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The CPG Guys

Peter V.S. Bond & Sri Rajagopalan

CPG industry icon Sri Rajagopalan (Papa Raj) & consumer loyalty guru Peter V.S. Bond explore today’s consumer, brand management, retail media and the in store model. Today’s environment is transforming fast with technologies like Artificial Intelligence and a social media engaged consumer. Our guests are CMO, CCO, CEO, founders, Martech, Retail merchants, Retail media networks. Join the discussion, be part of the solution.  http://cpgguys.com 

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  • Today · 32 min

    Walmart's Mark Hardy - Scintilla, the Commerce Intelligence Platform

    The CPG Guys are joined in today's episode by Mark Hardy, SVP and head of Data Ventures at Walmart. Follow Mark on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-a-hardy/ Follow Walmart Data Ventures online at: https://www.walmartdataventures.com/ Mark answers these Questions: We’re back at Inspire for another year. For those who may not be familiar, Mark, what is Inspire — and what’s been different about the event this year? We were here last year, and one of the things that stuck with us was your introduction of the Scintilla Insights Model. Remind us what that is — and how are you thinking about that? Why was Scintilla such a game-changer in helping Kao introduce new life into their 125 year old Jergens brand. Yesterday, you laid out a much bigger vision for where Scintilla is headed — evolving from the insights platform you’ve built into what you’re calling a commerce intelligence platform. What does that mean? Let’s unpack that. Starting with “integrated” — suppliers already have access to an enormous amount of data. What still needs to be connected? You also shared some exciting new AI capabilities yesterday. It sounds like Scintilla is getting a lot smarter in how it helps suppliers make sense of all this information. What does that experience start to look like? Then you get to the third piece: actionable. If Scintilla can tell me what’s happening and help me understand why, how do you get me closer to actually doing something about it? And one of the places where that becomes very tangible is Scintilla In-Store. What changes when you bring this intelligence all the way onto the sales floor? Two years ago the story was "how did I do," last year it was "what should I do." If that arc continues, what' does this look like in 2027? CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E624
    Wednesday · 42 min

    Sarp Tuncay - Moving from Operators to Orchestrators of AI in Retail Media

    The CPG Guys are joined in today's episode by Sarp Tuncay, a retail media and e-commerce strategy leader in the CPG/Retail industry. Follow Sarp on LinekdIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarptuncay/ Sarp answers these Questions: You open with a bedtime story about your son Kai — and it perfectly frames the human-AI collaboration dynamic. How did that moment crystallize your thinking about what’s actually changing in retail media? You say the central risk isn’t job loss, it’s that work becomes less important as platforms automate. That’s a more unsettling thesis than “your job disappears.” How are practitioners actually reacting when you frame it that way? You describe AI as already embedded in bidding, budget pacing, targeting, and reporting — not a future state. Which retail media network do you think has gone furthest in automating execution, and what does that mean for the practitioners using it? If automation creates an “illusion of control” — your phrase — what does that actually look like on the ground for a brand team that thinks they’re managing a campaign? You draw a sharp line between Operator and Orchestrator. What’s the hardest part of that identity shift for practitioners who built their career on execution excellence? You argue AI optimizes locally while humans must optimize globally across retailers and business goals. Can you give us a real-world scenario where that distinction made or broke a brand’s retail media outcome? Your framework identifies two practitioner paths — platform specialist versus growth partner. Are brands and agencies hiring and promoting differently based on that split yet? You say success metrics need to shift from ROI charts to business impact — growth, penetration, profitability. Who in the organization needs to change first: the practitioner, their manager, or the client? “The real risk is irrelevance” — being seen as a reporter rather than a decision support partner. How do you help someone audit whether they’ve already drifted into that reporter role without realizing it? You recommend mastering margin calculations, supply constraints, and leadership’s definition of incrementality. How much of that business fluency exists today across the retail media practitioner community, honestly? We’re headed into Cannes Lions, where AI and commerce are dominating the agenda. What’s the conversation you most want to have there that you think isn’t happening loudly enough yet? You close with “Let AI write the draft. You own the story.” How would you advise a brand to apply this philosophy? CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E622
    September 19 · 42 min

