
The Modern Retail Podcast
The Modern Retail Podcast is a podcast about all the ways the retail industry is changing and modernizing. Every Saturday, senior reporters Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels break down the latest retail headlines and interview executives about what it takes to keep up in today’s retail landscape, diving deep into growth strategies, brand autopsies, economic changes and more
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Dick's $2.4B Foot Locker bet, the Girl Scout brand empire, and behind the scenes of AG1's product research
On this episode of the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriella Barkho and Melissa Daniels break down Dick's Sporting Goods’ $2.4 billion acquisition of Foot Locker. They also discuss the debut of the Girl Scouts’ newest cookie, the Exploremores, and how the organization has evolved from door-to-door sales to SMS-powe

Kraft Heinz splits in two, Starbucks' protein play and what it takes to get on Walmart's shelves
This week's Modern Retail Podcast kicks off with co-hosts Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels discussing the Kraft Heinz breakup. The split was announced 10 years after a merger between the corporate giants and reflects a broader trend among mega-conglomerates that are splitting or dividing up their portfolios due to chang
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels get into the news of President Donald Trump signaling the potential for higher tariffs on the furniture sector, and what it means for companies in the space. Then they get into the trend of travelers deciding to go to Europe for luxury sho

Target CEO out, Amazon doubles down on grocery, and Bullish's Mike Duda on scaling founder-led brands
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels get into the big news of Target CEO Brian Cornell stepping down. Cornell will move over to be executive chair of the board, and be replaced by Target vet Michael Fiddelke. On this week’s rundown, the team also discusses the latest investme

On's big earnings, Summerween's surge and why Sprouts is the new proving ground for CPG brands
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels get into the news of how On running shoes led the pack of footwear earnings with a 32% year-over-year sales increase. Then they get into all things Summerween, as the trend of spooky decor in the summer starts to bleed into actual Hallowee

Ikea teams up with Best Buy, Claire's Chapter 11 and how ChatGPT is upending the customer journey
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporters Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels chat about Ikea's new pilot partnership with Best Buy, and why the first-ever partnership with a a third party retailer could become a meaningful new acquisition channel. And they unpack how tween mall staple Claire's wound up