Episode 9: A view from the top of the grocery industry with Steven Esom - a podcast by HRA Global

In this week's episode of The Grocery Insider, in association with HRA Global, we speak to Steven Esom from Product Chain.

Get to know Steven and the industry

• Career path 

The Grocery Industry and Retailers

• What changes have you seen in the industry since you started?
• Massive delayering on the retailer side - do you think this is going to continue as part of the reconfiguration of retail?
• Can you see the challenge from the discounters changing in the next decade?
• Do you think the big box retailers will start to transform their shops to be similar to that of the discounters?
• Are we seeing more subletting of retail plots?

Waitrose and M&S

• Where is Waitrose going over the next few years?
• M&S are in a unique position with a unique audience, thoughts?

Category Management

• Have we passed peak category management?
• New products on the shelf for a shorter period, is this enough?
• Product chain - Is it tougher than ever to get and keep listings, and to grow sales?
• Challenger brands concentrating on a proposition, marketing and sales, is this the case with all?
• What impact is this having on the corporate structures of the big retailers?
• Do you think BCORP will be mandatory in a few years?

The important questions:

• Where is grocery going to go next year?
• What piece of advice would you give someone starting out in the industry right now?
• Thoughts on the John Lewis Christmas advert?

Further episodes of The FMCG Insider

Further podcasts by HRA Global

Website of HRA Global