Retail Gazette

Retail Gazette
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Welcome to the Retail Gazette podcast. Each episode takes a deeper dive into the topics, trends, news and personalities that are shaping and changing retail in the UK.

  1. How FMCG suppliers are recovering lost profit in a tougher retail market

    Jun 11

    How FMCG suppliers are recovering lost profit in a tougher retail market

    FMCG suppliers are operating in one of the most pressured markets in recent memory. Consumers remain highly price conscious, retailers are focused on protecting their own margins, and challenger brands are forcing established names to fight harder for space, loyalty and volume. In the latest episode of the Unpacked Podcast, we sit down with Ben Lewis, chief revenue officer at Salitix, to explore how suppliers can protect their bottom line in a trading environment where every pound counts. Lewis says the squeeze on branded suppliers has intensified as own-label ranges continue to grow in strength. “The businesses currently supplying retailers are clearly feeling a lot of pressure because of market conditions,” he says. “Recent analysis shows that own-label products are on a par in terms of volume and sales to branded products. “That’s an interesting development as it’s brands who are leading the way, innovating and investing. That’s indicative of a marketplace that’s seen a lot of change, courtesy of the cost pressures we’ve seen. It’s been one crisis after another and as a result, we’ve seen price rise significantly.” For many suppliers, the pressure isn't only coming from the market around them. There may also be money sitting within historic agreements, trading terms and commercial processes that has never been recovered. That's where Salitix comes in. The business helps suppliers identify misallocated profit, review commercial contracts and recover revenue that may have been missed through legacy oversights or reconciliation gaps. In the episode, Lewis explains how Salitix combines retail experience, forensic auditing and commercial contract expertise to help brands claw back margin without adding disruption or risk. The sums involved can be significant. “Let’s say you have a quality British company with brands that you recognise on the shelf,” Lewis says. “It’s not uncommon, if we do the reconciliation with the retailer, that we may find a quarter of a million pounds to half a million pounds. “When you’re getting that money in and it’s net money, that’s amazingly potent money to have in the bank, especially when you have all of those external pressures.” The conversation explores the changing relationship between FMCG suppliers and retailers, the growing power of own-brand, and why profit recovery is becoming a sharper priority for businesses looking to defend margin without simply pushing prices higher. For suppliers navigating cost pressure, retailer demands and a more competitive shelf, it's a timely discussion about where efficiency may already exist inside the business. Listen now to the latest episode of the Unpacked Podcast with Ben Lewis, chief revenue officer at Salitix.

    36 min
  2. Is AI the key to retail's spiralling loss problem?

    Apr 15

    Is AI the key to retail's spiralling loss problem?

    Retail loss has swiftly become one of the most pressing and expensive challenges facing the UK retail industry.  From theft and stock shrinkage to the growing pressure placed on frontline staff, the issue has far surpassed simply being an operational headache, and is now major drag on retail profitability. In this episode of the Unpacked Podcast, host Kieran Howells speaks to Dominic Brynholf, vice president of sales at Trigo, about how retailers can take a smarter, more strategic approach to loss prevention.  With more than 25 years of experience across retail technology, AI and business transformation, Brynholf offers a clear-eyed view of why loss is escalating, where traditional prevention methods are falling short, and how new technology can help retailers respond more effectively. The conversation centres on the intersection of a worsening loss problem and the growing potential of AI-powered retail technology.  Rather than presenting loss prevention as something that requires a huge systems overhaul, Brynholf explains how retailers can begin making meaningful progress by using assets many already have in place, particularly existing CCTV infrastructure. The discussion explores how AI can help retailers identify risk earlier, improve visibility across stores, reduce pressure on colleagues and support better decision-making without requiring major changes to existing tech stacks or heavy upfront investment. While there is no single fix for loss, this episode looks at the practical steps retailers can take to minimise its impact, protect staff and unlock meaningful financial upside for the wider business. Listen now to learn more!

    41 min
  3. Euroshop 2026, the best bits with Toshiba

    Mar 4

    Euroshop 2026, the best bits with Toshiba

    Euroshop 2026 is once again behind us, and this year over 81,000 visitors descended on the show from 141 countries.  The show, which takes place in Düsseldorf, Germany, featured over 1,840 exhibitors from 61 nations. It’s a dizzying affair with so much to do and see, and it’s easy even for those in attendance to see just a tiny portion of the innovation on offer.  That’s why, in this episode of the Retail Gazette Unpacked podcast, we sit down with Martin Ward, senior retail consultant at Toshiba, to discuss the very best that Euroshop had to offer, and his key takeaways, through the eyes of a true industry expert.  Ward takes us through the innovations that truly caught his eye, the big talking points throughout the show, and his own experience of walking the many halls.  Listen now to find out what you may have missed, and what may well be the standout innovations of 2026.

