Space Planning Community

The advisors are in, and they never left the floor. Meet ARC Advisors, a team of retail and CPG leaders who have spent their careers where the real action happens. On the shelf, in the data, and in the rooms where decisions get made. Think names like PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, Walgreens, Nielsen, IRI, Tyson Foods, Gillette, and more. Think category leadership, space planning, shopper insights, commercial strategy, and teams that know how to turn a plan into results. Here is what sets ARC Advisors apart: • They stay close to the work, partnering every day with ARC members, retailers, manufacturers, and solution providers. • They jump in alongside your team from strategy through execution, not just at the slide stage • They know your world because they have lived it from every angle If you want partners who bring energy, curiosity, and serious experience to your next big opportunity, keep an eye on this crew. The advisors are in, and they are ready for what’s next. Meet the full team and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gKSg8hjN Chris Conroy Mike Gervasio Kathy Rietschel Sue Toy #ARCAdvisors #CategoryManagement #CatMan #ShopperInsights #CPGIndustry #RetailStrategy #SpacePlanning #Training #CPGManufacturers #RetailPartners #TheAdvisorsAreIn

What if shoppers aren’t choosing by aisle, but by temperature? NielsenIQ’s “Temperature State” reframes food retail into Fresh, Frozen, Refrigerated and Shelf Stable, unlocking a clearer view of switching, missions and dollar flow. For space planners: this challenges legacy layouts. Key insight: Center Store isn’t losing to perimeter; it’s losing cross-channel. Opportunity: Plan space by temperature state and mission, not just category. The shelf isn’t competing with the perimeter; it’s competing everywhere. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gXn9dMPp #SpacePlanning #AI #Retail #RetailInsights #Omnichannel #RetailGrowth

Merchandising is moving from periodic to always-on. Boston Consulting Group highlights how AI agents will connect pricing, promotion, assortment and space into a continuous decision system, replacing siloed workflows. For space planners, this is a shift: planograms become dynamic, not static. Real-time inputs (inventory, demand, competition) will reshape space allocation faster than ever. Your role evolves from execution to orchestration, ensuring space reflects strategy in motion. The future isn’t set once a season. It’s optimized daily. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gWEAQiBh #SpacePlanning #CategoryManagement #Retail #AI #RetailGrowth #ShopperInsights

AI is reshaping the path to purchase, but not the final decision. Kantar shows AI is compressing discovery, narrowing choices before the trip. But conversion still happens in-store. For space planners, this raises the stakes: The shelf is no longer for discovery, it’s for decision. Winning means: in-stock, easy to shop, clearly priced and impossible to miss. The real battleground? The handoff between AI recommendation and physical execution. AI may guide the shopper, but the store still decides the sale. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gyiimNZp #SpacePlanning #AI #CategoryManagement #ShopperInsights #Retail

Private label is redefining the shelf! With 24% share and $330 billion in sales, store brands are winning on value, quality and function, forcing national brands like Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo to rethink strategy. For space planners: the old brand-blocking model is outdated. Shoppers now browse:  • private label for value  • challengers for discovery  • nationals for trust The opportunity? Reallocate space by shopper mission, not legacy hierarchy. The private label gap isn’t closing; it’s becoming the new standard. #SpacePlanning #CategoryManagement #RetailGrowth #ShopperInsights

Private label is becoming a nutrition destination... and space planners should take note. Meijer is scaling protein- and fiber-forward SKUs across brands, aligning with GLP-1 trends and updated dietary guidance. The result? Over 700 high-protein and 120 fiber-rich items driving clearer shopper intent. Opportunity: cluster by function (protein, fiber, wellness), not just category. Use adjacency and signage to simplify decision-making and elevate private label as a solution set, not a substitute. Nutrition is no longer niche, it’s a primary merchandising lens. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gBazx3vS #SpacePlanning #Retail #RetailInsights #CategoryManagement #PrivateLabel

The “value gap” isn’t just about price, it’s about perception. Traditional grocers like Kroger and ShopRite are shifting toward clearer pricing, longer-term “price locks,” and simpler promotions to reduce friction for shoppers. For space planners, that shift matters. If value is easier to understand, the shelf has to reinforce it through clearer adjacencies, private label visibility and less promotional clutter. The question: Does your layout make value obvious or make shoppers work for it? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dkBCfxiT #SpacePlanning #CategoryManagement #ShopperInsights #Retail #RetailGrowth

The Basket Tells All: The Grocery Industry Is Optimizing for a Trip That No Longer Exists The “big weekly shop” isn’t gone, but it’s no longer in control.  As highlighted in this piece from Food Trade News, shoppers are shifting from stock-up trips to smaller, mission-driven visits tied to immediate needs. The result: baskets aren’t shrinking, they’re fragmenting. For space planners, this changes everything. Stores built to maximize basket size may be missing how value shows up today. The question: are you optimizing for bigger carts or more trips? Winning may come down to solving the moment, not the week. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d39R7jaW #SpacePlanning #Retail #RetailInsights #ShopperInsights #CategoryManagement #RetailGrowth

“Retail therapy” is showing up in the data ... and on the shelf. As small, feel-good purchases grow, categories tied to emotion (treats, functional drinks, premium snacks) are gaining space. Even brands like Liquid Death highlight how lifestyle + function can drive impulse. Space planners, this means a reset in demand. Shoppers are trading up for moments, not just meals. The implication: Are shelves optimized for utility or for emotional pull? Winning assortments may need both clear function and a reason to feel something. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ezs72jug #SpacePlanning #CategoryManagement #Data #ShopperInsights #Retail #RetailInsights

Retailers who thrive in 2026 won't be the ones who saw the pressure coming. They'll be the ones who made the right calls when it mattered.   Geopolitics, rising costs, new technology, and shifting shopper expectations are all landing at the same time. The question is no longer whether your business feels it. The question is what you do next.   On April 28, Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures at IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution), is joining us for a live webinar to walk through the 7 global retail trends that matter most this year. He'll draw on real examples from leading retailers around the world to show where investment is growing, where models are being rebuilt, and what practical responses are working across growth, efficiency, and relevance.   This is the kind of session you walk away from with a clearer head and a sharper strategy.   📅 April 28, 2026 🕚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gKuDPb8V   Register through the link above and come ready to think differently about what the next 12 months look like for retail.   What trend do you think will have the biggest impact on retail this year?   #RetailStrategy #CategoryManagement #RetailTrends2026 #FMCG #CPG #RetailInnovation #Shopper #GroceryRetail #IGD #CatManGlobal #RetailLeadership #SupplyChain #RetailGrowth