Tabletalks

Okay, you’ve experimented with AI in store and have seen some early success—Now it’s time to make the technology stick. In this Tabletalk, you’ll discuss strategies for scaling AI in physical retail and leveraging the technology to improve inventory management, in-store fulfillment, delivery, and employee productivity.

1. Where are you currently using AI in store operations, and where are you seeing the most success?  

2. What barriers are preventing the adoption of AI at scale in stores, and how are you overcoming them? 

3. Regarding AI adoption, how are you garnering support from store associates and teams? 

4. How are you linking disparate store technologies and solutions?

With shoppers seamlessly moving between physical and digital channels, retailers and brands need to carefully stitch together shopping experiences. This Tabletalk will focus on enabling seamless customer journeys.

1. How are you using data to build a single view of the customer across channels? 

2. How do you track, measure, and attribute the online efforts that turn into offline sales? 

3. How are you using digital apps and other tools to link ecommerce and in-store shopping? 

4. How are you crafting omnichannel marketing strategies and engaging consumers throughout their shopping journey?  

The adoption of GLP-1 medications is reshaping baskets and aisles, as consumers opt for smaller portion sizes and products matching their distinct dietary preferences. In this Tabletalk, you and your peers will share how these trends are impacting assortment, new product development, and marketing decisions.

1. How is GLP-1 adoption influencing shopping behaviors and most impacting your business?

2. How are you adjusting product assortment and store layouts to cater to users of GLP-1 medications?  

3. How are you reformulating and bringing new products to market that match consumer preferences?

4. How are you shifting marketing to highlight the nutritional benefits shoppers seek?

Operationalizing AI goes beyond adopting flashy tools and involves business transformation and the rewiring of key processes. Additionally, executing unified commerce requires internal collaboration and a unified organization. In this Tabletalk, you’ll discuss how to create AI-ready organizations by breaking down silos, building the proper data infrastructure, and establishing a culture of innovation. 

1. What are 1-2 organizational silos slowing your business down today, and how is your company addressing them?

2. How are you building a culture that is agile and operates cross-functionally?

3. How are you redefining roles on your teams and upskilling talent to embrace AI?

4. How are you building the proper data foundations for AI use?

Ecommerce continues to grow across many markets worldwide, yet many grocery retailers are working to make the channel profitable. At this Tabletalk, you'll chat with peers about boosting revenue and reducing costs in online grocery.

1. How are you fulfilling orders—in-store or through fulfillment centers—and how are you optimizing this part of online grocery? 

2. How are you optimizing delivery and mitigating last-mile costs? 

3. What are 1-2 tactics you’re using to drive bigger ecommerce baskets and customer acquisition?

4. How are you balancing scaling your own ecommerce platform and growing through third-party marketplaces?

Modern grocery shoppers are increasingly comparing prices across retailers, switching brands, turning to private labels, and reducing their overall spending. These shifting behaviors are putting pressure on CPG volumes and making it harder for both retailers and CPGs to earn lasting shopper loyalty. At this Tabletalk, you'll exchange ideas with peers on the marketing strategies that are helping retailers and brands strengthen loyalty, drive volume growth, and stay competitive in a value-driven market. 

1. How are you engaging shoppers across new and traditional channels?

2. How are you investing in brand building and tying your brands to more occasions? 

3. How are you using personalized marketing and promotions to drive sales?

4. What are 1-2 new customer acquisition and retention tactics your organization has found successful?

Retail media has scaled into a significant advertising channel for brands, as it promises closed-loop attribution and more targeted ads. Yet, with marketing budgets tightening, brands are under pressure to ensure they are getting the most value from their investments. In this Tabletalk, you’ll join peers who discuss how they are finding retail media success.

1. How are you measuring success across retail media investments (incremental ROAS, new-to-brand sales, etc.)? 

2. How are you evaluating retail media networks and deciding where to invest or pull back spend?

3. Which emerging retail media capabilities (offsite, in-store, shoppable video, etc.) are delivering the strongest returns?

4. How are you aligning retail media, brand marketing, and commercial teams to maximize performance?

Independent and regional retailers are uniquely positioned to connect with their communities and deliver the quality grocery experiences shoppers expect. However, they also face outsized pressure from shifting consumer expectations, rising operating costs, and limited resources. In this Tabletalk, come together with your peers to share the strategies you’re implementing to grow and boost profitability. 

1. What are the biggest headwinds impacting your business today, and which strategies have been most effective in addressing these challenges? 

2. What are 1-2 initiatives driving customer acquisition and loyalty?

3. What AI and technology bets are you making to improve margins and drive growth?

4. How are you strengthening your store experiences, assortments, and community ties to differentiate from competitors?

In this Tabletalk, women leaders share their experiences as executives in grocery and CPG. Celebrate your successes, share advice and learnings, and discuss ways to further empower and support women in the industry. 

1. What is one career achievement you're most proud of, and what is one lesson you've learned along the way?

2. What's one piece of advice you would give to women beginning their careers in grocery and CPG?

3. What leadership qualities or experiences have been most important in helping you grow your career?

4. What can organizations do to better support and advance women in grocery and CPG?

Brands operating in regulated categories face a unique challenge: driving growth while navigating evolving regulations, advertising restrictions, and changing consumer preferences. In this Tabletalk, leaders in beverage alcohol and other regulated categories exchange strategies for engaging consumers, innovating, and pursuing growth in complex marketplaces.

1. What are the biggest headwinds impacting growth in your category, and how are you addressing them?

2. How are you leveraging emerging channels—such as ecommerce, social media, and agentic AI—while navigating your category's regulatory environment?

3. How are you evolving your brands, products, and marketing to align with shifting consumer preferences, particularly the rise of sober-curious lifestyles?

4. Where are you finding the greatest opportunities for growth today—new consumer segments, product innovation, premiumization, or portfolio expansion?