    Ace Hardware's Kim Lefko & Molly Hjelm - RedVest Media 2027 Upfront

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Kim Lefko, Chief Marketing Officer and Molly Hjelm, Corportae Vice President of Retail Media at Ace Hardware, a co-operative of 5,300+ hardware stores. This episode was recorded at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, during Ace Hardware’s RedVest Media 2027 Upfront. Follow Kim Lefko on linkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimlefko/ Follow Molly Hjlem on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollyhjelm/ Follow RedVest media on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/redvest-media/ Follow RedVest Media online at: https://www.redvestmedia.com/ Kim & Molly answer these questions: We are recording at Wrigley Field following RedVest Media’s inaugural Upfront. What does this moment represent for Ace and for the brands that grow with you? We talked to you a year ago around this time, as you were preparing to launch RedVest Media. Why did it feel important to host this event? What were you looking to accomplish? You built a career on the brand side prior to Ace, and you've been at Ace for nearly a decade now. What has stood out to you in this first year? Did anything surprise you about how the organization and vendor community responded? To the extent that an event like today is designed to celebrate partnerships, news and progress, We'd love to know: How do you separate a meaningful opportunity from retail media noise? Okay now let's get down to it and talk about today's announcements! RedVest already had a full funnel portfolio and now you've announced a broad set of new capabilities this morning. Give us the lay of the land on what you announced. Put yourself in the shoes of the audience: everyone here will need to go back and share back these updates with their organization. If you were a CMO at a vendor, which of these announcements will resonate most? Let's start with measurement. Molly you are passionate about measurement and have data as an undercurrent in your career. How are vendors and merchants responding to performance so far and what will these enhancements do for the dialogue? As the person responsible for how customers perceive and engage with the Ace brands; What differentiates the Ace customer from other customers? Give us your perspective on purchase based audiences. Why an audience library now and how does that differ from the way you've targeted to date? Tell us a little about why these felt important to launch to your vendors in Y1 What is the role of social within the context of Ace's marketing strategy? Talk about the value of DoorDash to Ace Talk about what you've announced and why it matters If we are back at Wrigley Field one year from now, what would make each of you most proud? CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E621
    September 16 · 37 min

    Spotify's Sam Bevan - Performance Marketing Through Cultural Connections

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Sam Bevan, Global Director, Mid-Market, SMB & Global Expansion at Spotify, the most popular global audio streaming service with 365m users, including 165m subscribers across 178 markets. Follow Sam on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelbevan/ Follow Spotify Ads online at: https://ads.spotify.com/ You’ve built SMB and mid-market advertising businesses at Google, Facebook, and Snap before landing at Spotify. What drew you to audio as the next frontier — and why now? Your current remit spans emerging and scaled business, mid-market, SMB, customer success, and market expansion globally. That’s a massive scope. How do you think about prioritization when everything is simultaneously “on”? CPG brands have historically been heavy TV and display spenders. What’s the honest conversation you have with a CMO who still sees audio as a “nice to have” rather than a core channel? Spotify has stated that audio ads on the platform are two times more effective than display ads for both purchase intent and information intent. How does that data land with CPG performance marketers who are laser-focused on ROAS and attribution? Retail media has exploded as a category because of purchase-signal data. Spotify sits outside the transactional data loop — how do you make the case that listening behavior is a proxy for buying behavior? We talk a lot on this show about the “commerce moment” — the point where brand intent converts to purchase. How is Spotify thinking about bridging the gap between audio impression and point of sale? You joined Spotify from Snapchat, where you led SMB sales, having also held SMB-focused roles at Facebook and Google. What’s the universal truth about selling advertising to scaled and emerging businesses — regardless of platform? You described 2025 as a “breakout year” for Spotify’s emerging and scaled business, driven by rapid adoption of Ads Manager and Ad Exchange. For CPG brands that haven’t yet leaned in — what are they leaving on the table? Agentic AI and programmatic buying are reshaping how media gets planned and purchased. What does Spotify’s ad exchange strategy look like in a world where AI agents may soon be making the media buys? We’re here at Cannes Lions, the festival of creativity. Spotify sits at the intersection of culture, creativity, and commerce. How do you think about Spotify’s role in helping CPG brands show up more culturally — not just commercially? What’s one thing CPG brand teams consistently get wrong when they approach audio creative — and how should they fix it? Final question: if you could wave a wand and change one thing about how the advertising industry thinks about audio and Spotify specifically, what would it be? CPG 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 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.

