--- title: Kantar's Category IQ Future of Category Leadership description: Kantar Category IQ Future of Category Management examines category leadership, collaboration, customer-centricity, insights strategy, execution. image: https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/Category%20Leadership.jpg --- [![KANTAR_Small_Logo_White_RGB](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/KRiQ%20Atlas%20Integration/KANTAR_Small_Logo_White_RGB.svg "KANTAR_Small_Logo_White_RGB")](https://www.kantar.com/) CATEGORY INSIGHTS # **The future of category leadership** For companies who want to lead the way in retailer-manufacturer relationships ### Want to learn more about the research? Fill the form to access your report preview. # Learn how retailers and manufacturers view the future of category leadership | What you'll learn | How you'll use it | The details you'll need | | --- | --- | --- | | - How has category management continued to evolve after the pandemic? - What are the critical success factors in category leadership today? - How will AI revolutionize the role of category management? - Topics include: - Attitudes about category leadership and collaboration - Best-in-class performance (customer-centricity, insights/strategy, execution) - Where organizations are investing (people, skills, data, research, technology, tools) - Organization principles - Omnichannel/ecommerce readiness vs. pain points - Current and expected role of AI tools in the category management process | - The realm of category leadership has been changing rapidly since the pandemic, with manufacturers and retailers struggling to align on the best path forward together. - Kantar’s study examines the role of category management from both retailers’ and manufacturers’ perspectives to help you build strong partnership and plan against future needs. | - Robust sample: 100 retailers, 100 manufacturers - Our expert-authored report is full of both insights and action - You’ll get a fully-sliceable complete databook with the detail you’ll need - Customize the study to meet your needs, including custom question topics |     Contact us for more information at [KantarShopper@kantar.com](mailto:KantarShopper@kantar.com) --- EXPERT SPOTLIGHT ## Kantar's Retail, Sales, and Shopper Expert Answering your most pressing questions related to category insights. ![Lauren Winkler no background](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/Lauren%20Winkler%20no%20background.png) Lauren Winkler Vice President, Category Insights ![Rohan Mazumdar, Head of Performance and Analytics](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/2021%20Events/Speaker%20photos/Rohan%20Mazumdar%2c%20Head%20of%20Performance%20and%20Analytics.jpg) Rohan Mazumdar Head of Commerce Strategy Delivery ![Jeff Maloy](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/Jeff%20Maloy.png) Jeff Maloy Senior Vice President, Consultant Looking for insights? #### Take a look at content catered to you. ### Retail Sound Bites The Kantar Sound Bites podcast provides a provocative view of global retail trends, category leadership, business issues, and other shopper and retail related news.  [Subscribe to the Podcast](https://retailiq.kantar.com/retail-sound-bites?hsLang=en) ![podcast equipment microphone](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/podcast%20equipment%20microphone.jpeg) ### Retail Media Networks B2B Benchmarking Study Closing the trust gap between brands and retailers [Learn more](https://retailiq.kantar.com/retail-media-networks?hsLang=en) ![2-2](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/2-2.png) ### Commerce rewired: Kantar's 2026 POV In 2026, resilience, relevance, and relationships are no longer optional. They are competitive requirements. Retailers and suppliers face rising costs, fractured partnerships, private label pressure, and increasingly nonlinear shopper journeys. [Download the Report](https://retailiq.kantar.com/commerce-rewired-2026-retail-themes?hsLang=en) ![Commerce Rewired](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/photoshop%20theme%20cover%20with%20K.png) ![KANTAR_Small_Logo_White_RGB](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/KRiQ%20Atlas%20Integration/KANTAR_Small_Logo_White_RGB.svg "KANTAR_Small_Logo_White_RGB") Copyright © 2026 Kantar #### Company - [Terms of use](https://www.kantar.com/Terms-and-Conditions) - [Kantar Retail IQ Privacy Policy](https://retailiq.kantar.com/privacy-policy) - [About Kantar](https://www.kantar.com/About) - [Privacy](https://www.kantar.com/Cookies-Policies)