---
title: 2024 Retail Insights Conference
description: Join us for two full days as we reveal our retailer and shopper expectations for the coming year. Learn the strategies you'll need to succeed with core channels and emerging growth platforms over the long term.
image: https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/LinkedIn_Facebook_Full%20Bleed%20Image.png
---
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## Retail Insights Conference
11 & 12 December 2024
Virtual
[ Register ](https://retailiq.kantar.com/2024-retail-insights-conference#REGISTER)
[2024 Agenda](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/2024%20Events/Kantars%202024%20RIC%20agenda%20111224.pdf?hsLang=en)
2025 will be a pivotal year in retail. While a level of uncertainty will always course through the industry, retailers and suppliers are now taking back the reins and owning their future by:
- Devising strategies to navigate political and economic crosscurrents and other disruptions ahead, while capitalizing on the many opportunities to uncover growth
- Making decisions prudently, but briskly, on resources, investments, rightsizing, and expansion, with the goal of driving margins
- Inspiring shoppers with products and services that reinforce the value equation more strongly
- Quickly tailoring their propositions to different generations and economic contexts in a bifurcated marketplace and elevating secondary value attributes to justify higher prices and amplify their demand power
With the path to purchase becoming increasingly complex and circular, retailers and brands that are data driven and willing to lead as AI transforms the industry will be better placed to win across all aspects of the value chain.
By attending this event, you will gain:
- An understanding of the retail landscape, the pace of change, and a path forward to manage continued disruptions while uncovering new opportunities
- Tactics on how to reinforce the value equation to create loyalty and drive share
- Innovative ideas about integrating retail strategies and technology
- Tools to develop cohesive strategies linked across the value chain to drive success in an uncertain global market
Highlights from Last Year's Retail Insights Conference
what to expect
## Conference Agenda
#### Reach out to [events@kantarconsulting.com](mailto:events@kantarconsulting.com) for questions.
Day 1: Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 Day 2: Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024
10:00-10:15 AM ET
**Welcome and Introduction**
*Malcolm Pinkerton, Global Head of Retailer Insights
Leigh O’Donnell, Head of Shopper and Category Solutions *
10:15-11:00 AM ET
**Defining the opportunities across the global retail landscape **
*Rachel Dalton, Head of Retailer Insights, North America*
*Paida Mugudubi, Head of Retail Insights, Rest of World*
- Gain insights into the current state of global retail and future trends.
- Understand how to navigate and plan for continued disruptions to reach key milestones.
- Explore the biggest opportunities to drive growth.
11:00-11:45 AM ET
**Navigating macro crosscurrents in 2025 and beyond**
*Doug Hermanson, Principal Economist*
- Learn how inflation and interest rates have divided markets.
- Get a view of how government policy changes will affect retail.
- Identify the macro scenarios you need to plan for in 2025 and beyond.
11:45 AM-Noon ET | Break
Noon-12:45 PM ET
**The expansion of decisive retail choices **
*David Marcotte, Senior Vice President, Global Retail and Technology*
- Review disruptive new retail formats and channel blurring.
- Understand how companies are realigning their procurement processes to ensure more predictable sources.
- Track new and potential entrants into US retail.
12:45-1:00 PM ET
**Key findings from Google and Kantar's "Retail Reinvented" research**
*Carla Puttini, Strategic Insights Manager, Google
Malcolm Pinkerton, Global Head of Retail Insights, Kantar*
- Understand importance of brand visibility and differentiation in driving sales.
- Get insights on aligning your brand with consumer interests.
- Discover tactics on attracting and retaining shoppers in today's competitive market.
1:00-1:30 PM ET
**Fireside Chat: Role of the store in an omnichannel environment**
*Diana Marshall, Chief Growth Officer, Sam’s Club*
*Moderator: Rachel Dalton, Head of Retail Insights, Kantar*
- Explore key digital technologies that are the basis for omnichannel growth
- Discuss what brands should plan for as Gen AI rapidly impacts commerce
- Determine priorities for driving greater connection between physical and digital stores
1:30-2:00 PM ET | Break
2:00-2:30 PM ET
**Global macro trends making waves on US shores**
*Doug Hermanson, Principal Economist*
- Dive into immigration and its effects on the US retail market.
- Examine changes to trade and the knock-on effects to domestic and global manufacturing.
- Learn how cross-border investment is shaping global retail.
2:00-2:30 PM ET
**Private label evolution: Something for everyone**
*Karen Kelso, Vice President, Retailer Insights*
*Sophie Carroll, Associate Director, Retailer Insights
Rachel Bukowski, Executive Leader of Innovation and Quality, Whole Foods*
- Explore how and why the role of private label has changed and our predictions for the future.
