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Retail Strategies & Supplier Insights
Discover the strategies and insights you need to thrive in the competitive retail landscape. Retail Strategies & Supplier Insights delivers expert advice, actionable tips, and the latest industry trends tailored specifically for retail suppliers. Whether you’re looking to boost sales, recover profits, or navigate retailer relationships, our blog is your go-to resource for success.


The Q1 2026 Supplier Playbook: Turn Sales Into Cash Faster
This isn’t about fighting every deduction. It’s about protecting working capital with a repeatable operating system.

Jon Allen
Jan 302 min read


Retail AI in 2026: What Suppliers Must Fix First
Retailers didn’t just “add artificial intelligence (AI)” in 2025. They wired it into the parts of the business that decide what gets ordered, where it gets shipped, and how fast a supplier gets paid. That’s why AI feels different now. It’s not a feature. It’s the operating system. And here’s the part suppliers need to internalize: when retailers automate decisions, they also automate penalties . What used to be a one-off issue resolved by a helpful merchant or replenishment m

Jon Allen
Jan 144 min read


Food Brokers 101: Timelines, Not Fairy Dust
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.

Jon Allen
Nov 17, 20252 min read


SNAP Whiplash? Protect Sales and Margin Now
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.

Jon Allen
Nov 10, 20258 min read


Why Every Supplier Needs a Food Broker
If you’ve ever tried to get your product onto a retail shelf, you already know—it’s not easy. Retail buyers are swamped, competition is fierce, and retailers expect suppliers to deliver not just a product, but a plan. This is where a food broker comes in. Think of a food broker as the “middle gear” in the retail machine. They don’t own your product, but they help move it forward by connecting you with the right buyers, negotiating terms, and ensuring your product actually se

Jon Allen
Nov 7, 20252 min read


Open Call 2025: What to Know Now
Walmart’s annual Open Call is happening right now in Bentonville—and the energy is real. Think hundreds of founders from nearly every corner of the country streaming into town to pitch U.S.-made, grown, or assembled products to Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants.

Jon Allen
Oct 8, 20253 min read


Unlocking the Benefits of CPG Broker Solutions
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.

Jon Allen
Oct 7, 20254 min read


Food Broker + Deduction Recovery
You don’t have to choose between a food broker and a deduction recovery team. The compounding effect comes from both: brokers prevent...

Jon Allen
Sep 30, 20251 min read


What Is a Food Broker? (And When You Should Use One)
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.

Jon Allen
Sep 23, 20254 min read


Retail Deduction Software: Why Tools Need Humans to Win
Let’s be real: retail deduction software is essential. But software surfaces claims; experts recover dollars. Winners use both.

Jon Allen
Sep 23, 20252 min read


How a Food Broker Becomes Your Compliance Bodyguard
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

Jon Allen
Sep 22, 20252 min read


Food Broker Advantages: Why Small Brands Need Representation to Compete with Giants
For every small brand dreaming of shelf space at Walmart, Kroger, or Target, the reality is clear: the competition isn’t just tough—it’s...

Jon Allen
Sep 8, 20251 min read


Understanding the Role of a CPG Broker
Welcome to the bustling world of retail. Whether you're a brand-new startup or an established brand looking to scale, navigating the...

Jon Allen
Oct 5, 20232 min read
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