The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Matt Gregory, EVP &amp; Chief Customer Officer North America at Unilever.Follow Matt on LinkedIn at: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-gregory-b702567?utm_source=share_via&amp;utm_content=profile&amp;utm_medium=member_ios'>https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-gregory-b702567</a>Follow Unilever online at: <a href='http://unilever.com/'>http://unilever.com</a>Matt answers these questions:<ol><li>As Chief Customer Officer, what are your top priorities for Unilever&apos;s customer partnerships this year, and how have those priorities evolved from your previous roles?</li><li>Unilever spans many categories and channels. How do you balance a single, coherent customer strategy with the diverse needs of retailers, wholesalers, and direct-to-consumer partners? </li><li>What makes for a truly effective retailer collaboration from a customer-first perspective? Can you share thoughts on what constitutes a partnership that delivered measurable value for both a CPG brand and retailer?  </li><li>How has Unilever adapted its customer strategy to omnichannel realities—store visits, digital marketplaces, and social commerce? What role do retailers play in orchestrating that journey?</li><li>In times of supply chain disruption, what are the key lessons for maintaining strong customer relationships, and how do you collaborate with retailers to mitigate risk for both sides?</li><li>When a brand is already as big and established as Dove, growth typically gets harder—not easier. Yet, Dove is experiencing approximately double-digit growth in the U.S. over the last year. What’s the unlock that allows brands like Dove to continue deepening relevance and sustaining that level of momentum?</li><li>What competencies and capabilities do you prioritize when building and leading a high-performance customer organization? How do you foster cross-functional collaboration with sales, marketing, and supply chain?</li><li>Looking ahead 3–5 years, what are the biggest shifts you anticipate in retailer-CPG partnerships, and where should brands and retailers collaborate most closely to win in the evolving landscape? </li><li>You’ve had a career that spans GM roles and commercially focused leadership positions. What have you learned in your personal and professional history that you find yourself using most in your role today?</li><li>What’s something the industry is still doing today that you think we’ll look back on in five years and wonder, “why were we doing it that way?”</li><li>What excites you most about agentic AI and how it could reshape the shopping experience? And what, if anything, gives you pause?</li><li>If you could make one singular change to positively impact the CPG industry, what would it be and why?</li></ol>CPG Guys Website: <a href='http://cpgguys.com/'>http://CPGguys.com</a> FMCG Guys Website: <a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'>http://FMCGguys.com</a> SheCOMMERCE Website: <a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'>https://shecommercepodcast.com/</a> Rhea Raj’s Website: <a href='http://rhearaj.com/'>http://rhearaj.com</a> Lara Raj in Katseye: <a href='https://www.katseye.world/'>https://www.katseye.world/</a>DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&nbsp;

<description>&lt;p&gt;The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Matt Gregory, EVP &amp;amp; Chief Customer Officer North America at Unilever.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow Matt on LinkedIn at: &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-gregory-b702567?utm_source=share_via&amp;amp;utm_content=profile&amp;amp;utm_medium=member_ios'&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-gregory-b702567&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow Unilever online at: &lt;a href='http://unilever.com/'&gt;http://unilever.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Matt answers these questions:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;As Chief Customer Officer, what are your top priorities for Unilever&amp;apos;s customer partnerships this year, and how have those priorities evolved from your previous roles?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Unilever spans many categories and channels. How do you balance a single, coherent customer strategy with the diverse needs of retailers, wholesalers, and direct-to-consumer partners? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What makes for a truly effective retailer collaboration from a customer-first perspective? Can you share thoughts on what constitutes a partnership that delivered measurable value for both a CPG brand and retailer?  &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How has Unilever adapted its customer strategy to omnichannel realities—store visits, digital marketplaces, and social commerce? What role do retailers play in orchestrating that journey?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;In times of supply chain disruption, what are the key lessons for maintaining strong customer relationships, and how do you collaborate with retailers to mitigate risk for both sides?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;When a brand is already as big and established as Dove, growth typically gets harder—not easier. Yet, Dove is experiencing approximately double-digit growth in the U.S. over the last year. What’s the unlock that allows brands like Dove to continue deepening relevance and sustaining that level of momentum?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What competencies and capabilities do you prioritize when building and leading a high-performance customer organization? How do you foster cross-functional collaboration with sales, marketing, and supply chain?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Looking ahead 3–5 years, what are the biggest shifts you anticipate in retailer-CPG partnerships, and where should brands and retailers collaborate most closely to win in the evolving landscape? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You’ve had a career that spans GM roles and commercially focused leadership positions. What have you learned in your personal and professional history that you find yourself using most in your role today?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What’s something the industry is still doing today that you think we’ll look back on in five years and wonder, “why were we doing it that way?”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What excites you most about agentic AI and how it could reshape the shopping experience? And what, if anything, gives you pause?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;If you could make one singular change to positively impact the CPG industry, what would it be and why?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;CPG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://cpgguys.com/'&gt;http://CPGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;FMCG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'&gt;http://FMCGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;SheCOMMERCE Website: &lt;a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'&gt;https://shecommercepodcast.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Rhea Raj’s Website: &lt;a href='http://rhearaj.com/'&gt;http://rhearaj.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Lara Raj in Katseye: &lt;a href='https://www.katseye.world/'&gt;https://www.katseye.world/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Matt Gregory, EVP &amp; Chief Customer Officer North America at Unilever. Follow Matt on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-gregory-b702567 Follow Unilever online at: http://unilever.com Matt answers these questions: As Chief Customer Officer, what are your top priorities for Unilever's customer partnerships this year, and how have those priorities evolved from your previous roles?Unilever spans many categories and channels. How do you bal...

