The CPG Guys

The CPG Guys are joined by Katie Stratton, Chief Growth Officer at Shipt which provides personal shopping and delivery and is available to 80% of households in more than 5,000 U.S. cities. Follow Katie Stratton on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieserkinstratton Follow Shipt on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shipt/ Follow Shipt online at: http://shipt.com Katie answers the following questions: CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com Rhea Raj Website: http://rhearaj.com Vote for Lara Raj in Dream Academy at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=E1LSX8plfy9J82cP&v=_lKKx3O30oI&feature=youtu.be DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined by Lex Josephs, VP/GM of Sam's Club Member Access Platform, the retail media division of Sam's Club, a unit of Walmart. MAP’s mission is to provide the most valuable and additive ads experience to our member. It's our member-first approach that differentiates us, along with the combination of our platform, our products, our people, our processes, and our first-party data. Follow Lex Josephs on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-lex-josephs-b448634/ Follow Sam's Club MAP on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sams-club-map/ Follow Sam's CLub MAP online at: https://map.samsclub.com/ Lex answers the following questions: CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com Rhea Raj Website: http://rhearaj.com Vote for Lara Raj in Dream Academy at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=E1LSX8plfy9J82cP&v=_lKKx3O30oI&feature=youtu.be DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

PVSB and Fresh Four Co-Host Andrea K. Leigh, CEO of Allume Group, recap their impressions of the 2023 Amazon Accelerate Sellers Conference. Follow Andrea K. Leigh on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreakleigh/ Follow Allume Group on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allumegroup/ Follow Allume Group online at: http://allumegroup.com CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com Rhea Raj Website: http://rhearaj.com Vote for Lara Raj in Dream Academy at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=E1LSX8plfy9J82cP&v=_lKKx3O30oI&feature=youtu.be DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Molly Hjelm, Head of Ad Sales at Dollar General Media Network, the retail media division of Dollar General. Follow Molly Hjelm on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollyhjelm/ Follow Dollar General on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dollar-general/ Follow DGMN online at: https://www.dgmedianetwork.com/ Molly answers these questions: 1) Would you please highlight a few of the pivotal roles that you think most helped prepare you for your evolution in leading an ad sales team in retail media? 2) What specifically drew you to the opportunity at DG Media Network? 3) Would you please help dimensionalize the DG Media Network’s audience reach and frequency, the underlying customer transaction asset. 4) DG Media Network chose to launch its platform with offsite capabilities which is fundamentally different than how other major retail media networks came into existences. What is the story here and, in terms of the marketing funnel, in which parts is DG Media Network particularly well-suited to help advertisers reach your shoppers: upper funnel, lower funnel, where and why? 5) How are you thinking about the opportunity for non endemics? 6) DG Media Network recently announced that your’re making it incredibly easy for Brands, Agencies and non-endemics to engage with DG shoppers as you evolve your portfolio with self-serve, social, and google. What are the details here? 7) Performance measurement is critically important for advertisers seeking to justify the sizeable shift in budget from traditional channels like linear TV and print. What is DG Media Network making available to your advertisers to help them lean into your offerings? 8) What do you see as areas for growth and innovation in retail media that has you excited about the future of this rapidly growing third wave of digital advertising after search and social? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com Rhea Raj Website: http://rhearaj.com Vote for Lara Raj in Dream Academy at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=E1LSX8plfy9J82cP&v=_lKKx3O30oI&feature=youtu.be DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Walid Benchama, Global Director of Shopper & Channel Insights at the Coca-Cola Company, Follow Walid Benchama on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oualidbenchama Follow Coca-Cola on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company/ Follow Coca-Cola online at: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/ Walid answers these questions: 1) Walid, your career journeys crosses countries and has both brand management and insights. Take us through the years starting out in Morocco to BIC and now Coke? 2) Tell us about what you think has changed in shopper centric journeys over the last few years? Is the path to purchase now exclusively led by digital? Do 3) What about innovation launches - is the right way digital first for brands? 4) Is today’s consumer experiences in digital engaging and what about in store which is still largely linear? 5) In a world of omnichannel consumers where the digital reach of most brands has exploded in the last 3 years, how are you staying ahead, are there specific suggestions you would give brands? 6) Let’s go to talent. No organization can be successful without the right people and employees. What makes a good insights leader - what is their DNA? How do they focus on growing brands? 7) POS and the checkout experience - why is that largely still not monetized and what tactics can one employ to drive impulse and conversions at POS? 8) The last question on the cpgguys is always ‘fast forward’ - Where is the practice of insights going? Does AI change everything? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com Rhea Raj Website: http://rhearaj.com Vote for Lara Raj in Dream Academy at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=E1LSX8plfy9J82cP&v=_lKKx3O30oI&feature=youtu.be DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Ben Tienor, Director of Gulp Media Network, the Retail Media division of 7-Eleven which is the world's largest convenience retailer with over 13,000 corporately-owned and franchised stores in North America. Follow Ben Tienor on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bentienor/ Follow 7-Eleven on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/7-eleven/ Ben answers these questions: 1) Would you please highlight a few of the pivotal roles that you think most helped prepare you for your evolution in leading the commercialization of Gulp Media Network? 2) Would you please help dimensionalize Gulp Media Network’s audience reach/ frequency and the underlying customer transaction asset. 7Rewards is a well-established consumer loyalty program as is the 7NOW Delivery platform. I have to imagine these longitudinal data sets are foundations to your audience identification capabilities. 3) What types of advertisers will find Gulp Media Network particularly appealing as marketing channel? Is it all about immediate consumption food & beverages or is it more and why? 4) What are the primary on-site capabilities for advertising that Gulp Media Network is offering and where in the marketing funnel do each of these capabilities typically support consumer engagement? 5) Would you walk us through some of the offsite partnerships that Gulp Media Network has established and the value you see these partners bringing to advertisers seeking to leverage the 7-Eleven’s shopper audience? 6) Performance measurement is critically important for advertisers seeking to justify the sizeable shift in budget from traditional channels like linear TV and print. What is Gulp Media Network making available to your advertisers to help them lean into your offerings? 7) Ben, what news do you have to share with our audience about the continued roadmap for Gulp Media Network that will be of particular interest? 8) What do you see as areas for growth and innovation in retail media that have you excited about the future of this rapidly growing channel? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

This episode was originally published on our sister podcast The FMCG Guys and features Tom Langley, head of retail media for John Lewis Partnership with includes the John Lewis department stores and Waitrose supermarkets. Follow Tom Langley on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-langley01/ Follow John Lewis Partnership on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/john-lewis-partnership/ Follow JLP Retail Media online at: https://waitrose.frontify.com/public CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Bryan Leach, founder and CEO of mobile loyalty rewards program Ibotta., a free cash back rewards web and mobile app that gives you real cash for everyday purchases when you shop. Ibotta provides thousands of ways for consumers to earn cash on their purchases by partnering with more than 2,700 brands and retailers. Ibotta also powers rewards programs for top retailers and makes its offer content available on a number of leading websites and apps through the Ibotta Performance Network. This episode is sponsored by Ibotta. Follow Bryan Leach on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwleach/ Follow Ibotta on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ibotta-inc-/ Follow ibotta online at: https://home.ibotta.com/ Bryan answers these questions : CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Gregory Grudzinski, Head of Content for WARC Digital Commerce, an Ascential Company that has been helping marketers and strategists Make it “WARC” since 1985. Follow Gregory Grudzinski on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grudzinski/ Follow WARC on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/warc/ Follow WARC online at: http://warc.com Follow the Digital Shelf Institute on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-shelf-institute/ Follow the Digital Shelf Institute online at: https://www.digitalshelfinstitute.org/ Learn about the WARC/DSI Report “How Retail Media is Disrupting Marketing Structures” here: https://lp.warc.com/organizational-readiness Gregory answers these questions: 1) Gregory, your report looks at how retail media is disrupting marketing structures. Of all the factors at play, what prompted you to zero in on retail media? 2) How is Retail Media reshaping the traditional path to purchase, and how have brands had to adapt? 3) How is Retail Media changing the relationship brands have with retailers? 4) Looking beyond RM, how are functions like manufacturing, R&D, logistics, and supply chain being influenced by the move to digital commerce? 5) Based on the research you conducted, what are the optimal KPIs to use to measure retail media performance? 6) What do you see as some of the top challenges facing brands as they develop proficiency in digital commerce? 7) Your report presents some differing opinions regarding Centers of Excellence as a driver of digital transformation. Can you take us through it? 8) I see in the report you spoke with a number of CPG insiders about organizational change. What are some of the top attributes winning companies share? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Lisa Kinney, VP Customer Analytics & Market Intelligence at Albertsons Companies, one of the largest food & drug retailers in the United States. Follow Lisa Kinney on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-kinney-4499b12/ Follow Albertsons on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/albertsons/ Follow Albertsons online at: https://www.albertsonscompanies.com/ Watch Lisa serve a Skyline Cheese Coney to Former First Lady Barbara Bush: https://local12.com/news/local/barbara-bush-visited-the-tri-state-several-times Lisa answers these questions: 1) Customer-centric insights & analytics are at the heart of your experience. What drew you to this field and what types of data sources do you think as being central to a retailer’s ability to establish business intelligence capabilities for success? 