Omni Talk Retail

Jon Malankar, A&M retail operator focused on local-market playbooks, and Ken Cochran, retail strategist experienced in e-commerce and fulfillment. They unpack grocery hitting 19% online penetration. They discuss curbside economics, fulfillment pain points, regional grocers’ digital must-haves, and whether doubling down locally or partnering with delivery platforms is the smarter move.

Jon Malankar, A&M analyst who studies grocery e-commerce and tech, and Ken Cochran, A&M retail expert on store formats and shopper behavior, discuss Amazon ending palm payments and closing Fresh stores. They explore whether the tech or the grocery proposition failed. They debate who used biometric pay and why phones often win at checkout. They consider converting Fresh locations toward Whole Foods-style offerings.

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, A&M's Ken Cochran and Jon Malankar joined Chris and Anne to discuss:Amazon shutting down its Amazon One palm recognition payment system and closing all 72 Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores (Source)Grocery E-commerce hitting a record 19% penetration in December 2025 (Source)Walmart launching a cross-border shipping program called Walmart Exports (Source)eBay banning AI shopping bots from its platform (Source)BJ's Wholesale opening its second small format BJ's Market in Delray Beach, Florida (Source)There's all that, plus Ralph Lauren Olympic uniforms, Cracker Barrel meal mandates, and whether Ken prefers Taco Bell or Ruth's Chris.Music by hooksounds.com#AmazonFresh #GroceryEcommerce #WalmartExports #eBayBots #BJsWholesale #RetailNews #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #RetailTech #MarketplaceCommerceThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This Lightning Round segment of the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, closes out the show with rapid-fire takes on pop culture, consumer trends, and the lighter side of retail. From Netflix’s AI predictions and rotisserie chicken subscriptions to mushroom coffee and internet-fueled food trends, Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn keep things fast, fun, and unpredictable. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #LightningRound #RetailCulture #ConsumerTrends #OmniTalk #RetailFastFiveThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down American Eagle’s decision to shut down Quiet Logistics after acquiring the company for $360 million. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn discuss why selling logistics tech proved harder than expected, when retailers should avoid becoming software companies, and what this means for future retail tech bets. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here.#AmericanEagle #RetailLogistics #RetailTech #Omnichannel #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFiveThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, looks at why grocery stores are increasingly winning lunchtime trips from quick-service restaurants. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn discuss how ready-to-eat meals, pricing pressure, and changing consumer routines are driving this shift and why lunch may be grocery’s most underrated growth opportunity. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Grocery #Foodservice #RetailTrends #LunchRush #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFiveThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, unpacks Amazon’s plan to eliminate 30,000 corporate roles as CEO Andy Jassy targets bureaucracy and organizational bloat. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn explore why this move is about structure... not just AI... and what retail leaders can learn about talent, layers, and operational discipline. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here.#Amazon #RetailLayoffs #RetailLeadership #AIinRetail #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFiveThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, examines Dollar General’s rapid expansion of same-day delivery and why rural America may be its biggest competitive advantage over Amazon. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn discuss how physical proximity, store density, and cost structure give Dollar General an edge — and why convenience doesn’t always require cutting-edge tech. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #DollarGeneral #Amazon #LastMileDelivery #RuralRetail #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFiveThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, breaks down Walmart’s sweeping leadership reorganization as the retailer reshapes its structure to accelerate AI-driven growth. Chris Walton and guest host Jenn Hahn discuss why Walmart elevated the Chief Growth Officer role, how centralized platforms change accountability, and what this shift signals about the future of retail leadership and execution. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here. #Walmart #RetailLeadership #RetailAI #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk #RetailFastFiveThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Jenn Hahn, Forbes-featured founder and CEO of J Recruiting Services and retail talent leader, joins to unpack major retail moves. They cover Walmart's leadership reshuffle for AI-driven growth. Dollar General's massive same-day delivery push into rural areas gets debated. Amazon's huge corporate cuts and what that means for organizations are discussed. Grocers stealing the lunch rush and Quiet Logistics' shutdown round out the news.