The Retail Podcast (Video Feed)

The Future of Retail in Asia: AI, GLP-1 & Consumer Trends with Isabelle Allen (KPMG)

Why is Asia becoming the world's most influential retail innovation hub?
In this NRF APAC 2026 Day 1 keynote conversation, Jill Dvorak, Senior Vice President at the National Retail Federation, speaks with Isabelle Allen, Global Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure at KPMG.
They explore the major forces reshaping retail globally, including:
• AI adoption in retail• Consumer behavior shifts• The impact of GLP-1 medications on shopping and food consumption• Retail innovation across Asia-Pacific• Digital-native consumers• Data readiness and technology transformation• Wellness, longevity and the future of commerce
Isabelle shares why KPMG believes "the future of retail rises from the East" and explains what global retailers can learn from Asia's agility, speed of innovation and rapidly evolving consumer markets.
Whether you're a retail executive, brand leader, investor, technology strategist or consumer trends enthusiast, this conversation offers valuable insights into where retail is heading next.
Featured Guest
Isabelle AllenGlobal Head of Consumer, Retail & LeisureKPMG
Event
NRF APAC 2026
Topics
Retail Innovation • AI in Retail • Consumer Trends • GLP-1 • Asia-Pacific Retail • Digital Transformation • Customer Experience • Retail Strategy

NRF 2026 APAC Agenda: The Retail Sessions to Watch

Ryf Quail joins Alex to walk through the NRF 2026 APAC agenda just before the show opens in Singapore.
This episode is a practical guide to the sessions, speakers and themes shaping this year’s event, from AI-powered supply chains and retail media to omnichannel, luxury, malls, content commerce, Japan-style transformation and the rise of APAC as a global retail growth engine.
Ryf explains why this year’s show has strong momentum, including a larger expo footprint, strong regional attendance and growing interest from markets including China, the Philippines and Indonesia. He then breaks down key agenda moments featuring leaders and companies including Matt Shay, Isabelle Allen, Anish Melwani, Scott Price, Woolworths Group, RELEX Solutions, Moloco, Pacvue, AEON360, DFI Retail Group, FairPrice Group, CJ Olive Young, Shiseido Japan, Maxim’s Food Group, CAA, Kering, Shopify, Scanteak, Manochi, OnTheList, Nestlé Japan, SM Supermalls, Reliance Brands Limited and Authentic Brands Group.
Key themes in this episode:
Why NRF 2026 APAC is expanding in SingaporeThe biggest keynote and breakout sessions to watchHow AI is changing supply chain, stores, search and customer experienceWhy retail media is becoming a major platform for growthHow APAC retailers are approaching omnichannel differentlyWhy malls remain central to retail in Southeast AsiaWhat India, Japan, China and Southeast Asia reveal about retail’s next phaseHow content, talent and entertainment are becoming retail growth channels
Whether you are attending NRF APAC, following the agenda remotely, or tracking the future of retail in Asia Pacific, this episode gives you a clear roadmap of the conversations that matter.

UK Retail Shake-Up: Ocado, Lidl, M&S Safety & Brand Collabs and a big thank you to COACH UK

In this episode of Five Things Friday UK, Alex and Simone discuss major shifts across UK and European retail. Topics include Ocado’s growing role as a grocery technology platform, Lidl overtaking Morrisons, M&S’s staff safety initiative with WalkSafe, and the role of store experience in building modern retail communities.
The episode also explores Coach’s Selfridges pop-up, Rituals’ House of Rituals in Amsterdam, retail theft, frontline worker protection, Little Greene’s collaboration with Hunter, and why brands are moving toward lifestyle-led partnerships and limited-edition collaborations.
Apple Podcasts Show Notes
This week’s Five Things Friday UK looks at the stories reshaping retail strategy, grocery, store operations and customer experience.
Alex opens with reflections from recent European retail travel, including Madrid, London, Paris, Milan and Amsterdam, plus a visit to the Coach pop-up at Selfridges. He highlights the importance of brand authenticity, customisation and cross-generational appeal, and thanks Charlotte Pasamar and Arjoon Bose — Chief Marketing Officer | VP Marketing | International Business.
The conversation then moves into the week’s five retail themes:
Ocado’s major tech partnershipAlex discusses why Ocado’s platform matters for grocery operations, delivery, store picking and operational efficiency.
Lidl overtakes MorrisonsThe episode looks at how Lidl’s rise changes the UK grocery landscape and why international retailers continue to watch the UK market closely.
Rituals and experiential retailAlex shares observations from the House of Rituals in Amsterdam, including coffee, brunch, shopping and Mind Oasis experiences.
M&S staff safety and retail theftSimone discusses M&S’s partnership with WalkSafe, including live journey tracking, SOS alerts and support for staff travelling early or late. The conversation expands into retail theft, JD Sports, body-worn cameras, security gates and the need to protect shop workers.
Little Greene x Hunter and brand collaborationsSimone highlights the limited-edition Little Greene and Hunter collaboration, using it as an example of brands aligning around lifestyle and customer identity rather than obvious product categories.
The episode closes with a wider discussion of limited runs, IP licensing, Marc Jacobs, LVMH and the growing consumer appetite for unique collaborations.Chapters
00:00 — Welcome to Five Things Friday UK00:30 — Coach Selfridges pop-up and brand experience01:04 — Charlotte Pasamar and Arjoon Bose at Coach02:54 — Ocado’s major tech partnership03:48 — Lidl overtakes Morrisons04:10 — Why global retailers watch UK grocery05:06 — Rituals and the House of Rituals experience07:16 — M&S launches staff safety initiative07:37 — WalkSafe and employee protection08:10 — JD Sports, retail theft and staff safety09:20 — Security, store entrances and safer retail environments10:50 — Little Greene x Hunter collaboration11:56 — Lifestyle-led brand partnerships12:34 — Marc Jacobs, LVMH and IP licensing13:20 — Wrap-up with Alex and Simone

