Albertsons is using AI to rethink how its merchants make decisions, but will it actually transform merchandising? Chris Niesen explains why AI can absolutely improve decision making, if retailers focus on adoption, change management, and redesigning processes instead of simply layering new technology onto old ways of working. Watch the…
Ocado founder Tim Steiner is stepping down as CEO, but does that signal trouble for automated grocery fulfillment? Shelley Huff explains why leadership changes and automation are two different conversations, why robotics still has a place in grocery retail, and the real question retailers need to answer: Can they make…
Hasbro is bringing Play-Doh to adults with its new Blooms by Play-Doh line, but Chris Walton had a different question: If you were buying an adult Play-Doh set, what would you actually make? Chris Niesen's answer skips the mess entirely and reveals the building project he'd rather tackle instead. Watch…
More than half of U.S. consumers admit to making impulse purchases on Amazon late at night, so Chris Walton had one question for Shelley Huff: What's the last thing you bought while doom scrolling? Her answer is surprisingly relatable and proof that late-night shopping decisions don't always make sense in…
A Cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce and salad greens sparked a conversation about food safety, but Chris Walton wanted to know if it actually changed Chris Niesen's shopping habits. His answer quickly turned into a debate over expiration dates, spoiled milk, and the one food rule he refuses to break.…
The MLB All-Star Game is in Philadelphia, so Chris Walton had to ask: What's the most American food you can eat at a ballpark? Shelley Huff, CEO + Co-Founder of The Interval, doesn't hesitate with her answer, while Chris Walton admits he couldn't stop thinking about hot dogs. Watch the…
Retailers have no shortage of data. But what if the most valuable insights aren't coming from sales reports or demand forecasts, but from what's happening on store shelves in real time? In this edition of 5 Insightful Minutes, Caitlin Allen, SVP of Market at Simbe, joins Omni Talk to discuss…
Watch the full episode of Confessions of Supply Chain Executives with Amir Khoshniyati, Vice President, Wiliot, and Kay Irwin, National Practice Lead, Connected Assets & Smart Supply Chain Practice, AT&T here: https://youtu.be/ywGz01vhq9g
Chris Walton wraps up another Fast Five by putting Shelley Huff and Chris Niesen through this week's Lightning Round. The conversation covers everything from adult Play Doh and late night Amazon shopping habits to grocery recalls, baseball food, and plenty of laughs along the way. ▶️ Watch the full Fast…
Wayfair built one of the world's largest online furniture businesses, but now it is investing heavily in large format retail stores. Chris Walton is joined by Shelley Huff and Chris Niesen to discuss why furniture remains a category where shoppers want to browse in person. They also examine Wayfair's unique…
Taco Bell has expanded its AI powered drive thru ordering system to nearly 900 restaurants across the United States. Chris Walton is joined by Shelley Huff and Chris Niesen to discuss whether voice AI has finally reached mainstream adoption. They explore why Yum! Brands has taken a thoughtful approach to…
Walmart has expanded drone delivery across Greater Houston, bringing ultra fast delivery to more than one million consumers and paving the way for hundreds of additional drone locations. Chris Walton, Shelley Huff, and Chris Niesen discuss why this is much bigger than a drone story. They explain how it represents…
Albertsons is rolling out a new AI powered merchandising intelligence platform designed to improve pricing, assortment, promotions, and shelf space decisions. Chris Walton is joined by Shelley Huff and Chris Niesen to debate whether AI can truly transform merchandising or whether success depends more on organizational adoption, better decision making,…
Ocado co-founder and CEO Tim Steiner is stepping down after more than two decades leading one of retail's most ambitious grocery automation companies. Chris Walton is joined by Shelley Huff, CEO and Co-Founder of The Interval, and Chris Niesen, Founder of Peloton One Consulting, to discuss whether this leadership change…
In this week's OmniTalk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Quorso, and Veloq, Chris Walton was joined by Shelley Huff, CEO + Co-Founder of The Interval, and Chris Niesen, Founder of Peloton One Consulting and author of the Retail in Real Time…
Amazon is expanding its "Alexa for shopping" agentic assistant to show customers 30, 90, and 365 days of price history on any product. While exposing a full year of pricing might seem risky, this transparency actually cements Amazon's reputation as a trusted price leader. In this clip, we discuss why…
Amazon Web Services is making a massive $1 billion bet to embed forward-deployed engineering (FDE) teams directly into customer businesses. The goal? To cut AI deployment timelines down from months to days. In this video, we discuss why the AI arms race is no longer about which model you choose,…
Is Kroger paying a fair price for Giant Eagle? Since Giant Eagle is a private, family-owned company, the exact financials aren't fully public. However, estimating an annual EBITDA of roughly $250 million on $9 billion in revenue puts the acquisition multiple at a very reasonable 6x to 7x. We analyze…
Lowe’s has officially integrated its third-party marketplace directly into "My Red Vest," the proprietary software used by its in-store associates. In this video, we discuss how this smart tech upgrade empowers employees to seamlessly sell marketplace-only items—ranging from above-ground pools to trendy decorative geese—right from the shop floor. By removing…
In this clip, we break down New Jersey's newly passed retail legislation. While the bill rightfully bans predatory "consumer surveillance" pricing, it also pauses the rollout of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) for a year. This moratorium hurts local grocers' ability to compete with e-commerce giants like Amazon, who can change…
Watch the full episode of Confessions of Supply Chain Executives with Amir Khoshniyati, Vice President, Wiliot, and Kay Irwin, National Practice Lead, Connected Assets & Smart Supply Chain Practice, AT&T here: https://youtu.be/ywGz01vhq9g
