together to deliver personalization, basket lift, and operational efficiency at scale. From edge-based AI running inside stores to unifying online and in-store journeys, this conversation explores why retailers must own physical data to avoid disintermediation by hyperscalers. Key Topics covered: -What a Chief Connected Stores Officer actually oversees at Instacart -Why AI strategy is now a board-level mandate for retailers -The difference between cloud AI and physical AI in stores -How Caper smart carts use edge computing and real-time data -Double-digit basket lift and measurable retailer value from connected stores -Why checkout automation is really about reducing work, not skipping lines -How personalization, coupons, and gamification drive customer engagement -Using sensor fusion and shelf data to improve in-stocks and execution -Avoiding technology sprawl with integrated connected store platforms -Global expansion plans for Instacart's enterprise retail technology -The future of unified online and in-store shopping experiences Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #Instacart #ConnectedStores #PhysicalAI #RetailAI #SmartCarts #OmnichannelRetail #RetailTechnology #RetailInnovation #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at the Vusion booth, Julie Barber, EVP and Chief Merchant at Sam's Club, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain how merchandising, data, and agentic AI are reshaping assortment strategy, fresh food execution, and member value in 2026. With more than 20 years at Walmart Inc. and deep experience across grocery, health, general merchandise, and services, Julie shares how Sam's Club is balancing intentional, value-driven shopping with surprise and delight experiences that keep members engaged. From Scan & Go insights and real-time inventory visibility to agentic AI-powered assortment decisions, this conversation breaks down how modern merchants blend art and science at scale. Key Topics covered: -What surprised Sam's Club merchants about member behavior in 2025 -Why intentional shopping and surprise and delight coexist -How Scan & Go data is changing assortment and adjacency decisions -Using connected store signals to improve inventory accuracy -The role of scrubbers, real-time data, and floor execution -How Sam's Club approaches fresh food, protein trends, and home meal solutions -Member's Mark and the removal of artificial colors and ingredients -Applying agentic AI to assortment planning and localization -How AI speeds decisions from weeks to minutes -Turning AI-driven efficiency into better in-stocks, lower costs, and member value Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by the Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #SamsClub #Merchandising #RetailAI #AgenticAI #ConnectedStore #RetailInnovation #MembersMark #OmniTalk #RetailLeadership

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at Vusion's booth, Todd Garner, Chief Product Officer at Sam's Club, joins Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to share how Scan & Go has become a defining pillar of the Sam's Club member experience and what's coming next as agentic AI reshapes shopping. With Scan & Go now approaching 40% member adoption and nearing its 10-year anniversary, Sam's Club is using its limited SKU, membership-based model to reduce friction, shorten the distance between intent and purchase, and unlock new personalized, agent-driven experiences. Todd explains why mobile-first shopping, curated assortments, and AI-powered insights give Sam's Club a unique advantage and how all of it ladders back to engagement, renewal, and loyalty. Key Topics covered: -Scan & Go nearing 40% adoption and what's driving member usage -Why membership engagement and renewal matter more than individual feature metrics -How Scan & Go fits into a broader frictionless shopping ecosystem -Why limited SKUs make agentic shopping more powerful, not less -Using mobile-first experiences to shorten intent-to-purchase -The role of AI in merchandising, discovery, and personalized insights -How Sam's Club thinks about product, associate tools, and member experience together -What Todd is most excited to deliver next as Scan & Go approaches its 10-year milestone -Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #SamsClub #ScanAndGo #RetailAI #AgenticAI #MembershipRetail #RetailTechnology #OmniTalk #RetailInnovation

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 at Vusion's booth, Jim Norred, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Vusion, and Gina Ayala Claxton, CVP of U.S. Retail & Consumer Goods at Microsoft, join Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to explain why connected stores are quickly becoming a P&L priority for retailers in 2026. As margin pressure, labor constraints, and ecommerce fulfillment demands intensify, retailers are being forced to connect store infrastructure, data, and AI to drive faster, more accurate decisions. From Bluetooth-enabled connectivity and real-time shelf availability to agentic AI, data readiness, and governance at scale, this conversation breaks down what it really takes to modernize stores without creating costly “science projects.” Key Topics covered: -Why ecommerce picking accuracy is accelerating connected store adoption -Operational vs. marketing-led drivers of connected store investments -The anatomy of a connected store: BLE, data, and AI -Why Bluetooth is emerging as the heartbeat of in-store connectivity -Agentic AI, observability, and speeding decisions from signal to execution -Platform vs. point solutions and how retailers avoid technology sprawl -Governance, security, and scaling AI across thousands of stores -How retailers are prioritizing initiatives with measurable P&L impact -Turning connected store investments into loyalty, efficiency, and ROI Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from NRF 2026, and stop by Vusion booth #4921 to say hello. #NRF2026 #ConnectedStore #RetailTechnology #RetailAI #OmnichannelRetail #StoreOperations #VusionGroup #Microsoft #RetailInnovation #OmniTalk

In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live from NRF 2026 in the Vusion podcast studio, Mark Propes from Vusion and Art Miller from Qualcomm reveal how their partnership is enabling "detect and connect" capabilities that transform physical retail into personalized experiences, and why retailers still testing need to operationalize now before the gap becomes permanent. From edge computing that processes 4K video locally instead of streaming to the cloud, to closed-loop attribution tracking customer intent in real-time physical space, Mark and Art break down the multimodal signal taxonomy (RFID, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, vision) powering connected stores. They share insights on why scanning barcodes continuously creates data-poor environments, how agentic AI creates new doorways into physical stores, and the precision needed for sub-30 minute delivery promises. If you've wondered what detect and connect actually means beyond buzzwords, this conversation delivers the technical foundation and business applications.