Retail vs Netflix: Why Stores Are Fighting for Attention

Retail is no longer just competing for customer spend. It is competing for attention.
In this episode of Podcast Sessions, Richard Fisher, Head of Store Design at Holland & Barrett, joins us live from the EuroShop floor to explore how physical retail is changing in the attention economy.
Richard explains why retailers now compete with Netflix, Disney, sport, and other entertainment platforms for people’s time. He shares how Holland & Barrett is evolving its store experience, from grocery concessions with Tesco and Morrisons to flagship learnings from Chelmsford, Bluewater, Cardiff, and Oxford Street.
The conversation also explores Holland & Barrett’s role as a health and wellness retailer, its mission to add quality years to life, and Richard’s distinctive “punk and showbiz” philosophy for store design: the balance between getting attention and creating a commercially successful retail environment.
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in retail design, wellness retail, store strategy, customer attention, brand experience, and the future role of physical stores.
https://info.itab.com/video-social/euroshop-2026
 
In this episode, we cover:
How Holland & Barrett is evolving its store design strategyWhy retail is competing with Netflix, Disney and sport for attentionThe importance of time and attention in modern retailHolland & Barrett’s grocery concessions with Tesco and MorrisonsHow store-within-store formats change the customer mindsetWhy Richard Fisher uses the phrase “punk and showbiz”What physical retail can learn from digital commerceHow stores may become part of the marketing journeyWhy brand consistency matters across every retail touchpointWhat the next phase of retail design could look like
Guest: Richard FisherRole: Head of Store Design, Holland & BarrettRecorded live from: EuroShop floorPodcast: Podcast Sessions

Why Retailers Are Already Falling Behind on AI

AI is forcing a complete rethink of ecommerce, retail operations, and digital commerce architecture.
In this episode, Kelly Goetsch — President at Pipe17 and one of the most influential voices in modern commerce technology — explains why the “status quo is no longer acceptable” in the age of AI.
Drawing on experience across Oracle, ATG, commercetools, and modern AI-driven commerce systems, Kelly breaks down:
Why AI is a “categorically new way of work”The shift from monoliths → headless → microservices → AI-native commerceWhy product catalog data is now mission-criticalThe rise of UCP (Universal Commerce Protocol)Why most retailers are still unprepared for AIHow startups are moving faster than enterprisesWhy experimentation now costs dramatically lessThe future of AI-powered shopping experiences
This conversation also explores:
Google vs OpenAI in commerceAI agents and autonomous commerceRetail infrastructure modernizationGEO / AI search optimizationAI-native workflowsEnterprise resistance to AI adoptionThe next generation of ecommerce architecture
If you work in ecommerce, retail technology, AI strategy, composable commerce, digital transformation, or enterprise innovation — this episode is essential listening.
Topics CoveredAI commerceUniversal Commerce Protocol (UCP)Ecommerce AI strategyRetail transformationProduct data enrichmentHeadless commerceMicroservices architectureAI-native organizationsCommerce infrastructureAI agents in retailAbout Kelly Goetsch
Kelly Goetsch is President at Pipe17 and a long-time leader in enterprise commerce technology. Across leadership roles at Oracle, ATG, commercetools, and Pipe17, he has helped shape modern ecommerce architecture and composable commerce strategy.
Chapter Timestamps
00:00 – Why AI Changes Everything00:00:24 – Introducing Kelly Goetsch00:01:28 – “The Status Quo Is No Longer Acceptable”00:02:18 – Monoliths, Headless & The Evolution of Commerce00:03:17 – Why Software Architecture Keeps Changing00:04:07 – The Rise of Headless Commerce00:04:54 – Why Microservices Changed Ecommerce00:05:20 – AI as the New Commerce “Head”00:06:02 – UCP vs ACP Explained00:07:12 – Why Google Took Commerce More Seriously00:08:16 – Why UCP Is Gaining Adoption00:09:02 – The Real Problem Behind AI Commerce00:10:22 – Pipe17’s Role in AI Commerce Infrastructure00:11:12 – Why Retailers Are Still Waiting00:12:31 – Why Most AI Ecommerce Metrics Are Misleading00:12:48 – The Product Data Problem00:14:07 – GEO, AI Search & Content Syndication00:14:48 – Why AI Will Create Thousands of Commerce “Heads”00:15:43 – The Cultural Problem Inside Retail00:16:43 – Why People Disagree on AI Timelines00:17:51 – Enterprise AI Friction Explained00:18:41 – How Startups Are Using AI Differently00:20:03 – Why Enterprises Fear AI Risk00:21:16 – AI Changes the Cost of Innovation00:22:14 – “Just Build It”00:23:14 – How to Upskill Yourself in AI00:24:29 – Why Companies Still Fear Change00:25:11 – Final Thoughts

