In-store experience & digital shelf
In-Store Experience in 2026: Discovery Zones, Digital Shelf Signals, and the Confidence Gap
Physical stores are reclaiming their role as discovery engines, but only when digital shelf tools like QR codes, ratings, and planogrammed sampling close the gap between browsing and buying.
Private label dynamics
Private Label in 2026: Share Sticks, Premium Tier Accelerates, and the Gap Between Retailer Brands and National Brands Is Narrowing Fast
Western European retailer-brand share sits near 30 percent and the US is above 21 percent. The real story is what is happening at the top of the range, where premium private label is pulling in shoppers who were never just looking for the cheapest option.
Private Label in 2026: Share Gains Stick, Premium Tier Accelerates, and Retailer Brands Get Serious
Western Europe's private label share is closing in on 30 percent and the US is past 21 percent, but the real story is what is happening at the premium end of the shelf and who is investing to own it.
Sustainability claims & regulation
The EU Green Claims Directive Is Nine Months Away and Most Brands Are Not Ready
With enforcement starting September 2026, vague sustainability language on pack and in advertising shifts from a reputational risk to a legal one, and the brands that stay quiet face a different problem entirely.
Loyalty & personalisation
Loyalty in 2026: Why the Next Era Will Be Earned, Not Bought
AI-driven personalisation is pulling grocery loyalty programmes away from blanket discounts and toward SKU-level relevance, and the brands still treating these programmes as a discount channel are falling behind.