Unilever CCO Matt Gregory: Omnichannel Customer Growth Strategy 

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. This week’s topics:<ul><li>Kroger leadership changes</li><li>The magnitude of SNAP benefit changes</li><li>Expansion of &lt;30 minute delivery services</li><li>Costco selling more gasoline</li></ul>CPG Guys Website: <a href='http://cpgguys.com/'>http://CPGguys.com</a> FMCG Guys Website: <a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'>http://FMCGguys.com</a> SheCOMMERCE Website: <a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'>https://shecommercepodcast.com/</a> Rhea Raj’s Website: <a href='http://rhearaj.com/'>http://rhearaj.com</a> Lara Raj in Katseye: <a href='https://www.katseye.world/'>https://www.katseye.world/</a>DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&nbsp;

<description>&lt;p&gt;Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This week’s topics:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Kroger leadership changes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The magnitude of SNAP benefit changes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Expansion of &amp;lt;30 minute delivery services&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Costco selling more gasoline&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;CPG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://cpgguys.com/'&gt;http://CPGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;FMCG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'&gt;http://FMCGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;SheCOMMERCE Website: &lt;a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'&gt;https://shecommercepodcast.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Rhea Raj’s Website: &lt;a href='http://rhearaj.com/'&gt;http://rhearaj.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Lara Raj in Katseye: &lt;a href='https://www.katseye.world/'&gt;https://www.katseye.world/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce.  This week’s topics: Kroger leadership changesThe magnitude of SNAP benefit changesExpansion of &lt;30 minute delivery servicesCostco selling more gasolineCPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/ Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/ DISCLAIMER: The content in ...