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  • S2 · E49
    September 15 · 12 min

    Commerce Riff with Sri & PVSB - September 15, 2026

    Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. This week’s topics: Albertsons names Meg Whitman Executive Chair Publicist wins global PepsiCo account Kroger customer sales outlook Amazon partners with Chat GPT CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E620
    September 12 · 41 min

    Hershey's Jessica DuQuesne & Flywheel's Allyson Gill - Building a Winning Global Omnichannel "Scream for Reese's" Campaign

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Jessica DuQuesne, Global Brand Marketing & Strategy Lead at The Hershey Company and Allyson Gill, Managing Director at Flywheel, the commerce accelerator division of Omnicom. Follow Jessica on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-duquesne-exec/ Follow the Hershey Company online at: https://www.thehersheycompany.com/ Follow Alyson on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyson-holland-gill-55194a2/ Follow Flywheel online at: https://flywheeldigital.com Jessica & Allyson answer these questions: 1. The "Scream for REESE'S" campaign was described as Hershey's first partnership of this kind. What was the internal case you had to make to greenlight something so unprecedented — pairing a candy brand with an R-rated horror franchise — and how did you overcome skeptics? 2. The explicit goal was to establish REESE'S as the quintessential Halloween treat in five key international markets where U.S.-style Halloween culture is still emerging. How do you localize a Halloween campaign for markets where the holiday doesn't have the same roots, and what did success look like differently country to country? 3. The Effie-winning "Be So Eggstra" Easter campaign at Walmart was all about converting shopper interest into action. How does the consumer psychology of Halloween differ from Easter when you're building a commerce strategy — and did those Easter learnings inform how you approached the Scream activation at retail? 4. From Flywheel's vantage point sitting across dozens of CPG clients, how rare is it to see a brand successfully stitch together an entertainment IP partnership, international expansion, and seasonal retail activation all in one campaign? What made Hershey's execution stand out? 5. The campaign delivered "compelling seasonal concepts and highlighted opportunities to prioritize REESE'S product placement" at retail. How do you actually influence product placement in international markets where Hershey's retail relationships are far less established than in the U.S.? What's the commerce infrastructure playbook for markets like Mexico or Puerto Rico? 6. Seasonal confectionery is one of the most contested shelves in retail — every brand is fighting for the same holiday display real estate. From a commerce strategy standpoint, how should CPG brands think about the interplay between in-store placement, digital shelf, and social to amplify a limited-time partnership activation like this one? 7. In the UK, the campaign gave consumers a chance to win exclusive tickets to a private screening of Scream 7 through in-store promotional materials. Sweepstakes and experiential prizes are classic shopper mechanics — but how do you measure their commerce impact beyond entries? What are the right KPIs for a promotion like this? 8. Scream is a franchise with a specific fan base — older, horror-savvy, nostalgic. REESE'S skews much broader. How did you make sure the partnership reached the casual Halloween consumer and not just the Ghostface superfan? Where was the creative tension in that balancing act? 9. We're seeing more CPG brands pursue entertainment IP licensing — from candy to beverages to snacks. Is this a durable strategic playbook, or a moment in time? And what separates a partnership that genuinely builds brand equity from one that's just a short-term sales bump with a logo slap? 10. Agentic commerce and AI-driven shopping are beginning to reshape how consumers discover and buy seasonal products. If an AI agent is doing a consumer's Halloween shopping — choosing between REESE'S and a competitor — what does a brand need to have in place to win that moment? Does a Scream partnership even register? 11. Seasonal is the highest-stakes, most compressed window in CPG. The entire campaign has to land in 6-8 weeks. How is the rise of AI-powered media planning and retail media networks changing how you resource, pace, and measure a seasonal program like this one? 12. You've described this campaign as "just the beginning" and a template for future collaborations that deepen brand relevance and seasonal impact. What's the evolution of this playbook — and as Scream 7 actually hits theaters in February 2026, how does Hershey sustain the cultural connection beyond the Halloween window? CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E619
    September 11 · 55 min