Amazon vs Perplexity: The AI Retail Battle That Could Change Commerce

This week on World Retail Signals, the team explores one of the most important emerging battles in AI commerce: Amazon vs Perplexity and the future of autonomous AI shopping agents.
The episode also covers:
The changing expectations of the future retail workforce
WHP Global’s acquisition of Marc Jacobs
Why brand licensing is becoming central to retail strategy
Greggs’ evolving retail formats
The growth of wellness retail and personalised shopping experiences
If you work in retail, ecommerce, AI, consumer strategy, or brand leadership, this episode breaks down the shifts shaping the next era of commerce.
 

Why M&S, Topshop, H&M & Vogue Are Winning Fashion Culture Again

Why are heritage fashion brands suddenly winning again?
This episode explores how M&S, Topshop, H&M, Vogue and Laura Ashley are using experiential retail, collaborations and nostalgia marketing to reconnect with younger audiences.
Topics include:
M&S’s Ibiza runway activation
Topshop x Vogue
H&M x Laura Ashley
Slow fashion retail trends
Carnaby Street expansion brands
Gen Z retail marketing
A practical conversation on modern fashion marketing, retail strategy and consumer culture.
 
 
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Retail Crime, AI Commerce & Why Stores Are Expanding Again

AI is reshaping commerce. Retailers are investing in stores again. And organized retail crime has become one of the industry’s biggest policy priorities.
This week, Jill Dvorak from the National Retail Federation joins Five Things Friday - USA Edition to discuss:
The latest organized retail crime legislation
Amazon vs Perplexity and the implications for retail AI
Why physical retail expansion is accelerating
The future of personalization and customer ownership
NRF APAC and global retail innovation trends
A concise executive briefing for retail leaders, commerce strategists, and technology decision-makers.
Chapters / Segment Markers
00:00 — Welcome to Five Things Friday00:18 — Jill Dvorak and the NRF Explained00:58 — Organized Retail Crime Bill Passes the House02:12 — Amazon vs Perplexity and AI Commerce03:24 — Why Retailers Need AI Guardrails03:48 — Target’s Strategy and Influencer Partnerships04:55 — Why Retailers Are Opening More Stores05:59 — NRF APAC Singapore Preview08:24 — NRF Europe Paris Preview08:47 — Closing Thoughts

AI, Private Label Retail & Consumer Trends in APAC

Private label retail in APAC is entering a major growth phase — and AI may accelerate the shift dramatically.
This episode explores:
Retailer-owned brands and consumer adoption
AI-powered product recommendations
Beauty retail competition in Australia
Mecca vs Sephora
The growing importance of customer data and personalization
Why algorithms are replacing traditional retail gatekeepers
The conversation also examines how retailers can build stronger emotional and identity-driven connections with customers in an AI-first commerce environment.
 
00:00 — Introduction00:01 — What Private Label Means in Retail00:03 — Why APAC Is a High-Growth Opportunity00:05 — AI-Driven Shopping & Retail Recommendations00:06 — Beauty Retail in Australia00:08 — Why Physical Retail Still Matters00:09 — The Devil Wears Prada & Algorithmic Influence00:11 — Retail Leaders Debate AI’s Real Value00:13 — Final Thoughts

Jason Cottrell: AI Agents, Composable Commerce & The Future of Enterprise Retail

Jason Cottrell, CEO of Orium and President of the MACH Alliance, explains how AI agents and composable commerce are reshaping enterprise retail and digital infrastructure.
In this episode, we explore:
AI agent ecosystems
Human-in-the-loop AI governance
Enterprise AI architecture
Composable commerce
AI-driven workflows
QA automation
Retail transformation
The future of enterprise operations
Jason shares practical insights on how leaders can prepare their teams, infrastructure, and operating models for the next shift in commerce technology.
If you work in retail, ecommerce, enterprise technology, digital transformation, or AI strategy, this conversation provides a grounded look at what comes next.
Guest:Jason CottrellCEO, OriumPresident, MACH Alliance
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Why Competitive Advantages Disappear Overnight01:46 — What the MACH Alliance Actually Does04:20 — Engineered AI Processes & Persistent Agents06:19 — Why Enterprises Need Flexible AI Infrastructure08:42 — AI Governance, Security & Policy Enforcement11:34 — Human-in-the-Loop AI & QA Automation14:00 — Co-Intelligence: Humans + AI Agents15:22 — The New Competitive Advantage in AI17:20 — How Leaders Should Guide Teams Through AI Change19:11 — Why Retail Merchandising Teams Need Help