Episode 89: Driving discovery in commerce with Charlotte Harris
Release Date: 07/23/2025
Episode 96: Activating insights for commercial teams with Anna Estlund
Retail Sound Bites
In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, Rachel Dalton and Anna Estlund, VP of strategy, insights, and analytics at Pernod Ricard, discuss five critical steps to turn insights into real-time activation for commercial teams. They also discuss the blurring boundaries between alcohol and non-alcohol categories, the rise of modern health and moderation trends, premiumization despite economic headwinds, and more. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at . Contact Barry: | Contact Rachel: |
info_outline
Episode 95: The future of convenience and category management with Bala Gurumoorthy
Retail Sound Bites
In this episode, Rachel Dalton and Barry Thomas sit down with Bala Gurumoorthy, VP of Category Management at Ferrero USA, to discuss the evolving landscape of convenience retail and the future of category management. Together, they uncover fantastic insights from the recent NACS event, Ferrero’s approach to omnichannel strategy, and how category management is transforming from a back-office function to a true growth driver. A few of our favorite insights from Bala: “Category management is evolving from back office to growth architect.” “Don’t just report the news—create the...
info_outline
Episode 94: The industry scoop from Shoptalk, Groceryshop, and Velocity
Retail Sound Bites
In this special episode of Retail Sound Bites, we unpack the most compelling themes and takeaways from three powerhouse industry events—Shoptalk, Groceryshop, and Velocity. Hosts Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton are joined by two of Kantar’s leading voices in shopper intelligence: Leigh O'Donnell, Head of Shopper and Category Insights, and Julie Craig, Vice President of Shopper Insights. Together, they explore how the retail landscape is evolving across formats, cultures, and consumer behaviors. From the lasting impact of GLP-1 medications on grocery shopping habits to the reinvention of the...
info_outline
Episode 93: The forces shaping consumer demand with Oksana Sobol of Clorox
Retail Sound Bites
“Smaller households mean different product configurations, different product features, different ways of taking them to market… Even the fact of the aging population emphasizes certain categories and new benefits that these older consumers will desire. So, these forces point to new pockets of opportunity.” In this episode of Retail Sound Bites, we welcome Oksana Sobol, consumer insights lead at Clorox, for a timely discussion on the forces shaping consumer demand. Oksana unpacks how economic volatility, shifting demographics, and evolving attitudes are redefining what and how consumers...
info_outline
Episode 92: NeuroAI & The Future of Consumer Choice with Dr. A. K. Pradeep
Retail Sound Bites
What happens when neuroscience meets AI in the world of CPG? We sat down with Dr. Pradeep, CEO of Sensory AI and a pioneer in NeuroAI, to explore how the nonconscious mind and large language models are transforming innovation, marketing, and product development. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear: Why “the action is in the nonconscious”—and how uncovering hidden consumer desires leads to breakthrough innovation. How blending neuroscience with GenAI is unlocking new ways to predict, persuade, and create in the CPG space. Why LLMs (like ChatGPT) are more like...
info_outline
Episode 91: Unlocking new revenue growth in healthcare with Soda Health
Retail Sound Bites
Personalization, engagement, and “food as medicine” programs are shaping the future of preventive care. This episode features a conversation with Jared Childs and Julie Fleisher from ; a company focused on improving access to preventive healthcare through benefits platforms. Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton sat down with Jarden and Julie to explore how their innovative platform is transforming healthcare access for millions of Medicare Advantage members. Discover how Soda Health connects brands, retailers, and health plans to empower older consumers with easy-to-use benefits cards for...
info_outline
Episode 90: Navigating Beauty’s Retail Maze with Brian King of RoC Skincare
Retail Sound Bites
Agility drives challenger brand success in traditional retail – and the same holds true in beauty. Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton just wrapped an inspiring conversation with Brian King, chief customer officer at RoC Skincare, on Episode 90 of Retail Sound Bites. Brian shares his journey from leading teams at CPG legacy brands to scaling a challenger brand with startup agility. From 20 consecutive quarters of market share growth to embracing digital-first strategies, this episode is packed with insights on innovation, consumer obsession, and retail media. A must-listen for anyone navigating...
info_outline
Episode 89: Driving discovery in commerce with Charlotte Harris
Retail Sound Bites
Traditional ecommerce and social commerce are diverging, with social commerce platforms like TikTok Shop showing significant growth and engagement. Hear from Charlotte Harris, senior analyst at Kantar, as she walks through discovery-led journeys through social media, modern retail activations, changing shopper expectations, and more with hosts Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 89 of Retail Sound Bites. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at . Contact Barry: | Contact Rachel: |
info_outline
Episode 88: What's eating retail with Kevin Coupe
Retail Sound Bites
There are three things that retailers must do to create stronger connections with shoppers: when the customer walks in the store, make them smile, make them hungry, and do what the competition can’t or won’t do. Hear from Kevin Coupe, author and prime storyteller at morningbeatnews.com, as he highlights several pressing issues in retail today, including consolidation, threats like tariffs and inflation, omnichannel expansion, and more, with Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 88 of Retail Sound Bites. This episode also features Erica Smith, shopper insights analyst, who uncovers key...
info_outline
Episode 87: The view from Cannes with Andy Murray
Retail Sound Bites
Great creativity requires constraints. The presence of media, data, and technology partners at events like Cannes creates new opportunities and constraints that enhance creative culture. Hear from Andy Murray, Founder & CEO of bigQuest Advisory, Inc., as he explores emerging technology, deepening consumer engagement and insights, and what’s next for Cannes with Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 87 of Retail Sound Bites. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at . Contact Barry: | Contact Rachel: |
info_outlineTraditional ecommerce and social commerce are diverging, with social commerce platforms like TikTok Shop showing significant growth and engagement.
Hear from Charlotte Harris, senior analyst at Kantar, as she walks through discovery-led journeys through social media, modern retail activations, changing shopper expectations, and more with hosts Barry Thomas and Rachel Dalton on episode 89 of Retail Sound Bites.
Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Contact us at Kantar’s Retail Sound Bites Podcast.
Contact Barry: Email | LinkedIn
Contact Rachel: Email | LinkedIn
Goodbye Fancy Bar, Hello At-Home Pizza Party: Young Americans Cut Back – WSJ