    The Digital Shelf Institute’s Lauren Livak Gilbert - Impact of AI in Winning On The Digital Shelf

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Lauren Livak Gilbert, Executive Director of the Digital Shelf Institute, part of Salsify. Follow Lauren on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenlivak/ Follow the Digital Shelf Institute online at: https://www.digitalshelfinstitute.org/ Listen to "Unpacking the Digital Shelf" podcast on Apple at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unpacking-the-digital-shelf/id1483944522 Listen to "Unpacking the Digital Shelf" podcast on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qme24wjJjUnqrztQyMkUE?si=b6a0a46a58774fd7 Learn about the Digital Shelf Summit here: https://www.digitalshelfsummit.com/ Lauren answers these questions: How is generative AI changing the way shoppers actually discover and evaluate products online — and is “search” even the right word anymore? With AI-powered shopping assistants and chat-based commerce emerging, how should brands rethink product content that's optimized for an AI intermediary rather than a human scrolling a page? What does “digital shelf readiness” mean in an AI-driven world compared to five years ago? Are retailers' own AI tools (like retail media search and generative product Q&A) creating new data or visibility gaps that brands need to manage? How is AI changing the economics and workflow of content creation — copy, imagery, A+ content — at scale across thousands of SKUs? What early use cases of AI in digital shelf analytics have actually moved the needle on sales or share, versus ones that are still more hype than results? How should brand and eCommerce teams be restructuring roles or skill sets as AI takes over more manual digital shelf tasks? What are the biggest risks — misinformation, hallucinated product claims, brand voice drift — as AI generates more customer-facing content, and how are brands guarding against them? How is AI reshaping competitive intelligence and price/promotion monitoring on the digital shelf? Where do you see agentic AI — bots that shop, compare, and even purchase on a consumer's behalf — heading, and how prepared is the CPG industry for that shift? What's a common mistake you see brands make when they adopt AI tools for digital shelf management too quickly or without a strategy? Looking two to three years out, what's the single biggest way AI will change how brands compete for shelf space and share of search? CPG 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 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.

    • Transcript
  • September 9 · 23 min

    The Digital Shelf Institute’s Lauren Livak Gilbert - Impact of AI in Winning On The Digital Shelf

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Lauren Livak Gilbert, Executive Director of the Digital Shelf Institute, part of Salsify. Follow Lauren on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenlivak/ Follow the Digital Shelf Institute online at: https://www.digitalshelfinstitute.org/ Listen to "Unpacking the Digital Shelf" podcast on Apple at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unpacking-the-digital-shelf/id1483944522 Listen to "Unpacking the Digital Shelf" podcast on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Qme24wjJjUnqrztQyMkUE?si=b6a0a46a58774fd7 Learn about the Digital Shelf Summit here: https://www.digitalshelfsummit.com/ Lauren answers these questions: How is generative AI changing the way shoppers actually discover and evaluate products online — and is “search” even the right word anymore? With AI-powered shopping assistants and chat-based commerce emerging, how should brands rethink product content that's optimized for an AI intermediary rather than a human scrolling a page? What does “digital shelf readiness” mean in an AI-driven world compared to five years ago? Are retailers' own AI tools (like retail media search and generative product Q&A) creating new data or visibility gaps that brands need to manage? How is AI changing the economics and workflow of content creation — copy, imagery, A+ content — at scale across thousands of SKUs? What early use cases of AI in digital shelf analytics have actually moved the needle on sales or share, versus ones that are still more hype than results? How should brand and eCommerce teams be restructuring roles or skill sets as AI takes over more manual digital shelf tasks? What are the biggest risks — misinformation, hallucinated product claims, brand voice drift — as AI generates more customer-facing content, and how are brands guarding against them? How is AI reshaping competitive intelligence and price/promotion monitoring on the digital shelf? Where do you see agentic AI — bots that shop, compare, and even purchase on a consumer's behalf — heading, and how prepared is the CPG industry for that shift? What's a common mistake you see brands make when they adopt AI tools for digital shelf management too quickly or without a strategy? Looking two to three years out, what's the single biggest way AI will change how brands compete for shelf space and share of search? CPG 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 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.

