The retailer news source for retailers, by retailers
Please wait, searching videos...
Please wait, searching articles...
Finding videos. Just a moment...
This week on GrocerTalk, Ben Miller and Lauren Livak unpack the latest grocery and retail news, from unwanted delivery robots in the UK to Target’s new marketing chief, Morrisons’ “Shop to Light” and Kroger pulling Red Bull. Plus, they preview the biggest themes to watch at Groceryshop 2026 and dive into one global grocery story for GrocerTalk Grab & Go.
Breaking news from Groceryshop 2026: Ben Miller joins Ryan Hamburger, Chief Commercial Officer at Instacart, live from the Vusion podcast studio in Las Vegas to discuss Dollar General joining the Instacart Marketplace, a partnership exclusively revealed to Omni Talk Retail. They also unpack Instacart CEO Chris Rogers’ keynote, the potential impact of AI agents on grocery, the continued focus on affordability, and how Instacart Enterprise and new marketplace partners like Gopuff and Airbnb are expanding the company’s role in retail.
Live from the Vusion podcast studio at Groceryshop 2026 in Las Vegas, Chris Walton joins Myron Frazier, Chief Merchandising Officer at Sam’s Club, to explore how the company defines value and builds its assortment around an increasingly deliberate consumer. Myron discusses the role of Member’s Mark, why a curated assortment can be an advantage, and how technology like scan-and-go, exit arches and one-hour delivery continues to shape the member experience.
Live from the Vusion podcast studio at Groceryshop 2026 in Las Vegas, Chris Walton joins Mark Williamson, AVP of Retail Media at Costco, to explore the evolution of Costco’s retail media business and how it fits within the company’s membership-driven model. Mark breaks down Costco’s rebuilt ad tech stack, clean room, offsite measurement and search capabilities, along with how the warehouse experience and emerging AI agents could reshape digital discovery and advertising.
Fresh off the Groceryshop 2026 mainstage, Ben Miller joins Yael Cosset, EVP & Chief Digital Officer at Kroger, live from the Vusion podcast studio in Las Vegas, to unpack Kroger’s AI strategy and the shift from experimentation to more advanced applications. Yael breaks down Kroger’s AI Shopping Assistant, the progression from assisted to augmented to autonomous AI, and how governance and human involvement will shape the future of AI in grocery.
Live from Groceryshop 2026 in Las Vegas, Chris Walton joins Brian Monahan, SVP of Retail Media at Albertsons Media Collective, to discuss how retail media has evolved and where AMC is headed next. Brian breaks down Albertsons’ focus on “collective growth,” the growing connection between media, merchandising, stores and digital, and why new shopping experiences and the creator economy could shape what comes next.
The newly launched podcast “Making Space — Real Time” co-hosted by Chris Niesen focuses on retail execution from industry insiders. The inaugural episode discusses Michaels’ innovative store format, TJX’s sales performance, and Target’s Beauty Studio, emphasizing the importance of effective execution over strategy in retail success.
Grocers are investing heavily in electronic shelf labels, but the software behind them could make or break their ROI. Kim Schneider, VP of Sales for Vestcom North America Retail at Avery Dennison, explains why intelligent software is essential to managing complex pricing data, promotions, and the operational challenges of balancing paper and digital shelf labels. She shares how storeLink helps retailers avoid vendor lock-in, reduce operational friction, and maximize their shelf-edge technology investments.
Walmart’s Papa Johns delivery push, Macy’s fifth straight quarter of comparable-sales growth, Amazon’s increasingly shoppable Prime Video, SKIMS’ DoorDash partnership, and Kroger’s lowered sales outlook headline this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five. Chris Walton is joined by J Recruiting’s Josh Hahn, with this month’s OmniStar award also going to Meredith Klausner, SVP of Retail & Services at Best Buy. Plus, Chris and Josh tackle airport etiquette, AI chores, and which QSR should be next on Walmart’s restaurant tab.
Recorded live from Omni Talk’s podcast studio at NRF Retail’s Big Show Europe in Paris, Ben Miller and Chris Walton unpack Kroger’s lowered 2026 sales outlook, the rise of AI-powered shopping assistants from Instacart and Shipt, Walgreens’ in-store advertising plans, and Meg Whitman’s new role at Albertsons. Plus, Kim Schneider of Vestcom joins for Five Insightful Minutes to discuss how grocers can maximize their investment in shelf-edge technologies.
Amazon’s latest grocery push, Ulta’s surveillance backlash, Costco’s quiet exit from Costco Next, Sephora’s TikTok Shop experiment, and Sprouts’ new CEO headline this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five. Chris Walton is joined by Shelley Huff, who is back again to guest host and debate the biggest moves shaping retail this week, from grocery and marketplaces to social commerce and retail technology. Plus, the two tackle everything from Obsession to one-wish willows and the eternal question: Genie or Samantha?
Agentic commerce is moving from buzzword to reality, Sprouts is preparing for a CEO transition, and Walmart is pushing deeper into wellness and restaurant delivery. Ben Miller is joined by Sarah Engel, President of January Digital, to unpack what Anthropic and Amazon’s AI moves mean for grocery, what’s next for Sprouts, why retailers are betting on wellness events, and whether Aldi’s shopper-powered product development is more than just a social media gimmick.
Southern Glazer’s Senior Supply Chain Engineer Julian Sellan and Dematic Senior Account Manager Nick Cianfarani join Chris Walton to discuss what it takes to build a future-proof warehouse, from deciding between retrofitting an existing facility or starting from scratch to designing automation, software, and operations that can scale with the business and adapt to whatever comes next.
Groceryshop 2026 is just weeks away, and Rocquan Lucas, VP of Content at Groceryshop, is giving Omni Talk an inside look at what’s ahead. From AI and retail media to evolving consumer behavior, loyalty, and more, get a sneak peek at the biggest conversations, new formats, and can’t-miss moments coming to Las Vegas.
Walmart’s restaurant delivery ambitions, Target’s big beauty bet, Sur La Table’s resale play, the potential death of the online checkout page, and Amazon’s latest automation push headline this week’s Omni Talk Retail Fast Five. Chris Walton is joined by Michael Prendergast, Ken Davidson, and Ben Miller, plus Rocquan Lucas stops by for 5 Insightful Minutes to preview what’s ahead at Groceryshop.
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. Know More →
Chris has built a strong following on LinkedIn. If you would like Chris to connect with you directly via LinkedIn, please provide your LinkedIn Profile url. Otherwise, simply click “No Thanks” and you will be taken directly to Omni Talk.