Commerce Riff with Sri & PVSB - June 2, 2026

The CPG Guys are joined in this  episode by Mike Wysong, CEO of CARE Pharmacies, Inc., a growing pharmacy network having served communities like your own for more than 64 years. CARE Pharmacies combines the quality of a trusted local pharmacy with the growth and stability of a national organization. With over 130 pharmacies nationwide and growing, CARE understands its patients, their special needs, prescriptions, local community health concerns, and the importance of personalized CARE - the building blocks to a healthy family and a strong local community.Follow Mike on LinkedIn at: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wysong-a01626b/'>https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wysong-a01626b/</a>Follow CARE online at: <a href='https://www.carepharmacies.com/'>https://www.carepharmacies.com/</a>Mike answers these questions:<ol><li>What is the biggest lesson from those early days carrying the bag that you still lean on today as a CEO? </li><li>What was that first fundamental structural or cultural shift you had to make to change that trajectory? </li><li>How do you get independent owners to genuinely align on shared procurement, brand messages, and technology without stripping away that local entrepreneurship that makes them special? </li><li>How does a cooperative structure create the necessary scale to let local community pharmacies win on price? </li><li>From your seat, how can consumer product groups (CPGs) and OTC manufacturers better bridge those gaps to collaborate with a regional pharmacy layout like CARE? </li><li>What are the top criteria or data-backed insights an emerging brand needs to bring to you today to earn shelf space over a legacy CPG giant? </li><li>For emerging wellness or OTC brands listening to this show, what&apos;s your advice on the sales function—should they try to go it alone, or do they need to hire a specialized broker who truly understands regional drug chains? </li><li>How are you helping independent pharmacies roll out complex tech, health informatics, and AI tools without eroding the high-touch, hyper-local intimacy that defines community pharmacy? </li><li>As baby boomers choose to remain in their homes longer, how does the role of the community pharmacy transform from a simple script dispensary into an essential connector of the home health ecosystem? </li><li>How critical is having a real-time view of inventory and fulfillment data to protecting your owners&apos; bottom lines? </li><li>As a board member and past chair of the NACDS, what is the most urgent story the industry needs to keep telling to protect its clinical and commercial relevance? </li><li>What is the single biggest blind spot that corporate CPG executives have when they try to partner with independent, community-based retail networks? </li></ol>CPG Guys Website: <a href='http://cpgguys.com/'>http://CPGguys.com</a> FMCG Guys Website: <a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'>http://FMCGguys.com</a> SheCOMMERCE Website: <a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'>https://shecommercepodcast.com/</a> Rhea Raj’s Website: <a href='http://rhearaj.com/'>http://rhearaj.com</a> Lara Raj in Katseye: <a href='https://www.katseye.world/'>https://www.katseye.world/</a>DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&nbsp;

<description>&lt;p&gt;The CPG Guys are joined in this  episode by Mike Wysong, CEO of CARE Pharmacies, Inc., a growing pharmacy network having served communities like your own for more than 64 years. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;CARE Pharmacies combines the quality of a trusted local pharmacy with the growth and stability of a national organization. With over 130 pharmacies nationwide and growing, CARE understands its patients, their special needs, prescriptions, local community health concerns, and the importance of personalized CARE - the building blocks to a healthy family and a strong local community.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow Mike on LinkedIn at: &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wysong-a01626b/'&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wysong-a01626b/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow CARE online at: &lt;a href='https://www.carepharmacies.com/'&gt;https://www.carepharmacies.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mike answers these questions:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;What is the biggest lesson from those early days carrying the bag that you still lean on today as a CEO? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What was that first fundamental structural or cultural shift you had to make to change that trajectory? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How do you get independent owners to genuinely align on shared procurement, brand messages, and technology without stripping away that local entrepreneurship that makes them special? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How does a cooperative structure create the necessary scale to let local community pharmacies win on price? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;From your seat, how can consumer product groups (CPGs) and OTC manufacturers better bridge those gaps to collaborate with a regional pharmacy layout like CARE? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What are the top criteria or data-backed insights an emerging brand needs to bring to you today to earn shelf space over a legacy CPG giant? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;For emerging wellness or OTC brands listening to this show, what&amp;apos;s your advice on the sales function—should they try to go it alone, or do they need to hire a specialized broker who truly understands regional drug chains? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How are you helping independent pharmacies roll out complex tech, health informatics, and AI tools &lt;em&gt;without&lt;/em&gt; eroding the high-touch, hyper-local intimacy that defines community pharmacy? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;As baby boomers choose to remain in their homes longer, how does the role of the community pharmacy transform from a simple script dispensary into an essential connector of the home health ecosystem? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How critical is having a real-time view of inventory and fulfillment data to protecting your owners&amp;apos; bottom lines? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;As a board member and past chair of the NACDS, what is the most urgent story the industry needs to keep telling to protect its clinical and commercial relevance? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What is the single biggest blind spot that corporate CPG executives have when they try to partner with independent, community-based retail networks? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;CPG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://cpgguys.com/'&gt;http://CPGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;FMCG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'&gt;http://FMCGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;SheCOMMERCE Website: &lt;a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'&gt;https://shecommercepodcast.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Rhea Raj’s Website: &lt;a href='http://rhearaj.com/'&gt;http://rhearaj.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Lara Raj in Katseye: &lt;a href='https://www.katseye.world/'&gt;https://www.katseye.world/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The CPG Guys are joined in this  episode by Mike Wysong, CEO of CARE Pharmacies, Inc., a growing pharmacy network having served communities like your own for more than 64 years.  CARE Pharmacies combines the quality of a trusted local pharmacy with the growth and stability of a national organization. With over 130 pharmacies nationwide and growing, CARE understands its patients, their special needs, prescriptions, local community health concerns, and the importance of personalized C...