- Evaluate how best to work with or alongside emerging private brands.
- Review best-in-class examples of brands that demonstrate meaningful, differentiated, and salient
2:30-2:35 PM ET
**Break**
2:35-3:05 PM ET
**Engineering success with shoppers in a two-tiered economic recovery**
*Julie Craig, Vice President, Shopper Insights*
- Get a profile of today’s bifurcated shopper base.
- Explore how shoppers expect the outcome of the 2024 US election will impact them.
- Discover tactics that connect to the shopper across occasions and missions.
2:35-3:05 PM ET
**Profitable bets on sustainability**
*Georgia Plummer, Senior Insights Consultant
Jonathan Hall, Managing Partner, Sustainable Transformation Practice *
- Explore key global retailers’ sustainability agendas.
- Analyze global sustainability trends and how they will impact strategy and growth.
- Assess ways to prioritize sustainability initiatives for stronger partnerships.
3:05-3:10 PM ET | Break
3:10-3:40 PM ET
**The future of commerce: Planning for disruption **
*Barry Thomas, Senior Global Retail Thought Leader
J. Walker Smith, Knowledge Lead*
- Assess the leading global disrupters of the CPG industry and how to capitalize on growth opportunities.
- Understand how to win in uncertain times.
- Explore planning strategies to stay ahead.
3:10-3:40 PM ET
**Reinventing the role of the physical store**
*Ross Cloyd, Director, Retailer Insights*
*Julie Craig, Vice President, Shopper Insights*
- Discover how traditional retailers are augmenting store formats to meet shopper needs.
- Get a cross-channel and cross-category overview of key global retailers.
- Learn about new opportunities to be present in new ways as stores continue to evolve.
3:40-3:45 PM ET
Break
3:45-4:00 PM ET
**2024 Retail Insights Conference: Day 1 recap and Day 2 preview**
*Malcolm Pinkerton, Global Head of Retailer Insights
Leigh O’Donnell, Head of Shopper and Category Solutions *
10:00-10:15 AM ET
**Welcome and Introduction**
*Malcolm Pinkerton, Global Head of Retailer Insights
Leigh O’Donnell, Head of Shopper and Category Solutions *
10:15-11:00 AM ET
**Defining retailers’ cohesive ecosystems**
*Amar Singh, Senior Director, Retailer Insights*
- Discover how retailers are building value chains and prioritizing strategic investments.
- Learn how retailers are reducing shopping friction to enhance the shopper experience.
- Explore how retailers are empowering the shopper journey and calibrating omnichannel shopping.
11:00-11:45 AM ET
**Resetting the value equation**
*Karen Kelso, Vice President, Retailer Insights*
*Mary Brett Whitfield, Senior Vice President, Shopper Insights*
- Find out how pillars of value are shaping shopper consideration and purchase.
- Understand factors that influence transactional exchanges and emotionally connected experiences.
- Learn how to shape shopper engagement to maximize confidence and satisfaction.
11:45-12:30 PM ET
**The AI advantage in retail**
*Moderator: Rachel Dalton, Head of Retailer Insights, North America*
*Panelists: Barry Thomas, Senior Retail Global Thought Leader; Ram Iyer, Head of Digital Strategy and Ecommerce, Microsoft; James Cadwallader, Co-Founder and CEO, Profound*
- Walk through Kantar’s AI framework as a planning tool for success.
- Explore best-in-class AI use cases in retail that are driving new opportunities.
- Gain insights into how you can level up your AI advantage internally and externally.
12:30-1:00 PM ET
**Break**
12:30-12:45 PM ET - *Optional Bonus Session*
**PoweRanking 2024: The Growth Mandate**
*Rohan Mazumdar, Vice President, Kantar Retail Advisory Practice*
*Jeffrey Maloy, Vice President, Kantar Retail Advisory Practice*
- Hear how retailers and manufacturers have characterized the central issues of 2024
- Learn how they are both describing the key growth challenges for 2025 and beyond
- Explore the paths to growth in the context of our expected retail themes
BREAKOUTS
1:00-1:45 PM ET
**Global online landscape from a retail and shopper lens**
*Anna Brennan, Senior Analyst, Retailer Insights*
*Mary Brett Whitfield, Senior Vice President, Head of Shopper Insights*
- Dive into the state of the US shopper and understand similarities and differences with shoppers in key global markets.
- Explore how the digital commerce landscape is evolving to better meet shopper needs.
- Examine the major levers within the digital commerce ecosystem that will have the most impact on planning.
1:00-1:45 PM ET
**The intersection of value: Differentiation vs. simplicity**
*Simon Johnstone, Senior Director, Retailer Insights*
- Understand channel-specific value propositions.
