{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 95: The future of convenience and category management with Bala Gurumoorthy","description":"In this episode, Rachel Dalton and Barry Thomas sit down with Bala Gurumoorthy, VP of Category Management at Ferrero USA, to discuss the evolving landscape of convenience retail and the future of category management. Together, they uncover fantastic insights from the recent NACS event, Ferrero\u2019s approach to omnichannel strategy, and how category management is transforming from a back-office function to a true growth driver. A few of our favorite insights from Bala:  \u201cCategory management is evolving from back office to growth architect.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t just report the news\u2014create the news.\u201d \u201cBe bold. Stay current. Stay externally focused.\u201d  Have a topic you\u2019d like us to cover? Contact us at&amp;nbsp;Kantar\u2019s Retail Sound Bites Podcast. Contact Barry:&amp;nbsp;Email&amp;nbsp;|&amp;nbsp;LinkedIn Contact Rachel:&amp;nbsp;Email&amp;nbsp;|&amp;nbsp;LinkedIn   https:\/\/www.retaildive.com\/news\/retail-ai-chatbot-consumers\/803573\/   Dollar Tree enhances multi-price strategy with AI    Playbook: 5 Shopper Missions Every Category Manager Should Be Watching | Path to Purchase Institute   https:\/\/www.retaildive.com\/news\/retail-ai-chatbot-consumers\/803573\/   https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/10\/21\/wawa-stealing-customers-from-wendys-burger-king-starbucks.html  https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/10\/26\/style\/nordstrom-catalog.html ","author_name":"Retail Sound Bites","author_url":"https:\/\/retailiq.kantar.com\/retail-sound-bites","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/38829330\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/38829330"}