From Fiber Maxxing to GLP-1: The Vitamin Shoppe CEO Sharon Leite on Wellness Retail’s Biggest Trends

From Fiber Maxxing to GLP-1: The Vitamin Shoppe CEO Sharon Leite on Wellness Retail’s Biggest Trends

This episode is brought to you by Lightspeed [https://www.lightspeedhq.com/retail/]. From fiber maxxing and liver health to GLP-1 support and protein-packed everything, wellness trends are evolving faster than ever. For retailers, the challenge isn’t just keeping up, it’s helping customers separate hype from lasting habits. In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson sits down with Sharon Leite, CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe, to discuss the findings from the company’s 2026 Health & Wellness Trend Report [https://press.vitaminshoppe.com/reports-and-resources/].  Sharon shares how The Vitamin Shoppe is identifying emerging trends through social media, supporting customers with trusted education and curated product assortments and using AI to empower associates with science-backed insights. The conversation also explores how wellness priorities differ across generations and why credibility has become one of retail’s most valuable assets.  Key Takeaways * How trends like fiber maxxing, liver health and GLP-1 support are reshaping the health and wellness category  * Why trust, product quality and science-backed education have become critical differentiators in wellness retail  * How The Vitamin Shoppe is using AI to equip store associates with better research and customer guidance  * Why Gen Z and Boomers approach wellness differently — from health FOMO to healthy aging  * How curated assortments, knowledgeable associates and nearly 50 years of credibility set The Vitamin Shoppe apart in an increasingly crowded market  Related Links * Learn more about Lightspeed’s [http://lightspeedhq.com/pos/retail]commerce platform for retailers * Explore The Vitamin Shoppe [https://www.vitaminshoppe.com]’s wellness products, health resources and trend insights * Check out The Vitamin Shoppe Health & Wellness Trend Report 2026 [https://press.vitaminshoppe.com/reports-and-resources/] * Read: Torrid, Circana and PwC Executives Discuss How GLP-1s Are Impacting Retail [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/torrid-circana-and-pwc-executives-discuss-how-glp-1s-are-impacting-retail/620503/] * Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] ---- Ready to make smarter inventory, merchandising and buying decisions? Discover how Lightspeed helps retailers streamline operations, manage inventory and stay ahead of changing customer demand at lightspeedhq.com/pos/retail [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flightspeedhq.com%2Fpos%2Fretail&data=05%7C02%7Ckate%40retailtouchpoints.com%7Cb88885bb451944d4855408dec8ad91ce%7C661c8d9be19e4330b41275dce2d26154%7C0%7C0%7C639168845030812498%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iw7PTPqWwAO83nRletoE7JL8BIMu4StYwzr8YI0YB8o%3D&reserved=0]

Why the Best Subscription Brands Make It Easy to Leave

Subscription acquisition may be slowing, but that doesn’t mean consumers are falling out of love with subscriptions. Instead, they’re becoming far more selective about which services earn a permanent place in their monthly budgets. In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson sits down with Rachel Sheriff, Chief Customer Officer at Recurly, to unpack the findings from the company’s 2026 State of Subscriptions  [https://recurly.com/resources/report/state-of-subscriptions/]report. Rachel explains why retention has become the industry’s biggest challenge, how flexible features like subscription pauses are helping brands reduce churn and why fashion rental services like Nuuly [https://www.nuuly.com/] are thriving by delivering affordability, convenience and personalization. The conversation also explores what traditional retailers can learn from subscription-first businesses as they look to deepen customer loyalty and create more predictable revenue streams. Key Takeaways * Why subscription businesses are shifting their focus from acquisition to retention as consumers become more intentional about recurring purchases  * How flexible features like subscription pauses help brands reduce churn while keeping customers engaged over the long term  * Why fashion rental platforms like Nuuly are succeeding through affordability, flexibility and sustainable wardrobe options  * How traditional retailers are experimenting with subscription models that combine physical products, digital services and exclusive member experiences  * Why delivering ongoing value, transparency and a strong customer experience has become the key to earning lasting subscriber loyalty  Related Links * Explore Recurly [https://recurly.com]’s subscription management platform and the latest subscription commerce insights * Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts]

How AI Could Level the Playing Field for Independent Grocers

This episode is brought to you by KWI. As AI reshapes the grocery industry, independent retailers face a critical question: will the technology help them compete, or widen the gap between them and national chains? In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson sits down with Tal Zlotnitsky, Founder and CEO of Breez AI, to discuss why he believes AI represents both the biggest threat and the greatest opportunity for regional and independent grocers.  Tal explains why owning the AI that interacts with shoppers will become increasingly important, how Breez AI is helping grocers create more personalized shopping experiences and why the future of grocery shopping will revolve less around shopping lists and more around planning meals, occasions and everyday life. This episode is brought to you by KWI. KWI is the best-kept secret in retail. Find out what the secret is at kwi.com/RTP. [http://kwi.com/RTP]  Key Takeaways * Why independent grocers need to “own” the AI relationship with shoppers to preserve customer loyalty and valuable first-party data  * How Breez AI is shifting grocery shopping from product-based searches to AI-powered meal and occasion planning  * Why personalized AI experiences — not generic loyalty programs — will define the next generation of grocery customer engagement  * How AI can help shoppers save time, reduce food waste and stay within budget without sacrificing control over their shopping decisions  * Why Tal believes AI should strengthen independent grocers — not replace the community relationships that make them unique Related Links * Learn more about Breez AI [https://www.breezeai.com] and its AI platform for independent grocers * Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] ---- KWI is the best-kept secret in retail. Find out what the secret is at kwi.com/RTP. [http://kwi.com/RTP]