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E48
    September 8 · 8 min

    Commerce Riff with Sri & PVSB - September 8, 2026

    Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. This week’s topics: Campbell's swings to a loss, cuts 13% of its salaried workforce PepsiCo hands its global media business to Publicis Barilla adds mac-and-cheese disruptor Goodles Walmart adds Dunkin' to its restaurant delivery lineup CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E618
    September 5 · 55 min

    Cornell University’s Dan Hooker - Omnicommerce Leadership

    The CPG Guys are joined by Dan Hooker, Executive Director of the Food Industry Management Program at Cornell University’s S C Johnson College of Business along with eight participants from the 2026 Omnicommerce Leadership Executive Education Certificate Program. Learn about the 2027 Cornell Omnicommerce Leadership Program here: https://ecornell.cornell.edu/certificates/financial-management/omnicommerce-leadership/ Follow Dan Hooker on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hookerdaniel/ Follow Pacvue’s Luke Batestri on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-balestri-b5085127/ Follow Kevel’s Joe McCorkle on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmccorkle/ Follow Iterate.ai’s Brian Sathianathan on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansathianathan/ Follow Shipt’s Kristy LaMontagna on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-lamontagna-b5646912/ Follow DoorDash’s Katie Daleo on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiedougherty/ Follow Fetch’s Jag Wadhwani on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagdeepwadhwani/ Follow SheCommerce’s Cristina Marinucci on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinamarinucci/ Follow Instacart’s Priyash Shahane on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyashs/ CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E47
    September 1 · 12 min

    Commerce Riff with Sri & PVSB - September 1, 2026

    Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. This week’s topics: Dollar General & Dollar Tree ride the value wave Levanta raises $22 million to build out creator commerce Walmart extends Scintilla to Sam's Club Ace Hardware's RedVest Media goes big at its first Upfront CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E617
    August 26 · 43 min

    RBC Capital Markets’ Nik Modi - Modi’s Musings: Themes That Will Define the CPG Industry

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by returning guest Nik Modi, Co-Head of Global Consumer & Retail Research at RBC Capital Markets for Nik’s recent release . Follow Nik Modi on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nik-modi-675926/ Follow RBC Capital Markets on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rbc-capital-markets/ Follow RBC Capital online at: https://www.rbccm.com/en/= Nik discusses these themes from his recent release of Modi’s Musings: Cultural Relevance > Brand Equity Crisis Capitalism is Here K-Shaped Economy is Structural Synthetic Shoppers Occasion vs. Category Longevity-as-a-Service (LaaS): Revenue Whitespace Shifting Superpowers Influencing Consumer Trends and Business Models Global vs. Local Real as the New Premium New Revenue Streams / Business Models CPG 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 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.