Thriving Independence in Challenging Retail Times with Care Pharmacies' Mike Wysong

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Bob Nolan, SVP of Growth Science at Conagra Brands. Conagra’s portfolio of iconic and emerging food brands continues to evolve to offer contemporary choices for every occasion. Follow Bob on LinkedIn at: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-nolan-938b726/'>https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-nolan-938b726/</a>Follow Conagra Brands online at: <a href='https://www.conagrabrands.com/'>https://www.conagrabrands.com/</a>Bob answers these questions:<ol><li>What was the &quot;breaking point&quot; where you realized that asking consumers what they wanted was actually leading the company toward failed launches?</li><li>In the context of your CAGNY 2026 presentation, how do you define the &quot;Validation Trap,&quot; and why is it so dangerous for legacy CPG brands today?</li><li>One of your biggest wins was identifying the &quot;Bowl&quot; trend (Healthy Choice Power Bowls) via behavioral data while the rest of the industry was still testing &quot;Trays.&quot; How would traditional validation have killed that multi-million dollar insight?</li><li>If you’ve cut traditional testing to zero, how do you now &quot;pre-flight&quot; a major innovation like the Rebel Roots Tallow Sticks or the Dolly Parton line without the safety net of a focus group?</li><li>How does AI-driven &quot;Demand Science&quot; replace the human element of traditional market research? </li><li>At CAGNY, you spoke about demand science as a key growth driver. How does moving away from &quot;validation&quot; allow Conagra to be more &quot;provocative&quot; and take risks that traditional research would have deemed &quot;too polarizing&quot;?</li><li>You use data from Whole Foods and Sprouts to predict what will happen in Kroger and Walmart two years later. Is the &quot;Natural Channel&quot; your new version of a test market, and how does that data-flow work?</li><li>You’ve positioned Conagra as a beneficiary of GLP-1 drugs rather than a victim. How did behavioral science—rather than consumer surveys—help you realize that these users aren&apos;t eating less of everything, but are actually pivoting toward specific nutrient-dense frozen options?</li><li>Validation takes months; social trends move in days. How has the &quot;Death of Validation&quot; increased your speed-to-market? Can you give us an example of an &quot;idea-to-shelf&quot; timeline that would have been impossible under the old model?</li><li>For the Brand Managers out there who are still terrified to launch a product without a &quot;Green Score&quot; from a testing agency, what is your message to them about the risk of not evolving past validation?</li></ol>CPG Guys Website: <a href='http://cpgguys.com/'>http://CPGguys.com</a> FMCG Guys Website: <a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'>http://FMCGguys.com</a> SheCOMMERCE Website: <a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'>https://shecommercepodcast.com/</a> Rhea Raj’s Website: <a href='http://rhearaj.com/'>http://rhearaj.com</a> Lara Raj in Katseye: <a href='https://www.katseye.world/'>https://www.katseye.world/</a>DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&nbsp;

