MiniMart 2/19: Expo events, platform updates, and more

Plus: The future of end caps and Kroger's new CEO

February 19, 2026

The countdown is officially ON: Expo West is in 12 days! I have no idea how it snuck up so quickly, but I’m so excited to be making an appearance as Veriti for the very first time since our agency’s rebrand. 💚 

Because this is our first time representing Veriti, we’re making a big splash. We have a full schedule of events, including:

  • Tuesday, March 3: Natural Products Expo West’s Inaugural CPG Innovation Summit! I’ll be participating as a table host at the Appetite for Innovation Strategic Networking Lunch. This is a free, first-come-first-served opportunity for anyone with a badge!

    • Taking place before the show floor opens, this day will be jam-packed with inspiring conversation + learnings about what innovation looks like in CPG today.

  • Wednesday, March 4 (6-9 PM): Veriti is teaming up with our friends at DoorDash for a very special night celebrating the incredible women in CPG, In Good Company!

    • Expect a curated dinner, an inspiring panel (ft. powerhouse women from DoorDash and Sweet Loren’s), a custom charm bar, and a live DJ. If you’re a female founder or operator in CPG, RSVP here!

  • Thursday, March 5 (12-1 PM): Join me in the Marriott Grand Ballroom F for my session “Rewriting the Retail Media Playbook: In-Store, Incrementality & Real CPG ROI.”

    • During this talk, I’ll share shopper marketing and retail media insights from the 80+ CPG brands I've had the pleasure of working with and learning from.

  • Thursday, March 5 (6:30-8:30 PM): We’re thrilled to be partnering with Express Checkout for Network + Noms, an evening of mingling and networking at Anaheim’s finest dining location, Bubba Gump Shrimp. RSVP here!

If you’re attending Expo, let me know! Would love to meet up on the show floor or at one of our events. 🙂 

Freestyle - Mini Garlic Dill Pickles

I’ve been obsessing over Freestyle Snacks’ Mini Pickles! These fresh-packed pickles are full of bold, garlicky flavor, and they’re perfect to take on the go. I love that these are super simple, made without any additives or preservatives, and I can throw them in my bag for a salty snack fix at any time. I also can’t get enough of this adorable packaging!

Throne SPORT COFFEE - Vanilla Bean

This is such a fun new find! Throne SPORT’s Premium Charged Cold Brew is a flavored ready-to-drink coffee with added benefits like electrolytes, B vitamins, and BCAAs. With 150mg of natural caffeine, this is like a better-for-you energy drink made with natural flavors and sweeteners. This SKU is also dairy-free!

MadeGood - Organic Baked Oat Cups

New school-safe breakfast alert! MadeGood’s new Organic Baked Oat Cups in their Mornings line are free of the top 9 allergens and artificial colors + flavors, plus they are a good source of vitamins C & D! These are one of those breakfasts/snacks that I technically bought for my kids, but will definitely be sneaking for myself.

Barrows Connected Store

📺️ Digital End Caps Are Finally Here (and It's About Time!)

Kroger and CVS are rolling out digital screens on end caps. CVS now has them in 600+ stores, while Kroger is prioritizing grocery aisles and health & beauty in partnership with Barrows Connected Store.

  • Why this is exciting: This has been in talks for YEARS! Whole Foods has had digital end caps since 2018, and Amazon officially launched in-store digital signage advertising across Whole Foods in April 2024. Albertsons has been discussing it for literally two years (though I still haven't seen them live). This is the future of in-store signage - it's more cost-effective and lead times are much shorter than traditional end cap displays.

  • What this means for CPG brands: Digital screens make end caps - the most valuable real estate in shopper marketing - even more valuable because you can swap campaigns instantly, show recipes or seasonal promos, and actually measure impressions and dwell time with sensors.

My take: Veriti has already been incorporating this into our Whole Foods playbook, and I'm excited to see how strategies evolve as more retailers scale this. The flexibility is game-changing for emerging brands - premium placements that were previously locked up by the biggest players just became way more accessible.

🛒 Kroger Appoints New CEO from Walmart

This week, Kroger named Greg Foran as its new CEO after an 11-month search, and this hire is genuinely exciting. Foran spent nearly six years running Walmart's U.S. operations (2014-2019), where he delivered 20 consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth by focusing on store execution and being a "good shopkeeper."

What this means for CPG brands: Analysts expect Foran to focus on e-commerce, pricing strategy, and improving store conditions - all fundamentals that create better shopping experiences.

Also…. wouldn't it be amazing if Target followed suit? 👀 After 11 consecutive quarters of flat or declining sales, they could certainly use some fresh operational thinking.

✅ Platform Update Roundup

  • Albertsons Onsite Display will be live on the Criteo platform starting March 1st! More info here (page 18).

  • Kroger reporting errors: On 2/10 and 2/11, Kroger had reporting errors. While they should be fixed now, you may want to keep a closer eye on February performance to make sure your data was correctly updated.

  • Ibotta reporting errors: Ibotta also faced data errors last week. We haven’t yet heard if they’ve been remedied, so make sure to double check your accounts.

  • Instacart total sales: Previously, Instacart didn’t include sales that weren’t fulfilled by Instacart (ex. Thrive Market total sales weren’t included). Now, total sales should be flowing through!

Thanks for reading!

— Eleanor