2) Are demographics still primarily relevant in terms of customer understanding or are they more contextual in helping better understand customer segments based upon purchasing behavior? What do you see as the inherent limitations of demographics in analytics? 3) Historically, retailers have leveraged the analytic muscle of its key vendor partners to inform their business analytics. Is that still the case? How are retailers accessing meaningful insights independent of CPG manufacturers and what role do you see these business partners playing going forward? 4) A retailer’s transaction data set is quite rich. How should retailers mobilize and create strategy and actions with this asset and what are the barriers or key to simplifying for merchants to use and action? 5) Can you give us a flavor for some of the problems that retailers are tackling through analytics? 6) How important are analytics in supporting eCommerce and full-funnel retail media marketing? 7) How do retailers or brands trying to create a customer centric, data driven culture get started? What are some of the lessons learned throughout your career you can share to help accelerate success and avoid some of the pitfalls you have had to learn and pivot to avoid? 8) Any words of wisdom for peers or early in their careers that you can offer to help them navigate this ever changing industry of data, analytics, and change management? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Description : The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Bing Chen & Jeremy Tran, co founder of the Asian focused impact VC - Gold House. This is a spirited conversation on being Asian in the workplace and career aspirations. Follow Bing Chen on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bingchen/ Follow Jeremy Tran on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremytran/ Follow Gold house on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goldhouseco/ Follow Gold house online at: https://goldhouse.org/ Bing and Jeremy answer these questions: CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Liz Buchanan, and Troy Treangen, Head of Global Product & Platforms at NielsenIQ, the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. This episode is sponsored by NielsenIQ. Follow Liz Buchanan on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-buchanan-35b2007 Follow Troy Treangen on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-treangen-800a841 Follow NIQ on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nielseniq/ Follow NIQ online at: http://NielsenIQ.com Listen to NIQ’s “Need to Know” on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/niq-need-to-know-podcast/id1696192898 Liz and Troy answer these questions: 1) Liz & Troy - describe your career paths to NIQ and learnings along the way. Advice to others pursuing a career in insights. 2) Liz - what is one version of the truth and how is NIQ delivering for brands and retailers 3) Troy - describe the several product names against this one version of the truth and what brands and retailers can expect in each one 4) Liz - Troy mentioned you're leading an effort to roll out a new platform to every country and customer globally. what benefits can brands and retailers expect from this? 5) Troy - how are you incorporating tech into your products - especially AI and ML. 6) Troy - how do you support customers investing in data lakes and building their own capabilities? 7) Liz - tell us about customer success, and how you are personally leading that globally for NIQ 8) Liz - How do you work with customers and get feedback to inform what you develop and roll out? 9) Troy - our last question is always fast forward, what can brands expect from an NIQ omnichannel roadmap perspective. Omnichannel? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Simon Miles, VP Global Omnichannel Commercial Strategy at the Coca-Cola Company, Follow Simon Miles on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-miles-727290/ Follow Coca-Cola on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company/ Follow Coca-Cola online at: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/ Simon answers these questions: 1) Let’s discuss the current state of digital commerce. Industry insiders talk about the “return to stores.” Has eCommerce plateaued? Is there more growth to be had? Can you address this for both North America and other global markets in which you are operating? 2) What is the importance of omnichannel retailers to Coca-Cola and how is Coca-Cola seeking to support their digital customer engagement journey through capabilities and insights? How is Coca-Cola helping to make shopping easier for consumers in an omnichannel world? 3) How do you drive innovation & agility in a large global organization? 4) How do you instill customer-centricity in your team as a leader? 5) Retail media is an explosive channel for brands to engage with consumers. What makes it interesting for brands like Coca-Cola and what will ultimately drive the growth of your investment against these platforms? 6) Data is at the heart of retail media. Personal data can be a positive force for relevance if it is used responsibly. What are your thoughts here? How do clean rooms facilitate the collaboration of data assets on both sides? 7) How is Coca-Cola evolving in how it collaborates with retail customers around omnichannel and is digital a core component of the joint business planning process? 8) What do you see as the transformation impact of AI on how we perform search? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Melanie Zimmermann, VP of Macy’s Media Network, the retail media division of Macy’s omnichannel department store. Follow Melanie Zimmermann on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-zimmermann-6637013a/ Follow Macy’s Media Network on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/macy/ Follow Macy’s Media Network online at: https://www.macysmedianetwork.com/ Melanie answers these questions: 1) What was your vision for Macy’s Media Network to enhance the customer experience of your shoppers? 