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 
Jeff Greenspoon, CEO Americas, Kantar 

10:15-10:45 AM ET
Business not as usual
J. Walker Smith, Knowledge Lead
Barry Thomas, Senior Retail Global Thought Leader 

• Navigate a new normal characterized by market volatility, consumer disaffection, and fragmentation.
• Understand new generations and cohort needs, such as shifts in loyalty and spending habits.
• Future-proof your strategic big bets and build new capabilities across investments, partnerships, and innovation. 

10:45-11:15 AM ET
Big beats across the global retail landscape 
Rachel Dalton, Head of Retail Insights, Americas 
Paida Mugudubi, Head of Retail Insights, EMEA and APAC 

• Get a big-picture view of the shifts and drivers of global commerce.
• Evaluate key planning priorities for 2026 and beyond.
• Review how brands and retailers can thrive in uncertainty. 

11:15-11:30 AM ET | Break

• Evaluate how US tariffs are shifting global trade and affecting prices.
• Plan for expected changes in US tax policy.
• Review the implications of reduced US government support for safety-net programs. 

Noon-12:30 PM ET
Shopping not as usual
Mary Brett Whitfield, Senior Vice President, Head of Shopper Insights 

• Identify major shifts in shopping behavior.
• Understand the changing definition of value and its impact on shopper choice.
• Consider ways to leverage shopper data for scenario planning. 

BREAKOUTS

1:00-3:15 PM ET
Track 1: Channel and retailer strategic planning
Channel strategy development 
Karen Kelso, Vice President, Retail Insights 
Taylre Stumpf, Lead Analyst, Retail Insights 
Ross Cloyd, Director, Retail Insights 
Simon Johnstone, Senior Director, Retail Insights 
Rachel Dalton, Head of Retail Insights, Americas 

Kantar subject-matter experts come together for an in-depth session on how to frame up your channel strategy and channel assessment for JBPs and strategic planning in the US.  You will leave with a tool to apply to your own channel planning. 

• Showcase a framework for assessing retailer channels.
• Analyze six US retail channels and the strategies you need to employ to grow with them. 
• Determine where to play and how to win in an environment of channel shifting and channel blurring. 

1:00-1:30 PM ET
Track 2: Key topics and trends in retail
Retail threats: Cyberattacks, violence, and organized crime
David Marcotte, Senior Vice President, Global Retail and Technology 
Paida Mugudubi, Head of Retail Insights, EMEA and APAC 

• Learn how to plan for the financial impact on your trade if key retailers and distributors become victims of organized retail crime.
• Evaluate how to work with retailers on product presentations in store that can minimize danger to store employees.
• Review supply chain and IT exposure to the new wave of organized retail crime in store, online, and on the road. 

1:30-1:35 PM ET | Break

1:35-2:05 PM ET
Track 2: Key topics and trends in retail
Capitalizing on emerging health and wellness trends
Amar Singh, Senior Director, Retail Insights
Andriana Bantra, Senior Insights Consultant 

• Explore key health and wellness trends in retail.
• See examples of how leading brands are activating in store and online.
• Determine which emerging wellness trends will reshape shopper expectations in the next 12 months. 

2:05-2:10 PM ET 
Break 

2:10-2:40 PM ET
Track 2: Key topics and trends in retail
Winning with Latinos 
Adrienne Pulido, Vice President, DEI Insights, MONITOR 
Julie Craig, Vice President, Shopper Insights 

• Highlight key learnings from the Winning With Latinos project.
• Examine the shifts in Latino shopping behavior. 
• Get a complete picture of the nuances and complexity of Latino consumers and shoppers. 

2:40-2:45 PM ET | Break

2:45-3:15 PM ET
Track 2: Key topics and trends in retail
The new awareness of the global informal retail market 
David Marcotte, Senior Vice President, Global Retail and Technology  
Vikash Kaansili, Senior Analyst, Retail Insights 

• Discover new inroads to the informal retail market.
• Learn more about m-commerce and opportunities with small retailers.
• Understand the changing shopping patterns of the global middle class. 

3:15-3:20 PM ET
Break

3:20-3:35 PM ET
2025 Commerce 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 

10:15-10:45 AM ET
US retail outlook: Strategic trends driving growth in 2026 
Rachel Dalton, Head of Retail Insights, Americas 
Casey Ferrell, SVP Americas, MONITOR 

• Review the key consumer trends of 2025 that will impact the US retail landscape.
• Evaluate the levers that may shift or change how brands and retailers approach planning.
• Determine priority areas to focus on in 2026 and beyond. 

10:45-11:15 AM ET
Under stress: Managing retail uncertainties in 2026 
David Marcotte, Senior Vice President, Global Retail and Technology 

• Evaluate how to ride the wave of shopper changes from smaller families, stretched budgets, and fears of job loss or deportation.
• Assess the unknowns over cash generation if inflation picks up.
• Understand the environment for M&As and overall investments in your planning. 