<description>&lt;p&gt;The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by &lt;b&gt;Bob Nolan&lt;/b&gt;, SVP of Growth Science at &lt;b&gt;Conagra Brands&lt;/b&gt;. Conagra’s portfolio of iconic and emerging food brands continues to evolve to offer contemporary choices for every occasion. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow Bob on LinkedIn at: &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-nolan-938b726/'&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-nolan-938b726/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow Conagra Brands online at: &lt;a href='https://www.conagrabrands.com/'&gt;https://www.conagrabrands.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bob answers these questions:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;What was the &amp;quot;breaking point&amp;quot; where you realized that asking consumers what they wanted was actually leading the company toward failed launches?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;In the context of your CAGNY 2026 presentation, how do you define the &amp;quot;Validation Trap,&amp;quot; and why is it so dangerous for legacy CPG brands today?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;One of your biggest wins was identifying the &amp;quot;Bowl&amp;quot; trend (Healthy Choice Power Bowls) via behavioral data while the rest of the industry was still testing &amp;quot;Trays.&amp;quot; How would traditional validation have killed that multi-million dollar insight?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;If you’ve cut traditional testing to zero, how do you now &amp;quot;pre-flight&amp;quot; a major innovation like the Rebel Roots Tallow Sticks or the Dolly Parton line without the safety net of a focus group?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How does AI-driven &amp;quot;Demand Science&amp;quot; replace the human element of traditional market research? &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;At CAGNY, you spoke about demand science as a key growth driver. How does moving away from &amp;quot;validation&amp;quot; allow Conagra to be more &amp;quot;provocative&amp;quot; and take risks that traditional research would have deemed &amp;quot;too polarizing&amp;quot;?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You use data from Whole Foods and Sprouts to predict what will happen in Kroger and Walmart two years later. Is the &amp;quot;Natural Channel&amp;quot; your new version of a test market, and how does that data-flow work?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You’ve positioned Conagra as a beneficiary of GLP-1 drugs rather than a victim. How did behavioral science—rather than consumer surveys—help you realize that these users aren&amp;apos;t eating &lt;em&gt;less&lt;/em&gt; of everything, but are actually pivoting toward specific nutrient-dense frozen options?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Validation takes months; social trends move in days. How has the &amp;quot;Death of Validation&amp;quot; increased your speed-to-market? Can you give us an example of an &amp;quot;idea-to-shelf&amp;quot; timeline that would have been impossible under the old model?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;For the Brand Managers out there who are still terrified to launch a product without a &amp;quot;Green Score&amp;quot; from a testing agency, what is your message to them about the risk of &lt;em&gt;not&lt;/em&gt; evolving past validation?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;CPG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://cpgguys.com/'&gt;http://CPGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;FMCG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'&gt;http://FMCGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;SheCOMMERCE Website: &lt;a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'&gt;https://shecommercepodcast.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Rhea Raj’s Website: &lt;a href='http://rhearaj.com/'&gt;http://rhearaj.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Lara Raj in Katseye: &lt;a href='https://www.katseye.world/'&gt;https://www.katseye.world/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Bob Nolan, SVP of Growth Science at Conagra Brands. Conagra’s portfolio of iconic and emerging food brands continues to evolve to offer contemporary choices for every occasion.  Follow Bob on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-nolan-938b726/ Follow Conagra Brands online at: https://www.conagrabrands.com/ Bob answers these questions: What was the "breaking point" where you realized that asking consumers what they wanted was actually lea...

Avoiding the Validation Trap with Conagra Brands' Bob Nolan

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. This week’s topics:<ul><li>Walmart results</li><li>Target results</li><li>Grocery isn’t keeping up</li><li>Kroger growth opportunities</li></ul>CPG Guys Website: <a href='http://cpgguys.com/'>http://CPGguys.com</a> FMCG Guys Website: <a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'>http://FMCGguys.com</a> SheCOMMERCE Website: <a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'>https://shecommercepodcast.com/</a> Rhea Raj’s Website: <a href='http://rhearaj.com/'>http://rhearaj.com</a> Lara Raj in Katseye: <a href='https://www.katseye.world/'>https://www.katseye.world/</a>DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&nbsp;

<description>&lt;p&gt;Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This week’s topics:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Walmart results&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Target results&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Grocery isn’t keeping up&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Kroger growth opportunities&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;CPG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://cpgguys.com/'&gt;http://CPGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;FMCG Guys Website: &lt;a href='http://fmcgguys.com/'&gt;http://FMCGguys.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;SheCOMMERCE Website: &lt;a href='https://shecommercepodcast.com/'&gt;https://shecommercepodcast.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Rhea Raj’s Website: &lt;a href='http://rhearaj.com/'&gt;http://rhearaj.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Lara Raj in Katseye: &lt;a href='https://www.katseye.world/'&gt;https://www.katseye.world/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce.  This week’s topics: Walmart resultsTarget resultsGrocery isn’t keeping upKroger growth opportunitiesCPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/ Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/ DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informati...

Commerce Riff with Sri & PVSB - May 26, 2026

CPG &amp; FMCG eCommerce industry icon Sri Rajagopalan &amp; consumer loyalty guru Peter V.S. Bond explore how brands and retailers understand and engage with consumers in-store, online and everywhere in between. http://cpgguys.com&nbsp;

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