Nitasha Chopra

Merchandising in the food industry has grown increasingly complex due to changes in demographics, consumer behavior, shopping preferences, nutrition awareness, environmental concerns, technological advancements, and cultural trends. Central to managing these factors is the category manager, backed by a team of sales and category management professionals on the CPG side. These teams often operate independently to obtain genuine consumer insights. A clear retailer strategy, supported by unbiased data from CPG partners, delivers an excellent customer experience by ensuring product availability, optimal placement, in-stock conditions, and inspiring displays throughout the store. These outcomes are driven by the space planning function, whose primary goal is to advance and implement the merchandising strategy. Tools were developed to implement these decisions efficiently from the central office down to the store level. However, limitations in technology tools, stagnation in category management principles, gaps in the development of space planning teams, and the increasing complexity of merchandising have created significant barriers for current space planning operations. These limitations hinder agility, leading to suboptimal product placement and reduced responsiveness to market changes. As a result, retailers struggle to adapt quickly, impacting overall customer satisfaction and sales performance. Addressing these challenges requires innovative solutions and continuous improvement in space planning practices. That is where I believe 345 Global’s platform will be a game changer. It not only overcome’s the current limitations that are posed by myriad’s of tools available but also evolves the industry to a new level where AI based digital twin technology allow users to interact with the rich visulazation of this platform, and use data in a new meaningful way to make efficient decisions. This platform is built with amazing capability that allows to manage, maintain and modify thousands of variations down to store level & category where processing is done in a fraction of time yielding high productive outcomes. When this platform sits on top of sound merchandising strategy it delivers an unparalleled customer experience yielding improvements in performance across all indicators. Think Blue is excited to partner with 345 Global and help retailers, brands and solution providers with key capabilities to improve their performance. #RetailInnovation #AIinMerchandising #CustomerExperience #345Global #SpacePlanningSolutions Mark Edwards Mark Deuschle Sri Rajagopalan Manish Sharma

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Here's proof you don't have to be a tech startup to have a lofty valuation. Big food brands and their packaged foods have taken a hit over the past year as consumers balk at high prices and shift to private labels. That has PepsiCo along with others in the hunt to acquire tortilla chip maker Siete Foods for more than $1 billion. It seems like only yesterday when U.S. food manufacturers essentially charged consumers whatever price they wanted. And many even made it known during earnings calls of their intentions. Of course, consumer resilience has given way to high interest rates, a shaky job market, and economic uncertainty. Two things matter to consumers: value and variety. While private label brands are putting the big financial hurt on big brands, the reason mostly has to do with price and subsequently, value. Consumers still want variety, and they're willing to pay for it. Siete hit $400 million in sales of its gluten- and dairy-free Mexican American staples like tortilla chips and refried beans, and has raised $91 million in outside funding. More significantly, the company's products are found in 16,000 stores, including Costco, Target, and Whole Foods. From private-equity firms to other food companies, PepsiCo isn't the only one interested in Siete, and for good reason. The family-owned-and-operated business has made waves over the years by adapting Mexican flavors to certain diets, such as keto or gluten-free. That's what PepsiCo is hoping to tap into...just like other food manufacturers https://lnkd.in/gUDkFfHg #pepsico #food #brands #siete #acquisition #business

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The grocery shelves at Walmart are about to get more interesting. Walmart is launching a new private label food brand, called "bettergoods" with 300 sku's in the store. Most of the products will retail for under $5. Rather than go head-to-head against branded products like most private label brands, these will be unique foods. The bettergoods product line will fall into one of three segments: culinary experiences (innovative recipes), plant-based (with distinct green branding), and made without (products that cater to dietery lifestyles). Grocery shopping at Walmart is predictable, almost utilitarian: same brands, same products. Bettergoods could create a sense of discovery (aka: Trader Joe's) and the price point makes it consumer friendly with little risk. What's your take?

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More on the Mars acquisition of Kellanova - Will make them a strong snacking competitor to PepsiCo and Mondelēz International. And they will have a lot of power brands to cross-pollinate between sweet and savory snacks and confections. 2025 is shaping up to be an interesting year in #snackfoods. #Innovation #foodbusiness

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Target's shares increased by over 15% following a positive earnings report, indicating a reversal of a sales slump. The company reported a 2% rise in comparable sales for the second quarter, marking its first increase in over a year. Store traffic grew by 3%, compensating for a 0.9% decline in average transaction spending, attributed to lower prices. CEO Brian Cornell highlighted consumer resilience despite ongoing economic challenges. The earnings report reflects broader consumer spending trends, with other retailers like Walmart and Costco also reporting strong sales growth. Target's sales of discretionary goods, particularly in apparel and beauty, showed improvement, aided by new product launches. The company implemented price reductions on 5,000 items, contributing to increased customer traffic. Target's revenue reached $25.5 billion, exceeding expectations, with a net profit of $1.2 billion, a 43% year-on-year increase. The operating profit margin improved to 6.4%, surpassing the company's long-term goal of 6%. Target raised its earnings forecast for the fiscal year, reflecting confidence in sustained sales growth. #target #usretail #usconsumer #retailsales

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