    34 min
  4. Beyond the booth: How EuroShop shapes global retail leadership

    Feb 18

    Beyond the booth: How EuroShop shapes global retail leadership

    EuroShop is just around the corner. As in previous years, Euroshop 2026 is the go-to event where retailers from across Europe and around the world come together to define the global direction of retail.  More than an simply an exhibition, Euroshop has become a strategic platform for market leadership. In this episode of the Retail Gazette Unpacked podcast, we speak with Taras Pylypyuk, CEO of Modern Expo Europe, toexplore how events like EuroShop are evolving into powerful instruments of brand leadership, and what it signals to the global retail industry when a Ukrainian company becomes the largest partner of such a landmark event. We discuss the key trends shaping retail over the past three years and why exhibitions are shifting from deal-driven marketplaces to trust-building ecosystems. The conversation also looks at how retail leaders should approach networking, ROI, and strategic goal-setting to extract real, long-term value from EuroShop 2026. We also discuss Modern Expo, which is a global provider of retail infrastructure and last-mile solutions, with over a decade of presence in the UK market, and what the company has in store for retailers at the 2026 show.

    28 min
  5. Agentic AI is retail's next huge evolution - here's why

    Feb 10

    Agentic AI is retail's next huge evolution - here's why

    Agentic is undoubtedly one of the buzzwords of our time. However, the lightning-fast speed at which it's impacting the retail industry shows no signs of slowing. Much like the advent of ecommerce as a pivotal channel, it shows promise of genuinely fundamentally changing how much of the retail ecosystem operates.  The question is, what will that look like? In today's episode of Retail Gazette's Unpacked podcast, we sit down with AI guru and CEO of 7Learnings, Felix Hoffmann to dig into the realities that many retailers will have to face as soon as this year.  With his unmatched experience from within both retail and evolving technologies, Hoffmann explains in no uncertain terms how agentic AI will augment the shopping experience, and what will be the commonalities within the retailers who come out on top.  To truly tune into potentially retail's next big evolution, listen now.

    37 min
  6. Why CX, not convenience, will define retail success in 2026

    Jan 29

    Why CX, not convenience, will define retail success in 2026

    Customer expectations. We’re constantly talking about them. However, it’s a nuanced discussion as evidence shows they’re fragmenting, accelerating and, in some cases, colliding.  In the latest episode of the Retail Gazette’s Unpacked podcast, we sit down with an expert capable of putting these changes into perspective, Oscar Strachan, digital strategy consultant at Columbus Global. Together, we unpack what retailers must get right as they head into 2026 at speed. From personalisation and privacy to fulfilment, marketplaces and the growing influence of Gen Z, the conversation focuses on what’s actually changing customer behaviour, and importantly, where retailers risk falling behind. For retailers looking to understand what customer experience leadership really looks like heading into 2026, this is a conversation worth listening to. Listen to the full episode above, and explore the full Retail Gazette × Columbus report via the link below.

    36 min
  7. Why OOH solutions are transforming retail in surprising ways

    12/10/2025

    Why OOH solutions are transforming retail in surprising ways

    "Those who never used the lockers tend to say they aren't secure. But if you look at the number of lost packages during last year, you’ll see that thousand more packages were lost for home delivery to the door than those that were lost or stolen from the parcel lockers." - Jacek PowałkaIn this brand new episode of the Unpacked podcast, we dig into building customer adoption for out-of-home delivery services with Jacek Powałka, one of the top global gurus on OOH solutions, and Head of the Out Of Home Solutions business unit at Modern Expo, a company that has been providing solutions for UK retailers for over 10 years and played a key role in launching the Royal Mail parcel locker network.In this episode, we talk about the surprising preferences of younger generations and why they're leading to significant changes in how people shop, how Amazon, Valentine's Day and COVID have all fuelled the popularity of parcel lockers, and cover some of the most pragmatic uses of the technology: Compact drop boxes for small convenience stores guaranteeing that so-called golden shelf is still free for the products and the shop assistants don’t have to waste time collecting each and every parcel. Fully modular parcel compartments that can fit both extra small and big spaces. Parcels with ambience deep frozen temperatures or -5 degrees that can be used for food delivery. "There are over 60000 parcel lockers in the country of 38 million inhabitants which would translate into about 100000 parcel lockers in the UK to reach the same quantity in comparison to population," Powałka states.

    31 min
  8. When work just works: Powering peak with smarter scheduling

    12/09/2025

    When work just works: Powering peak with smarter scheduling

    Retailers often think of the golden quarter in terms of stock, promotions and delivery speed. But behind every sale, every dispatch, and every customer interaction is a fundamental frontline team under immense pressure. In 2025, with labour shortages, rising costs, and burnout at record highs, managing your workforce effectively could be the single biggest determinant of whether you thrive or stumble this peak.In this episode of Retail Unpacked, we speak with Erik Fjellborg, CEO and founder of Quinyx, to explore how AI-driven scheduling, smarter communication, and employee engagement can turn seasonal chaos into peak performance. We’ll discuss how flexibility, fairness, and the right tech tools not only boost productivity but also protect the wellbeing of staff, and why that’s the real secret to long-term customer loyalty.

    32 min
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About

Welcome to the Retail Gazette podcast. Each episode takes a deeper dive into the topics, trends, news and personalities that are shaping and changing retail in the UK.

Information

  • Creator
    Retail Gazette
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Retail Gazette
  • Show Website
    Retail Gazette