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  • S2 · E46
    August 25 · 15 min

    Commerce Riff with Sri & PVSB - August 25, 2026

    Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. This week’s topics: Walmart & Target earnings Price Reference Resets Cyclospora Won't Go Away Home Depot Enters Delivery Race CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E616
    August 22 · 42 min

    Instacart’s Adam Silverblatt & Media Ads & Commerce’s Andrew Lipsman - Live from Cannes Lions 2026

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Adam Silverblatt, Head of Off-Platform Ad Sales & Strategy at Instacart and Andrew Lipsman, Independent Anlayst at Media, Ads & Commerce. This episode was recorded in Cannes France at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Follow Adam on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-silverblatt-3741362 Follow Instacart Ads online at: https://company.instacart.com/ads Follow Andrew on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-lipsman-10b2162 Adam & Andrew answer these questions: In this era of Retail Media 3.0, how is the network escaping the walled garden, and what is the strategic importance of retail media transitioning into a full-funnel, omnichannel commerce engine? For emerging and legacy brands listening, how does off-platform retail media structurally change the programmatic playbook? How does targeting a "logged-in" active Instacart shopper compare to buying legacy programmatic audiences? Why are brands so frustrated with traditional attribution reporting right now, and how does verifying incremental outcomes protect a brand from double-paying for the same shoppers? Can you walk us through the recent McCormick case study, where leveraging off-platform programmatic targeting managed to cut CPMs by 25% with only a 7% audience overlap? What is the structural lesson there? How must RMNs adjust their data infrastructures to ensure their product catalogs are preferred and trusted by an autonomous AI agent? Are we finally at an inflection point where streaming and commerce are genuinely converging, and have you seen any brand executions recently that made it feel real? What makes grocery purchase data uniquely valuable off-platform, and are there campaign results that have surprised you with how well it translated? If you could issue a single "reality check" to a CPG Chief Media Officer or Head of Sales who wants to maximize the return on their data and media investments over the next 12 to 24 months, what is the single biggest blind spot they need to fix this quarter? CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E615
    August 20 · 47 min

    The Insights Association’s Anita Watkins on the Benefits and Risks of AI in Insights Development

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Anita Watkins, CEO of the Insights Association which empowers more than 30,000 data and insights professionals. Its collective voice fuels growth, strengthens advocacy, and advances careers. Guided by ethics and truth, we bring understanding to an uncertain world. Follow Anita on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-watkins-8b33224 Follow the Insights Association online at: https://www.insightsassociation.org/ Anita answers these questions: You spent two decades at Kantar, most recently as Chief Solutions Leader for Creative, Innovation, and Qualitative — and now you’re leading a trade association. What drew you to the Insights Association at this particular moment in the industry’s evolution? The IA represents over 30,000 data and insights professionals. In your first months as CEO, what surprised you most about stepping into an advocacy and membership role versus a commercial one? CPG companies are under enormous pressure — tariffs, private label competition, shrinking research budgets. How is the insights function holding up, and where do you see it either gaining or losing strategic influence in the C-suite? The IA just held its Ignite: CPG event in Cincinnati. What were the dominant themes that emerged, and what does that tell us about what CPG insights leaders are most anxious about right now? You have a webinar series literally titled “Simulating Humans” — that’s a provocative framing. How should CPG brands think about AI-generated synthetic respondents vs. real consumer research, and where does the IA draw the line on standards? AI is both a threat and an opportunity for the insights profession. In your view, what’s the single biggest risk AI poses to the integrity of consumer data — and what is the IA doing about it? The IA has been driving the Global Data Quality Excellence Pledge and launching new resources around procurement and incentive guidelines. For CPG brands buying research, what should they actually be demanding from their vendors right now that most of them aren’t? Survey fraud and data integrity issues have become a serious industry problem. How bad is it, and what levers does the IA have to enforce quality standards across the ecosystem? The IA is actively tracking state-by-state privacy legislation, GDPR, and now the proposed SECURE Data Act. How does a fragmented U.S. privacy landscape create operational headaches for CPG brands doing consumer research at scale? The IA recently raised concerns about how the Department of Labor classifies research respondents. That’s a sleeper issue with real cost implications — can you walk our listeners through what’s at stake? Anita, you’ve been recognized for developing the next generation of insights leaders throughout your career. With burnout high among market researchers and AI changing the job description rapidly, what would you tell a young person today about why this profession is still worth pursuing? You said upon your appointment: “I’ve spent my career believing in the power of insights to drive better decisions and better outcomes.” For CPG brands that are deprioritizing primary research in favor of data lakes and retail media signals — what’s the cost of that trade-off that they might not be seeing? CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E615
    August 19 · 34 min

    The Insights Association’s Anita Watkins on the Benefits and Risks of AI in Insights Development

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Anita Watkins, CEO of the Insights Association which empowers more than 30,000 data and insights professionals. Its collective voice fuels growth, strengthens advocacy, and advances careers. Guided by ethics and truth, we bring understanding to an uncertain world. Follow Anita on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-watkins-8b33224 Follow the Insights Association online at: https://www.insightsassociation.org/ Anita answers these questions: You spent two decades at Kantar, most recently as Chief Solutions Leader for Creative, Innovation, and Qualitative — and now you’re leading a trade association. What drew you to the Insights Association at this particular moment in the industry’s evolution? The IA represents over 30,000 data and insights professionals. In your first months as CEO, what surprised you most about stepping into an advocacy and membership role versus a commercial one? CPG companies are under enormous pressure — tariffs, private label competition, shrinking research budgets. How is the insights function holding up, and where do you see it either gaining or losing strategic influence in the C-suite? The IA just held its Ignite: CPG event in Cincinnati. What were the dominant themes that emerged, and what does that tell us about what CPG insights leaders are most anxious about right now? You have a webinar series literally titled “Simulating Humans” — that’s a provocative framing. How should CPG brands think about AI-generated synthetic respondents vs. real consumer research, and where does the IA draw the line on standards? AI is both a threat and an opportunity for the insights profession. In your view, what’s the single biggest risk AI poses to the integrity of consumer data — and what is the IA doing about it? The IA has been driving the Global Data Quality Excellence Pledge and launching new resources around procurement and incentive guidelines. For CPG brands buying research, what should they actually be demanding from their vendors right now that most of them aren’t? Survey fraud and data integrity issues have become a serious industry problem. How bad is it, and what levers does the IA have to enforce quality standards across the ecosystem? The IA is actively tracking state-by-state privacy legislation, GDPR, and now the proposed SECURE Data Act. How does a fragmented U.S. privacy landscape create operational headaches for CPG brands doing consumer research at scale? The IA recently raised concerns about how the Department of Labor classifies research respondents. That’s a sleeper issue with real cost implications — can you walk our listeners through what’s at stake? Anita, you’ve been recognized for developing the next generation of insights leaders throughout your career. With burnout high among market researchers and AI changing the job description rapidly, what would you tell a young person today about why this profession is still worth pursuing? You said upon your appointment: “I’ve spent my career believing in the power of insights to drive better decisions and better outcomes.” For CPG brands that are deprioritizing primary research in favor of data lakes and retail media signals — what’s the cost of that trade-off that they might not be seeing? CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E614
    August 15 · 46 min

    Flywheel's Phil Camarota - Running a Jury at Cannes Lions

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Phil Camarota, Chief Creative Officer at Flywheel, the commerce acceleration division of Omnicom. Follow Phil on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-camarota Follow Flywheel online at: http://www.flywheeldigital.com Phil answers these questions: 1. Walk us through what it actually means to be Jury President — how much of it is scoring work versus managing a room of strong personalities with different creative instincts? 2. Before you even got to Cannes, what did the prep work look like — building a "shared language" or judging framework with your jurors before deliberations began? 3. Creative Commerce is a relatively young category compared to Film or Print — did that shape how you approached defining what "great" looks like this year? 4. You've talked about expecting "AI tension" going into this year's judging — where did that show up in the room, and how did the jury navigate it? 5. With jurors from Singapore to South America to Europe, how do you reconcile genuinely different regional definitions of great commerce creativity into one Grand Prix? 6. Were there moments where you, personally, had a strong point of view on a piece of work but had to hold back because — as you put it — you're "not the arbiter of taste"? 7. Commerce creativity spans everything from in-store experience to retail media to end-to-end digital journeys — how do you judge fairly across such different formats and channels? 8. You're Global CCO at Flywheel, one of the biggest players in commerce creativity — how did you handle the optics and reality of judging a category so close to your day job? 9. Were there conflict-of-interest guardrails Cannes puts in place for Jury Presidents whose own agencies or clients might have submitted work? 10. Did anything from your Flywheel vantage point — pattern-spotting across retailers and brands — sharpen or distort your lens as a judge? 11. What did last year's Grand Prix winner, VML's "Preserved Promos" for Ziploc, teach you about what separates good commerce work from truly great work — and did that shape your criteria this year? 12. Now that it's behind you, what's one thing about the jury process that surprised you, and what would you tell next year's Creative Commerce Jury President to expect? CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E613
    August 12 · 38 min