2) What would you argue sets Macy's retail media go-to-market strategy apart from its competitors? As part of your answer, would you provide some dimensions to your audience reach & frequency? 3) Please walk us through the onsite advertising solutions that MMN offers to brands and what are the targeting and bidding capabilities? 4) Offsite advertising is increasing a desirable mechanism for brands to engage consumers further up the funnel. Would you share the key partnerships you have established with third parties to enable offsite targeted advertising? 5) How is Macy’s making its media network available to non-endemic advertisers and how do you determine if MMN is the right fit for such a brand? 6) How did you go about connecting with the suppliers to invest in your retail media offering? How do the merchants get involved and how does it contribute to joint business planning between brand advertisers and your category merchants? 7) How do you measure the performance of retail media campaigns at MMN and are your methodologies consistent with what brands are requiring to shift legacy marketing budgets into your platform? 8) Can you share with us any success stories stemming from brand advertisers leveraging MMN and what are the best-in-class recommendations you would make for brands to derive meaningful value from your platform? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by the co founder and CEO of Mend Nutrition, Eziah Syed. From the home page of the company - Mend is the scientifically proven way to heal and enhance your body faster. Our discussion covers preventive healthcare vs. remedial and how natural nutrition may make a difference with lifestyle choices. Follow Eziah Syed on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eziah/ Follow Mend nutrition on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mend-nutrition/ Follow Mend nutrition's website : https://mend.me/ Eziah answers these questions : Your career passes through Deloitte, Citibank, startups and now Mend nutrition. Take us through your career journey and how it led to Mend. Also what advice would you give for others entering natural wellness? 1) What do you see as some of the critical challenges in health and healthcare? 2) How does mend help to alleviate these challenges? 3) Can your behavioral support model be extended to DTC? 4) Take us through your portfolio of nutrition products and consumer need states it caters to. 5) Talk to me about clinicals. Its not often we hear a natural supplements product using clinical trials - more common for a procedure or drug - take us through the how and why. 6) What is different about those nutrition products your just described? Why should a patient subscribe to Mend? 7) What’s next for Mend? What need states will you continue to address and expand to? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by repeat second time guest, CEO of Kelso industries, a holding company of over 10 HVAC companies operating in 13 states. We know Steve from his days as director of retail media at Sam's club. He was our guest in the fall of 2020. Follow Steve Carroll on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenhcarroll/ Follow Kelso industries on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelso-industries-llc/ Follow Kelso industry's website : https://kelso-industries.com/ Find his first appearance here : https://www.buzzsprout.com/1146830/episodes/6322075 Steve answers these questions: 1. Steve, your career intersected with us at Sam’s club and it seemed you were all set to be the next retail media leader in the industry. What prompted you to seek entrepreneurship back in 2022. What advice would you give to someone early in their career in this space seeking to follow in your footsteps from corporate to entrepreneurship? 2. Tell us about Grazak mechanical - your first venture. How did you come by it. What was your thought process in acquiring it and what did it take to assimilate in as the owner? 3. How did your training in retail and media and the partnerships you had with vendors train you for this ? 4. Take us through the portfolio of companies you manage now and how you make decisions on expansion and what matters to you before moving forward? 5. In a world of omnichannel consumers where the digital reach of services has exploded in the last 3 years, how are you staying ahead, are there specific advertising methods that drive wins for your companies? 6. Let’s go to talent. No organization can be successful without the right people and employees in the field? What makes a good leader - what is their DNA? How do they connect with you and lead this cause of growing these portfolio companies of yours Any negative surprises along the way? 7. The last question on the cpgguys is always ‘fast forward’ - what's next for you and your portfolio ? How can our audience living in the West interact with you for service? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Melanie Babcock-Brown, VP of Retail Media+ and Monetization at The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer with over 2,200 stores. Follow Melanie Babcock-Brown on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniebabcock/ Follow Home Depot on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-home-depot/ Follow Retail Media+ online at: https://www.homedepot.com/c/Retail_Media_Advertising_Solutions Melanie answers these questions: 1) What was your vision for Retail Media+ to enhance the customer experience of your shoppers? Is it designed to have relevance to individual shoppers, the contractors who likely represent your most valuable shoppers, or both? 2) What would you argue sets The Home Depot's retail media go-to-market strategy apart from its competitors? As part of your answer, would you provide some dimensions to your audience reach & frequency? 