That's a wrap on Groceryshop 2022! After spending three days in Vegas attending the leading event for grocery and CPG, here are my quick "Top 5" takeaways:
- "Inflation" was the word of the week, especially as the fed raised rates - the industry's watching the shopper's behavior closely. Retailers reinforced that, based on their data, consumers are already making hard choices and more pressure is expected over the next year.
- Instacart wowed - They are not standing still (at all) and we've only seen the start of how they'll influence our industry. Fidji Simo delivered a great, visionary talk that reinforced the company's core commitment to retailer success. The team had lots to show / share including their new "Caper Cart" meant to power connected in-store experiences across retail.
- Walmart made a big investment in presence this year - In addition to a keynote by John Furner, Walmart showed up strong with signage, after hour events, and a big team ready to meet & greet attendees. Walmart Connect is working hard to be top of mind for CPGers.
- Data, data, data - So many tools and solutions! CPG continues to struggle to deliver an integrated view of retail results. Big gaps include the omnichannel impact of Retail Media and credible measurement of incrementally. Winning brands are prioritizing 1st party data as never before, including through loyalty platforms like Fetch Rewards (who also made a very big appearance).
- Fulfillment as a service is about to become an even bigger battleground in a way that mirrors the recent Retail Media boom - Exciting solutions were on display including a compelling crowdsourced solution by OrderGrid Inc. New players will need to compete with Amazon, Walmart, and Shopify, and others, all of whom have their own solutions on offer.
