Hello GrocerTalk listeners,
We’re coming to you live from Las Vegas on the eve of Groceryshop 2026, where I’m joined in person by Lauren Livak Gilbert, Executive Director of the Digital Shelf Institute, for a special episode of GrocerTalk.
With thousands of grocery and CPG leaders descending on Las Vegas this week, there’s plenty to talk about. From the growing push toward actionable AI and the challenges of autonomous delivery to Target’s new Chief Marketing and Guest Experience Officer, Morrisons’ plans for Shop by Light and Kroger’s decision to pull Red Bull from its stores, the industry is moving quickly.
And, of course, we also look ahead to Groceryshop itself, including the questions Lauren and I think the industry should be asking this week.
Here’s what caught my attention this week.
Autonomous Delivery Faces a Consumer Trust Test
We started this week in the UK, where a YouGov poll of more than 5,000 British adults found that 49% believed delivery robots should not be allowed on pavements, compared with 30% who thought they should. The findings come after Starship Technologies ended its pilot in Sheffield following reports of deliberate damage to its robots. (Source)
We’ve covered autonomous delivery on GrocerTalk before, so I was keen to hear Lauren’s take. She pointed to the bigger question around whether the infrastructure and public environment are actually ready for autonomous delivery at scale. I’m a little more skeptical of the survey itself given that it was commissioned by Living Streets and focused on one city, but I do think there’s a legitimate conversation to have about how millions of autonomous deliveries could operate in our cities. Lauren and I also discussed the distinction between robots operating inside stores, where we’ve seen plenty of adoption, and robots interacting directly with people in public spaces.
Target’s New Marketing Role Puts the Shopper Experience Front and Center
Target has named Mark Weinstein to the newly combined role of Chief Marketing and Guest Experience Officer, effective immediately. Weinstein will work on Target’s growth strategy and how shoppers experience and connect with the Target brand, while also overseeing Roundel and the Target Plus marketplace. (Source)
Lauren was particularly interested in Weinstein’s mandate to create a more connected experience across Target’s shopper touchpoints, which fits squarely with the Digital Shelf Institute’s focus. We also talked about what Target needs to get right first. I see that as a combination of store standards and availability, merchandising that creates excitement, and stronger storytelling. Lauren and I then got into the digital side, including Target’s product detail pages, lifestyle imagery and user-generated content, and how the retailer could bring more of that digital experience into the physical store.
Morrisons Brings Shop by Light to the Grocery Aisle
Morrisons is developing “Shop by Light,” using the blinking light functionality of digital shelf labels to help shoppers find products. The retailer already uses “Pick to Light” to help ecommerce order pickers locate products and plans to roll out the shopper-facing technology to more than 200 stores by the end of November. (Source)
I wanted Lauren’s take on whether this is genuinely valuable for shoppers or simply technology for technology’s sake. She sees some clear potential, particularly for shoppers looking for very specific products, people shopping for someone else, elderly shoppers and even groups or societies buying larger quantities. I also see an interesting opportunity around app engagement. If the Morrisons app helps you build your shopping list and then the shelf edge helps you find everything, the two experiences can reinforce each other. The question is whether that added functionality creates enough value to change shopper behavior.
Kroger Pulls Red Bull From Its Stores
Kroger has stopped selling Red Bull at all of its stores and fuel centers nationwide. The retailer sold through its remaining inventory during August and removed Red Bull coolers and displays from stores by August 31. Kroger confirmed the move but declined to explain why, while other energy drink brands including Monster and Rockstar remain on shelves. (Source)
My first reaction was to roll my eyes. I’ve seen public delistings used to make a point in price negotiations many times before, and I don’t love the signal that sends about retailer-supplier relationships. But Lauren and I talked through the other side of the argument, and the more I thought about this particular situation, the more open-minded I became. CPGs have spent the last few years driving growth through price rather than volume, Kroger needs to get sharper on pricing, and Greg Foran has already said the company plans to cut prices on thousands of items. Lauren and I also discussed the potential shopper impact: if someone specifically wants Red Bull, are they really going to switch brands, or are they simply going to shop somewhere else?
What Should Groceryshop 2026 Actually Be About?
Groceryshop runs Tuesday, September 22 through Thursday, September 24 here in Las Vegas, with the event expecting 4,000 attendees and more than 1,000 retailers and CPGs across 150-plus speakers and 35-plus sessions. (Source)
Lauren and I both think the conversation needs to move beyond technology for technology’s sake. AI and agentic commerce will obviously be major themes, but Lauren wants to see examples of what is actually working, rather than another round of predictions about what AI might eventually do. She also wants to see more discussion around organizational structures and operating models, while keeping the consumer at the center. I’m particularly interested in how Amazon and Walmart continue to drive the market and delivery race, how supermarkets respond, value and affordability, and what retailers and brands can actually do today to make AI useful for people.
Then We Got to GrocerTalk Grab & Go
For this week’s Grab & Go, Lauren brought us a story about Amazon, Target and Walmart all planning major sale events in early October. With all three retailers creating a concentrated promotional period, it will be interesting to see how brands navigate the competing events and how shoppers respond.
My grocery story pick came from Retail Tech Innovation Hub, which reported that Marks & Spencer is expanding its partnership with Too Good To Go to 350 stores following a successful trial. The app allows shoppers to buy surprise bags of surplus bakery products, with three to four products worth at least £10.20 available for £3.80. It’s a simple example of using technology to address food waste while giving shoppers another reason to visit the store.
A Few Things Worth Checking Out From This Week’s Episode
Follow along with Omni Talk’s coverage from Groceryshop 2026. Chris and I are both leading on-stage sessions, and we’ve got an incredible lineup of retail executives joining us for interviews, including leaders from Kroger, Sam’s Club, Hy-Vee, Costco, Albertsons, Instacart, Ahold Delhaize and more. We’re here with our partners at Vusion on Stand 913, so come say hello and catch the interviews across the Omni Talk network this week.
Lauren’s must-see session is Boosting Discovery and Conversion Across Digital Channels. My pick is Centering Products and Assortment Around Key Dietary Preferences, Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:10 p.m. on the POP Stage. GLP-1s are an obvious tailwind for CPG, Chobani is represented, Target SVP of Merchandising, Food & Beverage John Conlin is speaking, and Chad Lusk from A&M Consumer & Retail Group is moderating. That’s a pretty strong lineup.
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Be careful out there,
Ben and the entire Omni Talk Team
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Omni Talk® is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton founded Omni Talk® in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail.