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Every episode
Omni Talk Retail
30 episodes
Retail Daily Minute | Amazon Fights NYC's Delivery Bill, Walmart Tests Symbotic Automation & Primark Debuts at Mall of America
Aug 16, 2026 · 5 min
Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: A New York City bill backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani would force Amazon to directly employ thousands of contract delivery couriers, threatening its low-cost delivery model. Walmart begins installing Symbotic's first SymMicro fulfillment system inside a live store, advancing its back-of-store automation push. Primark opens its 46th U.S. store…
Lightning Round: Tequila, Sharks, Hair Transplants & The Best Fast Food Fries | Fast Five Shorts
Aug 1, 2026 · 5 min
Chris Walton puts Josh Hahn in the Fast Five lightning round, covering everything from National Tequila Day and Shark Week to John Cena's hair transplants, America's best fast-food fries, and plenty more retail-free fun. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/_GsTHL9DBYA This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Can Albertsons' Massive Reorganization Save the Business? | Fast Five Shorts
Aug 1, 2026 · 8 min
Albertsons is restructuring its business through its new ACI Edge initiative while lowering its financial outlook for the year. Chris Walton and Josh Hahn discuss whether centralizing merchandising and operations is the right move, why regional grocers face mounting competitive pressure, and what Albertsons must do to remain relevant in today's grocery landscape. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/_GsTHL9DBYA This podcast uses the following third-party services for analys…
Is Hy-Vee's 30-Minute Delivery Too Late? | Fast Five Shorts
Aug 1, 2026 · 5 min
Hy-Vee has rolled out 30-minute pickup and delivery across all of its stores with its new "Get It Faster" service. Chris Walton and Josh Hahn debate whether ultra-fast grocery fulfillment is still a competitive advantage or simply the new baseline as Walmart, Amazon, and other retailers continue raising customer expectations. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/_GsTHL9DBYA This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/priv…
Grocery Sales Keep Falling... Is This Just the Beginning? | Fast Five Shorts
Aug 1, 2026 · 7 min
U.S. grocery unit sales declined for the fifth consecutive month, raising new questions about the long-term health of the grocery industry. Chris Walton and Josh Hahn discuss what's driving the slowdown, from inflation and SNAP changes to GLP-1 medications, online grocery, and shifting consumer shopping habits. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/_GsTHL9DBYA This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Can David's Bridal Make Outlet Shopping Feel Luxury? | Fast Five Shorts
Aug 1, 2026 · 5 min
David's Bridal has launched a new outlet shop-in-shop concept, combining discounted dresses with its traditional bridal shopping experience. Chris Walton and Josh Hahn debate whether luxury and value can successfully coexist under one roof, why bridal retail is different from traditional apparel, and how thoughtful merchandising could make this concept a winner. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/_GsTHL9DBYA This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysi…
Should Retailers Turn Employees Into Influencers? Gap Thinks So | Fast Five Shorts
Aug 1, 2026 · 5 min
Gap Inc. is expanding its creator affiliate program to employees across Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta, allowing staff to earn commissions by becoming brand influencers. Chris Walton and Josh Hahn discuss why employees may be a brand's most authentic creators, how retailers can scale employee-generated content, and whether this could become the future of retail marketing. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/_GsTHL9DBYA This podcast uses the following third-par…
Retail Daily Minute | Ahold Delhaize Links Recipes to Cart, Kroger Debuts AI Shopping Assistant & Macy's Iconic Bag Sign Comes Down
Jul 30, 2026 · 5 min
Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: Ahold Delhaize USA partners with Pear Commerce to connect shoppable recipes and product discovery directly to online carts across Food Lion, GIANT, Giant Food, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop. Kroger rolls out a new AI Shopping Assistant across its banners, letting shoppers plan meals, build carts by budget and diet, and turn a photo or URL into…
Gap Turns Employees Into Influencers, Grocery Keeps Sinking & Albertsons Breeds Canaries | Fast Five
Jul 29, 2026 · 48 min
In this week's OmniTalk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Quorso, Veloq, and R&S Logistics, Chris Walton was joined by Josh Hahn, Director of Growth at J Recruiting Services and former retail executive at Meijer and Sports Authority, to discuss: • Gap Inc.'s decision to pay its own employees to become brand influencers, and whether retailers should empower their merchants and store associates to become the authentic faces of their brands. (…
Retail Daily Minute | US Probes Chinese Factories in Vietnam, Instacart's Caper Trolleys Land in the UK & TikTok Tests a Prime-Style Membership
Jul 29, 2026 · 5 min
Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: US Customs officials conduct spot inspections on China-linked factories in Vietnam, stoking fears of a wider tariff crackdown. Instacart brings its AI-powered Caper smart trolleys to the UK for the first time, launching with Morrisons in Preston. TikTok reportedly tests TikTok Shop Plus, an Amazon Prime-style membership program with free shi…
Retail Daily Minute | Rolex's Certified Pre-Owned Push, Gap Revives Its '90s Fragrances & Cos Expands Its U.S. Footprint
Jul 28, 2026 · 6 min
Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: Rolex's Certified Pre-Owned channel now accounts for roughly 10% of secondhand Rolex sales, with revenue up 67% year over year last quarter. Gap relaunches four of its 1990s fragrances plus a new fifth scent, betting beauty can become a durable, high-margin category. Cos, H&M Group's minimalist brand, signs new mall leases and a Nordstrom ma…
Retail Daily Minute | Albertsons Overhauls Operations, Walgreens Opens Robotic Pharmacy Hub & Gap Inc. Turns Employees Into Creators
Jul 27, 2026 · 6 min
Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: Albertsons launches ACI Edge, consolidating 11 divisions into 4 regions and centralizing merchandising as it cuts its full-year sales guidance. Walgreens opens a new robotic micro-fulfillment center in Kent, Washington, its 14th nationwide, expected to process 7 million prescriptions a year. Gap Inc. expands its creator affiliate program to…
Lightning Round: Messi, Ice Cream, Marvel & Aliens?! | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 25, 2026 · 4 min
This week's Fast Five Lightning Round covers everything from Lionel Messi's World Cup legacy and National Ice Cream Day to the Avengers: Doomsday trailer and unexpected alien encounters. Chris Walton puts Alex Brakebill and Brandon Pezely on the hot seat for another round of rapid-fire questions, unexpected opinions, and plenty of laughs. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/Jb1AcsK9Ri0 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://pod…
Is Wonder Really Worth a $9 Billion Valuation? | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 25, 2026 · 7 min
Marc Lore says Wonder is preparing to go public after raising $650 million at a $9 billion valuation, despite years of projected losses ahead. Chris Walton is joined by Alex Brakebill and Brandon Pezely to debate whether Wonder's food hall model can justify its valuation or if investors are buying into another overhyped growth story. They discuss restaurant technology, profitability, food delivery, and what it really takes to scale a food business. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https…
Can Kroger's New Wine Shops Actually Scale? | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 25, 2026 · 6 min
Kroger is introducing premium in-store Wine Shops featuring more than 130 curated wines, tasting bars, and trained wine stewards at select locations. Chris Walton is joined by Alex Brakebill and Brandon Pezely to debate whether this concept can meaningfully differentiate Kroger or if it will remain a niche pilot. They discuss grocery strategy, customer experience, localization, and why retailers should constantly be testing new ideas. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/Jb…
The EU Just Banned Destroying Unsold Clothing | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 25, 2026 · 5 min
The European Union has officially banned large fashion companies from destroying unsold clothing, accessories, and footwear, requiring brands to resell, donate, repair, or recycle excess inventory instead. Chris Walton is joined by Alex Brakebill and Brandon Pezely to discuss whether the legislation will genuinely change fashion retail or simply encourage companies to find new loopholes. They also explore what the regulation could mean for inventory management and sustainability worldwide. ▶️ Wa…
Is OpenAI's AI Companion The Next iPhone or Just Hype? | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 25, 2026 · 5 min
OpenAI is reportedly developing its first hardware device: a screenless, movable AI companion built with Jony Ive's LoveFrom and powered by GPT Live. Chris Walton is joined by Alex Brakebill and Brandon Pezely to debate whether this represents the next major consumer technology breakthrough or another AI gadget searching for a problem to solve. They discuss voice AI, hardware innovation, and whether OpenAI should focus on better AI instead of new devices. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here…
DoorDash's Shopify Integration Could Change Local Commerce | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 25, 2026 · 5 min
DoorDash has launched a native Shopify integration that allows any Shopify merchant with a physical U.S. store to instantly list products on the DoorDash marketplace without separate onboarding or manual catalog uploads. Chris Walton is joined by Alex Brakebill and Brandon Pezely to debate whether this is a major step toward the future of local commerce or simply another marketplace integration. They discuss customer ownership, delivery logistics, and why DoorDash may be positioning itself as th…
Retail Daily Minute | Jersey Mike's Targets $7.94B IPO, Hy-Vee Rolls Out 30-Minute Delivery & BNPL Grocery Use Keeps Climbing
Jul 23, 2026 · 6 min
Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: Jersey Mike's targets a valuation of up to $7.94 billion in its upcoming U.S. IPO, aiming to raise as much as $1.09 billion. Hy-Vee launches a chainwide 30-minute delivery and pickup option through its new "Get it faster" checkout feature. A new LendingTree report finds 29% of buy now, pay later users are now using the loans for groceries, e…
DoorDash Goes Direct On Shopify, OpenAI Builds An AI Companion & Kroger Pours Into Wine | Fast Five
Jul 22, 2026 · 41 min
In this week's OmniTalk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Quorso, Veloq, and R&S Logistics, Chris Walton was joined by A&M Consumer and Retail Group Senior Directors Brandon Pezely and Alex Brakebill for their monthly Fast Five appearance to discuss: • DoorDash's new native Shopify integration, and whether the partnership positions DoorDash to become the "marketplace of marketplaces" or creates new risks by distancing retailers from their c…
Retail Daily Minute | GameStop Ups eBay Stake to Nearly 10%, Adidas Opens Immersive Store at Mall of America & Grocery Volumes Keep Sliding
Jul 22, 2026 · 5 min
Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: GameStop discloses a stake approaching 10% in eBay as CEO Ryan Cohen continues pushing for a takeover. Adidas will open an immersive "brand concept" store at Mall of America this October, its first full-price Minnesota location. Grocery unit sales fell nearly 2% year over year in June, marking a fifth consecutive month of volume declines. Th…
Retail Daily Minute | EU Bans Destroying Unsold Clothes, Congress Tackles Penny Rounding & Grocery Outlet Deploys Facial Recognition
Jul 21, 2026 · 6 min
Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: The European Union's new Ecodesign regulation bans large fashion brands from destroying or landfilling unsold clothing and footwear, squeezing luxury houses' scarcity playbook. The House passes the Common Cents Act, setting nationwide rules for rounding cash transactions as the U.S. Mint halts penny production. Grocery Outlet rolls out SAFR…
Retail Daily Minute | Wonder Hits $9 Billion Valuation, Instacart Acquires Shelf-Scanning Startup & CVS Expands Pharmacy-Focused Format
Jul 20, 2026 · 6 min
Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by R&S Logistics, Duvo and Mirakl. In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses: Wonder closes a $650 million Series D at a $9 billion valuation, with reports the food-platform company is gearing up for an IPO as early as next year. Instacart acquires Arpalus, an AI-powered shelf-scanning startup, to give its in-store shoppers real-time inventory data via smartphone and Caper Cart cameras. CVS Health opens its first phar…
Lightning Round: Adult Play-Doh, Amazon Shopping & Ballpark Food | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 18, 2026 · 3 min
Chris Walton wraps up another Fast Five by putting Shelley Huff and Chris Niesen through this week's Lightning Round. The conversation covers everything from adult Play Doh and late night Amazon shopping habits to grocery recalls, baseball food, and plenty of laughs along the way. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/-F7f2EFXG9k This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Wayfair Is Betting BIG on Physical Stores | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 18, 2026 · 8 min
Wayfair built one of the world's largest online furniture businesses, but now it is investing heavily in large format retail stores. Chris Walton is joined by Shelley Huff and Chris Niesen to discuss why furniture remains a category where shoppers want to browse in person. They also examine Wayfair's unique inventory model, its measured expansion strategy, and what this means for the future of omnichannel retail. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/-F7f2EFXG9k This podcast…
Taco Bell Is Making Voice AI a Reality | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 18, 2026 · 6 min
Taco Bell has expanded its AI powered drive thru ordering system to nearly 900 restaurants across the United States. Chris Walton is joined by Shelley Huff and Chris Niesen to discuss whether voice AI has finally reached mainstream adoption. They explore why Yum! Brands has taken a thoughtful approach to implementation and how AI could improve both the customer experience and restaurant operations. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://youtu.be/-F7f2EFXG9k This podcast uses the follo…
Walmart Is Building the Future of Drone Delivery | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 18, 2026 · 6 min
Walmart has expanded drone delivery across Greater Houston, bringing ultra fast delivery to more than one million consumers and paving the way for hundreds of additional drone locations. Chris Walton, Shelley Huff, and Chris Niesen discuss why this is much bigger than a drone story. They explain how it represents the next evolution of fulfillment, changing customer expectations, and the growing race to deliver products faster than ever before. ▶️ Watch the full Fast Five episode here: https://yo…
Albertsons Is Reinventing Merchandising With AI | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 18, 2026 · 9 min
Albertsons is rolling out a new AI powered merchandising intelligence platform designed to improve pricing, assortment, promotions, and shelf space decisions. Chris Walton is joined by Shelley Huff and Chris Niesen to debate whether AI can truly transform merchandising or whether success depends more on organizational adoption, better decision making, and asking smarter business questions. Their conversation explores what retailers need beyond the technology itself to create meaningful change. ▶…
Ocado's Leadership Change Puts Grocery Automation to the Test | Fast Five Shorts
Jul 18, 2026 · 8 min
Ocado co-founder and CEO Tim Steiner is stepping down after more than two decades leading one of retail's most ambitious grocery automation companies. Chris Walton is joined by Shelley Huff, CEO and Co-Founder of The Interval, and Chris Niesen, Founder of Peloton One Consulting, to discuss whether this leadership change signals trouble for automated grocery fulfillment or simply marks the next chapter in its evolution. They share their perspectives on warehouse robotics, grocery economics, and w…
The Shelf & Its Data Never Lie | 5IM
Jul 17, 2026 · 8 min
Retailers have no shortage of data. But what if the most valuable insights aren't coming from sales reports or demand forecasts, but from what's happening on store shelves in real time? In this edition of 5 Insightful Minutes, Caitlin Allen, SVP of Market at Simbe, joins Omni Talk to discuss the latest findings from the Simbe Index and why shelf data is quickly becoming one of retail's most powerful leading indicators. Drawing from more than 45 billion shelf images captured across retailers worl…
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