- Review the discrepancies in value perception among channels.
- Learn what capabilities you need to deliver cross-channel value.
1:45-1:50 PM ET
Break
1:50-2:20 PM ET
**Retailer media networks: Planning for 2025**
*Rachel Dalton, Head of Retailer Insights, North America
Andy Murray, Executive Chairman, Saatchi & Saatchi and Founder, BigQuest *
- Explore how CPG brands and agencies are strategizing for and investing in retailer media networks.
- Review key data points from Kantar’s Retailer Media Networks B2B Benchmarking Study to help inform your retail media network
- Discover specific actions you can take to capitalize on this full-funnel opportunity.
1:50-2:20 PM ET
**Health and wellness trends in a GLP-1 world **
*Andriana Bantra, Senior Insights Consultant*
*Leigh O'Donnell, Head of Shopper and Category Insights
Irina Pelphrey, Group Vice President, Health, Albertsons*
- Explore what’s behind shoppers’ growing awareness of ultraprocessed foods, the health impact of these foods, and how manufacturers are responding.
- Learn how the growing use of and interest in GLP-1 drugs is impacting categories across the store.
- Find out how to capitalize on the high-protein opportunity in edible grocery categories.
2:20-2:25 PM ET
Break
2:25-2:55 PM ET
**Membership matters: The evolution of loyalty**
*Gina Logan, Principal Analyst, Retailer Insights*
*Misha Jethwa, Manager, Shopper Insights*
- Uncover the drivers behind the recent proliferation of loyalty programs.
- Review profiles and preferences of the loyalty shopper.
- Examine how key retailers are poised to win or lose in a crowded loyalty landscape.
2:25-2:55 PM ET
**Leveraging technology to drive social commerce**
*Charlotte Harris, Senior Insights Consultant*
- Understand how social commerce platforms are advancing technology and upleveling experiences.
- Learn how the major platforms differ and where you should prioritize your efforts.
- Explore the future of social commerce and what brands and retailers should do now to capture growth opportunities.
2:55-3:00 PM ET
Break
3:00-3:30 PM ET
**Understanding Gen Alphas and their current shopping behaviors**
*Lauren Winkler, Vice President, Category Insights
Michelle Brisson, Senior Consultant, MONITOR *
- Learn about early shopping signals of Gen Alpha.
- Understand how Gen Alpha influences shopping trips.
- Explore the categories that Gen Alpha prioritizes.
3:00-3:30 PM ET
**Operational AI: How retailers use AI in the real world**
*David Marcotte, Senior Vice President, Global Retail and Technology*
- Understand the retail IT framework that leverages AI tools to enable problem solving and success.
- Find out how to adjust to zero-tolerance standards for retail technology performance and accuracy in the face of “AI drift.”
- Learn how to use the AI tool set in everyday retail operations.
3:35-3:50 PM ET
**2024 Retail Insights Conference: Day 2 recap and wrap-up**
*Malcolm Pinkerton, Global Head of Retailer Insights
Leigh O’Donnell, Head of Shopper and Category Insights *
How to attend
## Available tickets
SEATBLOCK HOLDER?
[Talk to our event team ›](mailto:events@kantarconsulting.com)
Meet the experts
## Event Speakers
We’re here to amplify your potential. Bringing exceptional experience across industries and organizations. Delivering a deep understanding of retailers and shoppers. We’ll help you meet and exceed your goals.
Andriana Bantra
Senior Insights Consultant
Anna Brennan
Senior Analyst, Digital Commerce
Sophie Carroll
Associate Director, Retail Insights
Ross Cloyd
Director, Retail Insights
Julie Craig
Vice President, Shopper Insights
Rachel Dalton
Head of Retail Insights, North America
Charlotte Harris
Senior Insights Consultant
Doug Hermanson
Principal Economist
Tiffany Hogan
Director, Retail Insights
Misha Jethwa
Manager, Shopper Insights
Simon Johnstone
Senior Director, Retail Insights
Karen Kelso
Vice President, Retail Insights
Gina Logan
Principal Analyst, Retail Insights
David Marcotte
Senior Vice President, Global Retail and Technology
Paida Mugudubi
Head of Retail Insights, Global
Malcolm Pinkerton
Global Head of Retail Insights
Georgia Plummer
Senior Insights Consultant
Amar Singh
Senior Director, Retail Insights
Barry Thomas
Senior Retail Global Thought Leader
Mary Brett Whitfield
Senior Vice President, Head of Shopper Insights
Lauren Winkler
Vice President, Category Insights
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## Kantar's new immersive experience
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If you do not receive this link, please email [events@kantarconsulting.com](mailto:events@kantarconsulting.com)
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