11:15-11:30 AM ET
Break

11:30 AM-Noon ET
Driving profitable revenue: The new growth story 
Barry Thomas, Senior Retail Global Thought Leader 
Paida Mugudubi, Head of Retail Insights, EMEA and APAC 

• Review the growth challenges most FMCGs are facing.
• Understand the new growth algorithms for FMCGs.
• Review brand case studies tied to the new growth framework. 

Noon-12:30 PM ET 
Drivers of the omnichannel shopper experience 
Amar Singh, Senior Director, Retail Insights  
Karen Kelso, Vice President, Retail Insights 

• Discover how AI and retail technology are reshaping the shopper journey.
• Find out how seamless, personalized touchpoints are redefining engagement.
• Explore how brands elevate experience before, during, and after the trip to win in the attention economy. 

BREAKOUTS

1:00-1:30 PM ET
Track 1: Sharpening tactical plans
Pricing tactics in economic volatility 
Karen Kelso, Vice President, Retail Insights 
Simon Johnstone, Senior Director, Retail Insights 

• Understand the importance of pricing from a shopper and macroeconomic lens.
• Analyze how EDLP versus high-low pricing tactics impact CPG manufacturers.
• Review the channels and retailers that stand to win with their pricing strategies and the supplier implications. 

1:00-1:30 PM ET
Track 2: Digital Commerce
Retail media networks: Closing the trust gap 
Rachel Dalton, Head of Retail Insights, Americas 
Charlotte Harris, Senior Insights Consultant 
T.J. Hanel, Director,  Omnicommerce and Retail Media Networks, Kellanova 

• Evaluate the opportunities and challenges associated with retail media networks.
• Understand key priorities to focus on in 2026 to manage retail media network investments efficiently.
• Find out how to close the trust gap between brands and retailers. 

1:00-1:30 PM ET
Track 3: Key retail topics and trends
2025 category winners and losers 
Lauren Winkler, Vice President, Category Insights 
Gina Logan, Associate Director, Category Insights

• Analyze the categories most impacted by 2025 policy shifts.
• Examine winning best practices driving category growth despite headwinds.
• Learn how to position your category for growth in 2026. 

1:30-1:35 PM ET
Break

1:35-2:05 PM ET
Track 1: Sharpening tactical plans
Merchandising innovation and requirements for 2026 
David Marcotte, Senior Vice President, Global Retail and Technology 
Georgia Rose, Senior Insights Consultant 

• Learn how retailers worldwide are leveraging their store estates for optimal outlet sales.
• Understand how channel merchandising success metrics are evolving to meet new shopper behaviors.
• Consider new ways to disrupt the shelf to win in the future. 

1:35-2:05 PM ET
Track 2: Digital commerce
Discovery-led commerce: The next era of ecommerce platforms 
Charlotte Harris, Senior Insights Consultant 
Barry Thomas, Senior Retail Global Thought Leader  

• Find out why traditional ecommerce models are losing relevance in a discovery-first world.
• Assess what emerging platforms are getting right about shopper engagement.
• Learn how brands can adapt to stay visible, competitive, and connected to the next generation of shoppers. 

1:35-2:05 PM ET
Track 3: Key retail topics and trends
Unlocking the convenience channel 
Julie Craig, Vice President, Shopper Insights 
Gina Logan, Associate Director, Category Insights 

• Get to know convenience channel shoppers, including their motivations and unique behaviors.
• Find out which categories are driving growth in the convenience channel.
• Understand the evolving role of health and wellness at convenience stores. 

2:05-2:10 PM ET
Break

2:10-2:40 PM ET
Track 1: Sharpening tactical plans
Key operational planning priorities for retail 
Simon Johnstone, Senior Director, Retail Insights 

• Review the new trade variables involved in retailer-supplier negotiations.
• Evaluate the impact on assortment, inventory, and product flow.
• Learn about the factors leading to a convergence in retailer and supplier inventory management. 

2:10-2:40 PM ET
Track 2: Digital Commerce
Panel: GenAI/agentic AI and the retail impact 
Malcolm Pinkerton, Global Head of Retail Insights 
Barry Thomas, Senior Retail Global Thought Leader 
Josh Blyskal, Head of Answer Engine Optimization Strategy and Research, Profound 
Michael Nevski, Director of Global Insights, Visa

• Understand how the new agentic web era changes everything.
• Review early signs of how brands are becoming visible to AI.
• Address how agentic commerce is evolving and the implications for brands and retailers. 

2:10-2:40 PM ET
Track 3: Key retail topics and trends
Plan your distribution strategy: How shoppers buy from retailers 
Mary Brett Whitfield, Senior Vice President, Head of Shopper Insights 
Erica Smith, Associate Research Manager, Shopper Insights 

• Learn which retailers are growing their online buyer base.
• Discover which shoppers regularly leverage stores and online shopping.
• Identify how retail membership programs fuel online growth.  

2:40-2:45 PM ET
Break

2:45-3:00 PM ET
2025 Commerce Insights Conference: Day 2 recap and wrap-up
Malcolm Pinkerton, Global Head of Retailer Insights
Leigh O’Donnell, Head of Shopper and Category Insights