Inside Instacart’s Billion-Dollar Growth Flywheel with CCO Ryan Hamburger

This episode is brought to you by KWI. Instacart recently crossed $1 billion in quarterly revenue, and alongside its impressive marketplace growth, it’s also evolving into a powerful technology partner for retailers while continuing to redefine the digital grocery experience. In this episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson speaks with Ryan Hamburger, Chief Commercial Officer at Instacart, about the company’s expanding role across marketplace services, enterprise technology, retail media and AI. Ryan explains why trust has become the foundation of digital grocery, how Instacart is helping retailers modernize their digital infrastructure and why the future of grocery depends on connecting online and in-store experiences—not choosing between them.   Key Takeaways * How Instacart’s marketplace, enterprise technology, retail media and AI businesses work together to fuel long-term growth   * Why trust—from accurate substitutions to reliable fulfillment—is the biggest driver of customer loyalty in digital grocery   * How AI is improving both the customer experience through shopping assistants and store operations through computer vision and shelf monitoring   * Why retailers should focus on building connected omnichannel experiences instead of treating digital and physical stores as separate businesses   * Why Instacart believes enterprise technology represents one of grocery retail’s biggest opportunities over the next several years  Related Links * Learn more about Instacart [https://www.instacart.com/company/]’s platform and enterprise technology solutions for retailers * Don’t miss RTP’s latest reports on Instacart: CEO Chris Rogers Shares AI and Ad Strategy as Instacart Revenues Reach $1 Billion in Q1 [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/news/ceo-chris-rogers-shares-ai-and-ad-strategy-as-instacart-revenues-reach-1-billion-in-q1/619341/]; Instacart Acquires Arpalus Shelf-Scanning Technology [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/news/instacart-acquires-arpalus-shelf-scanning-technology/620468/] * Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] KWI is the best-kept secret in retail. Find out what the secret is at kwi.com/RTP. [http://kwi.com/RTP] ---- KWI is the best-kept secret in retail. Find out what the secret is at kwi.com/RTP. [http://kwi.com/RTP]

Deep Dive: How to Maximize Summer Sales with Lightspeed

This episode is brought to you by Lightspeed [https://www.lightspeedhq.com/retail/]. Summer can be one of the trickiest seasons for retailers. Inventory needs to move before fall arrives, demand can shift with changing weather patterns and teams are already looking ahead to the next major buying cycle. In this special bonus episode of Retail Remix, Kate Robertson sits down with Marie Baldauf-Lenschen, Director of Supplier Network Partnerships at Lightspeed, to discuss how retailers can make smarter inventory, merchandising and purchasing decisions during the critical mid-summer period.  From identifying the metrics that matter most to leveraging AI, storytelling and wholesale data more effectively, Marie shares practical strategies retailers can use to improve sell-through, protect margins and prepare for the busy seasons ahead. Key Takeaways * Why retailers should focus on a handful of key metrics (including inventory levels, sales trends and supplier lead times) to make faster, smarter decisions   * How AI can help reduce manual work and surface actionable insights without replacing human decision-making   * Why merchandising, storytelling and knowledgeable store associates can improve sell-through without relying on markdowns   * How tighter connections between wholesale purchasing, inventory management and POS systems can help retailers react faster to demand shifts   * Why bundling, urgency-based messaging and personalized service often outperform aggressive discounting when inventory starts to slow   Related Links * Learn more about Lightspeed [http://lightspeedhq.com/pos/retail]’s commerce platform for retailers * Get more retail industry insights from Retail TouchPoints [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com] * Subscribe and catch up on all episodes of Retail Remix [https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/podcasts] ---- Ready to make smarter inventory, merchandising and buying decisions? Discover how Lightspeed helps retailers streamline operations, manage inventory and stay ahead of changing customer demand at lightspeedhq.com/pos/retail [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flightspeedhq.com%2Fpos%2Fretail&data=05%7C02%7Ckate%40retailtouchpoints.com%7Cb88885bb451944d4855408dec8ad91ce%7C661c8d9be19e4330b41275dce2d26154%7C0%7C0%7C639168845030812498%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iw7PTPqWwAO83nRletoE7JL8BIMu4StYwzr8YI0YB8o%3D&reserved=0]