    Opella's Philip Durocher & CMX's Kristen DiCorleto: How Brands are Showing Up In-Store

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Philip Durocher, CMO of Opella, maker of iconic OTC health products include Xyzol, Allegra, Dulcolax & IcyHot and Kristen DiCorleto Head of Marketing for CVS Media Exchange (CMX) the Retail Media Division of CVS Health. This episode was recorded in Cannes France at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. This episode is sponsored by CMX. Follow Philip on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-durocher/ Follow Opella online at: http://opella.com Follow Kristen on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-dicorleto/ Follow CMX online at: https://www.cvsmediaexchange.com/ CPG 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 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.

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  • S2 · E45
    August 11 · 14 min

    Commerce Riff with Sri & PVSB - August 11, 2026

    Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce. This week’s topics: Tariff Refunds for e.l.f. Beauty Has Amazon cracked the grocery code? Kraft Heinz investing in marketing Safeway joins the AI race CPG 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 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.

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  • S1 · E612
    August 8 · 37 min

    Newell Brands' CMO Nick Hammitt - Live from Cannes Lions 2026

    The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Nick Hannity, CMO at Newell Brands, a major American global consumer and commercial products conglomerate. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company manufactures, markets, and distributes over 50 well-known brands across three core segments: Home & Commercial Solutions, Learning & Development, and Outdoor & Recreation. This episode was recorded in France at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Follow Nick Hammitt on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-hammitt-2491a1/ Follow Newell Brands online at: https://www.newellbrands.com/ Nick answers these questions: Chris told us at CAGNY and then again on the podcast that Newell's digital content output increased 500% in 2025 with the same headcount. As CMO, walk us through what that transformation actually felt like inside the marketing organization — was it exhilarating, terrifying, or both? We're sitting here at Cannes Lions, the global festival of creativity. There's a real tension in our industry right now between AI-generated content at scale and genuinely breakthrough creative work. How does Newell think about that balance — and does AI make your creative better or just faster? Chris described Newell's "Inogen" platform — digital AI personas built on consumer segments that function as always-on focus groups. As CMO, how are you actually using those in briefing and campaign development, and how much do you trust them versus traditional research? Chris was incredibly sharp on the shift from SEO to GEO — optimizing content for LLMs rather than search engines. What does that mean practically for how your brand and content teams are now being briefed and structured? Given the scale of what Newell is building internally on AI, how has your relationship with your agency partners evolved? Are they keeping pace with where you are internally, or are you finding yourself ahead of them? Chris mentioned that retailers are actually coming to Newell and asking to be taught what you're doing with AI. That's a remarkable reversal of the traditional power dynamic. How are you as CMO leveraging that credibility in your joint business planning conversations? You're here at Cannes Lions surrounded by the best creative and marketing minds in the world. It’s your first time here. What are you here to learn or solve? And what's the one conversation you're hoping to have this week that you can't have anywhere else? Chris talked about younger employees being hungry for AI training and threatening to leave if they don't get it. From a marketing talent perspective, what does the ideal marketer at Newell look like today versus three years ago, and how are you recruiting and developing for that? If the Chris Peterson episode was the enterprise AI masterclass, what's the one chapter you'd add that he didn't cover — the CMO's perspective that doesn't necessarily get told when the CEO is in the room? CPG 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 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.

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