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.
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.
Health & wellness as shopper trigger
GLP-1, Protein, and Portion Shifts: Health Is Now the Shopper's Default Lens
GLP-1 adoption, surging protein demand, and single-portion pack shifts are reshaping what shoppers buy, how much they buy, and which brands win their basket in 2026.
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.