Michael Kotick

The Kraft Heinz split is off. I didn’t have that one on my February 2026 bingo card, and apparently Wall Street didn’t either. …their new CEO Steve Cahillane took less than a month to figure out that their problems are “fixable and under our control” They are also investing $600M into “improving the product” which isn’t going to be enough, but it’s a good start. Kraft Heinz needs to do 2 Things if they want to thread the needle and make this plan work: 1. Reformulate versions their core recipes to Gen Z compliant and MAHA compliant product market fit, immediately, and launch a major ad campaign accordingly. This should include social media marketing using their core legacy products in new recipes touting their improved macros. 2. Acquire Gen Z -compliant earlier-stage innovation brands in each of the core KH categories and incubate them. Don’t wait until they cost $500M+. Invest in 5-10 earlier stage brands with promising growth metrics. Get in earlier, invest in scaling them through DTC, Amazon, and Early adopter retailers. Some of these brands will become the next Siete, and others will flop. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Steve Cahillane if you want any quantitative advice on which brands you need in the portfolio, DM me and I’ll give you a peak at our predictive algorithm which shows which brands are going to be driving category growth 24 months from now. #cpg #innovation #grocery

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Excited to share the stage at IAB today with Cintia Gabilan Marlow Nickell and Nik Rochnik to discuss the fast evolving in-store media landscape! We'll talk about the tech, analytic, and mindset transformation needed to drive useful moments for customers and impactful media for brands. #RetailMedia #ConnectedStore #InstoreMedia

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Pepsi embraces its challenger DNA because we know one simple truth: we win on taste. From the original Pepsi Challenge fifty years ago to its revival last year, we’ve proven the same thing again and again. When labels are gone and taste is all that’s left, America chooses Pepsi. 120,000+ taste tests. 1M+ samples. One undeniable result: 66% of consumers preferred Pepsi Zero Sugar. The proof is clear. The question for marketers becomes how we continue finding new and inventive ways to both entertain and educate consumers. Riley Martin at SportsBall took Pepsi’s legacy of superior taste, starting with the original Pepsi Challenge, and transformed it into a dynamic, data-driven narrative that adds depth, context, and credibility as the story builds toward Super Bowl LX. It is a powerful example of how the right partnerships can connect history, proof, and culture, and set the stage for what we are excited to unveil on 2.8. Mark Kirkham JP Bittencourt Gustavo Reyna Lou Arbetter Paul Mascali Sarah Stewart Emily (Thomas) Rykken Anna Cardelfe Meghan Noth Jason Carbonetti Meredith Jenks Lopez Sammy Marrus Sarah Stewart Connor Rohan Steve Frechtman Lane Borgida Chris Lenz Alix Ekstrom Caitlin Coburn Winsor Stephanie Burgess Dana Bloom Adam Brewster David Wexler Bonny Plosker Melissa Duhaime Rob Salit Stephanie Hsu Prithvi Malik Elijah Farmer Jayne Ambrosini Sarah Maloy Susmita Burnett Kyle Ahrendsen Aydin Delbar (Abdollahi) Scott Bell Peter Kain Marcelo Nogueira Anna Taylor VaynerMedia

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Thank you Blue Chip and Brand Innovators for hosting and moderating a great session in Denver. We had some great conversation! Innovation that actually moves the business forward isn’t about slogans or frameworks — it’s about how teams work every day. That was my biggest takeaway from the session. The companies gaining real momentum aren’t relying on sporadic bursts of creativity; they’re tightening their operating rhythms so they can spot opportunities faster and act on them with less friction. From a global marketing excellence and transformation lens, this is the real unlock: building teams, processes, and decision paths that make progress repeatable. Not louder. Not bigger. Just consistently better. When you get that right, innovation becomes a natural output of the system — not a special event.

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Walmart’s Q2 results are drawing mixed headlines, but they show acceleration across the areas that matter most to advertisers. Signals from this quarter: - Ad revenue +31% in the U.S., +46% globally (including Vizio) Walmart’s acquisition of VIZIO is now flowing into results, linking CTV with closed-loop attribution. Brands can plan top-of-funnel video and lower-funnel search in one ecosystem, measured directly against sales. This quarter, the numbers show advertisers clearly leaning in. - Same-day delivery volumes up ~50% Store-fulfilled delivery is up nearly 50%, and one-third of digital orders arrive within three hours. That fulfillment velocity creates new high-intent ad moments (shoppers checking their app for pickup readiness, adjusting baskets, planning quick replenishment orders). Lots of opportunity to align retail media with these moments and influence purchase decisions in real-time. - Global e-commerce +25% YoY E-commerce outside the U.S. grew +22%, while international advertising rose +15% (led by Flipkart). Walmart’s retail media flywheel is scaling internationally – and it's a chance for advertisers to test, learn, and replicate strategies across regions, with Walmart as a unifying partner. - Sam's Club e-commerce +26% Between Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Flipkart, Walmart has built a multi-faceted and international network that reaches diverse shopper segments. More places to activate retail media, more audiences to engage, and more opportunities to coordinate strategies across platforms. I think Q2 underscores the breadth of Walmart’s ecosystem and the pace at which it’s evolving. For advertisers, the challenge lies in tapping into that while staying agile to shopper and market dynamics.

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Walmart continues to show what retail adaptability looks like at scale. Their latest AI tools for associates don’t just make operations more efficient—they simplify, guide, and free up time for what matters most: the customer. By combining generative AI with AR and RFID, they’re showing how real-time intelligence can enhance decision-making from the shelf to the backroom. It’s a move that echoes the principles of The Agile Code—adaptability, experimentation, and team empowerment. 💡 What’s your “escape fire”? How are you redeploying time saved through technology? #TheAgileCode #RetailInnovation #AIinRetail #Walmart #AgilityInAction https://lnkd.in/eGQwTKsd

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When a retail buyer feels that you deeply understand them and their unique needs, you gain their trust. And you get that from asking the right questions and LISTENING WITH INTENT. This clip was part of an interview with Emily Anne Page Page, CPG Growth Strategist at START to SOLD, and George Argires, CEO of Argires Snacks, recorded on location at ECRM's Snack Session in Dallas last month. To watch the full video on YouTube or listen to it on our podcast, click the links in the comments!

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