Groceryshop 2019 The Coresight Research team will be attending and participating in the Groceryshop 2019 conference, which runs September 15-18 in Las Vegas. The conference is expected to bring together over 3,000 attendees and more than 200 speakers. Discussion topics will include the transformation of the retail industry, including convenience stores, supermarkets and e-commerce, and changes in the production and distribution of CPGs across multiple retail verticals. The event also covers the rapid shifts in how consumers discover, shop and buy — from the use of new technologies and business models to the latest shopper trends. Emerging Technology Spotlight Session This is the second year the Coresight Research team will support Groceryshop’s early-stage technology startup event: On September 15, Coresight Research CEO and Founder Deborah Weinswig will emcee the Emerging Technology Spotlight, which features 20 innovative technology companies presenting their solutions to solve major retail problems. Groceryshop selected the participating startups based on their solutions, looking for companies that solve some of the most pressing challenges in grocery, e-commerce, food and CPG. All participating startups offer business-to-business (B2B) solutions. Over 130 companies applied to present at the event: From that group, we selected the 20 using a rigorous vetting process. These are some of the selection criteria:

• Early-stage, defined as pre-series A funding.
• Relevant to the grocery and/or CPG industries.
• B2B solutions (not consumer-facing).
• Scalable (good growth prospects).
• Highly innovative (deep differentiation).
• Important (solving a major industry problem).

The companies span several countries, although most are based in the US:

• US: 14
• Canada: 2
• Israel: 2
• Australia: 1
• Spain: 1

We categorized the 20 companies into four buckets of retail disruption: Data and Insights: Digital technology is creating new metrics and capabilities to glean insights and understand the best way to meet and exceed customer expectations. Improved Shopping Experiences: Shoppers demand intuitive and more seamless grocery experiences, both online and in-store. Grocery retailers face challenges in keeping their assortment up to date and in sync with fast-changing consumer demand. Next Generation Marketing: With so many different touchpoints and channels to reach consumers, engagement has become more complex than ever. And, there are rapid shifts in how consumers discover, shop and buy. New marketing technologies help grocery retailers and CPG’s engage and acquire customers. Operations and Supply Chain: Over the next few years, new omnichannel grocery offerings will likely go mainstream, giving consumers new experiences as well as more convenient delivery and pickup options. Simultaneously, technologies such as robotics, AI and IOT are changing how grocery items move from producer to store to consumer. Shopperations at a Glance Founded in 2014, Shopperations’ software as a service (SaaS) platform helps brands and retailers plan, estimate, execute and analyze marketing campaigns and events. Its solution facilitates more efficient and transparent information sharing and workflows among brands/retailers, sales teams and marketing agencies. Clients range from large companies such as General Mills to startups such as Vital Farms. Shopperations works with marketers in various verticals, such as food and beverage, home improvement and personal care and wellbeing. [caption id="attachment_96078" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Shopperations[/caption]   What Problem Does Shopperations Solve? Brands and retailers want to manage marketing campaigns and events in a more systemic way. However, when several parties are involved, planning and execution marketing projects can be highly complex – and messy. Shopperations helps automate connections with multiple teams, facilitates information sharing and improves workflow. Headquarters Cincinnati, Ohio. Funding Stage Seed. Management Team Founder and CEO Olga Yurovski has more than 15 years’ experience in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and consumer electronics industries. She was shopper marketing director at Canagra Brands prior to setting up Shopperations. Market Potential According to Information Resources, online CPG sales in the US totaled $58.6 billion in 2018 – some 11% of the total. But online is only half the story: Leading retailers need to engage their customers through multiple channels, omnichannel marketing introduces a new level of complexity to what is already a complex process and consumer expectations around omnichannel are continually rising. Company Outlook Shopperations’ clients include Heineken, Conagra, Pinnacle and Smithfield.