3) Please walk us through the onsite advertising solutions that RM+ offers to brands and what are the targeting and bidding capabilities? 4) Offsite advertising is increasing a desirable mechanism for brands to engage consumers further up the funnel. Would you share the key partnerships you have established with third parties to enable offsite targeted advertising? 5) How does The Home Depot ensure a seamless integration of retail media across its various channels and touchpoints and how does it contribute to joint business planning between brand advertisers and your category merchants? 6) How do you measure the performance of retail media campaigns at The Home Depot and are your methodologies consistent with what brands are requiring to shift legacy marketing budgets into your platform? 7) Can you share with us any success stories stemming from brand advertisers leveraging RM+ and what are the best-in-class recommendations you would make for brands to derive meaningful value from your platform? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Imteaz Ahamed, Host of the Applied Intelligence podcast which is at the intersection of AI, people and getting stuff done. Follow Imteaz Ahamed on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imteaza/ Subscribe to the Applied Intelligence Newsletter on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7058063714679152640/ Subscribe to Applied Intelligence on Apple Podcasts at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/applied-intelligence/id1692067628 Imteaz answers these questions: 1) Let’s start at a foundational level. What is artificial intelligence, how does it relative to the term machine learning and can you give us some practical examples about how AI has been applied in our industry prior to generative AI? 2) What is generative AI and what are the most prevalent forms of output for generative AI and why is this technological innovation so important to our industry in particular? 3) What are different categories of AI and what makes generative Ai fundamentally different to the prior forms? 4) How does generative AI actually work? What are the sources of data input and how is generative AI algorithms “trained” to produce relevant output? 5) Let’s dig into the textual-based form of generative AI. How are natural language models applied to generate new forms of content and how is this transforming search from vertical to horizontal in nature? 6) How about text to image applications for generative AI? Exactly how do they work and do you have some examples that people might be familiar with? 7) What do you see as being the most practical applications of generative AI for the practical application of generative AI? 8) What specific tools & applications are you seeing companies leverage to start entering or expanding their use of generative AI fo commercial growth? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

EPISODE 300 The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Cara Pratt, SVP of Kroger Precision Marketing at 84.51, the retail data science division of Kroger. Follow Cara Pratt on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-pratt-2429614/ Follow 84.51 on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/84-51/ Follow Kroger Precision Marketing online at: https://www.krogerprecisionmarketing.com/ Follow 84.51 online at: https://www.8451.com/ Cara answers these questions: 1) Most people think of retail media today as personalized content delivered to customers through digital platform. But Kroger has actually been in the personalized media business for 2 decades. Would you share with us how that started through direct mail, why that format was the first foray and the scale that Kroger was able to enable brands to achieve up and down the marketing funnel? 2) In 2015, Kroger brought its retail data science capabilities in-house with the formation of 84.51. What is the origin of the division name and why has it been successful in driving measurable growth for both Kroger and the brands that sell through Kroger’s omnichannel banners? 3) Kroger’s customer insight platform is called Stratum. What exactly is Stratum and how are brands using it to guide their omnichannel strategy at Kroger and beyond? 4) The pandemic caused tremendous growth in grocery eCommerce. How did you set about building best-in-class on-site retail media capabilities to fuel the demand? 5) Kroger has enabled brands to move up the marketing funnel through offsite partnerships. Would you highlight those partnerships and what brands are able to do with Kroger customer audiences? 6) In-store is where retail media is poised to dramatically expand its offerings. What are Kroger’s capabilities for in-store and should brands be thinking about these solutions as highly personalized or something else? 7) As Kroger seeks to attract brand marketing budgets, how does performance measurement play a role, how do clean rooms play a role and what do you make of the growing chorus for standardization in definitions & metrics coming from both retailers and brands? 8) You are making a big announcement today at Retail Media Summit as it relates to bringing more of your retail media capabilities in-house. What are the details? CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG GUYS are joined in this episode by Jamie Clarke, head of North American retail at Nielsen IQ, the world’s leading consumer intelligence company. This episode is sponsored by NielsenIQ. Follow Jamie Clarke on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-clarke-20943125/ Follow NielsenIQ on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nielseniq/ Follow NielsenIQ at : https://nielseniq.com/global/en/ Jamie answers the following questions : CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com CPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.com NextUp Website: http://NextUpisnow.org/cpgguys RetailWit Website: http://retailwit.com Rhea Raj: http://rhearaj.com DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.