Retail Strategies & Supplier Insights

If retail deductions used to feel like a messy argument between humans… welcome to 2026. A growing share of deductions is getting triggered by rule engines—systems that match your purchase order (PO), advance ship notice (ASN), electronic data interchange (EDI) messages, delivery appointments, and invoice terms in milliseconds. When something doesn’t align, the payment amount is reduced. Automatically.

If retail felt slow this year, you’re not imagining things. Big banners plan category resets months ahead; most categories are refreshed at least annually.

Product photography isn’t decoration. It’s conversion, returns, and compliance—rolled into pixels.

SNAP is moving. Not just the dollar amounts—but timing, eligibility, and how shoppers use those dollars. If you sell food and beverages, you’ll feel it. Some of it will be a breeze at your back. Some of it? A headwind.

Let’s be blunt: private label isn’t a “recession play” anymore. It’s a structural shift in how baskets are built.

Entering the Walmart marketplace is like setting sail on a vast ocean filled with opportunity and challenge. For consumer packaged goods brands and suppliers, Walmart represents a treasure trove of potential sales and growth.

Navigating the retail world can feel like trying to find your way through a dense forest without a map. You know there’s a path to success, but the twists and turns can be overwhelming.

“Retail deductions” are amounts a retailer withholds from your invoice—usually for shortages, compliance issues, pricing discrepancies, freight/OTIF misses, or after-the-fact (post-audit) claims.

What is Product Photography? (Simple Definition) Product photography is the disciplined process of planning, lighting, styling, and capturing images of a product, allowing customers to evaluate it online or in print.

“Retail deductions” are amounts a retailer withholds from your invoice—usually for shortages, compliance issues, pricing discrepancies,...

A food broker is a contract sales representative who connects food and beverage manufacturers with retail buyers—think grocery chains, club stores, mass, and specialty. They don’t buy or own your product; they sell it, manage the relationship, and help move it through existing retail channels.

You hire a food broker to open doors. Great. But the best brokers do something more valuable: they keep those doors from slamming shut because of compliance misses

The journey from the kitchen or production floor to mass retail shelves is both challenging and full of opportunity. From the initial spark of product creation to securing prime placement in stores, the path is complex and highly competitive. In this landscape, food brokers play a pivotal role in helping brands break through the noise and achieve retail success.

If your CPG brand sells to major retailers like Walmart, Kroger, or Target, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of deductions ...

The news keeps coming—and it’s not good. Rite Aid is navigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy. CVS just confirmed plans to shutter 270 stores....

You’ve got a great product. You’ve been hustling at farmers’ markets, getting into a few local stores, maybe even selling well on Amazon....

You did everything right. Your shipment was on time, and your product was packed perfectly. But then—boom—you check your invoice and see...

You’ve got a killer product. Maybe it’s the best small-batch hot sauce anyone’s ever tasted, or a protein bar that actually tastes good. Fri

Retail execution isn’t just about getting your product on shelves—it’s about ensuring it stays visible, moves quickly, and meets retailer...

Expanding your brand into new retail channels can be a game-changer for growth. Whether you're eyeing big-box stores, diving into...