Amazon Tariffs Drama, Schnucks Bets Big on Smart Carts, and ChatGPT Takes On E-Commerce

In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five – recorded April 30, 2025 – and brought to you by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga welcome Alvarez & Marsal’s Jeff Dwyer and Luis De Lencquesaing to weigh in on this week’s biggest retail headlines. From geopolitical tariff confusion to tech-forward grocery innovations, this episode spans it all — with a little help from Beyoncé and Red Vines along the way.

Featured Segments:

[00:06:44] Amazon’s tariff pricing debate and internal confusion over Chinese import costs
[00:15:12] Schnucks expands its Caper Cart smart shopping cart program into Illinois
[00:23:08] Shopify + ChatGPT: Is AI the next e-commerce checkout counter?
[00:32:34] Julian Mills, CEO of Quorso, on the explosive growth of intelligent store management
[00:40:06] PepsiCo pledges to transition to natural ingredients — but will Americans care?
[00:47:48] Schnucks launches local incubator for diverse small food brands

Plus, the lightning round covers 7-Eleven’s music festival debut, Miami Vice, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, and whether the French will ever bring paper wine bottles to a party.

Be careful out there,

– Chris, Anne, and the Omni Talk team

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

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