54. What Retailers REALLY Want From You With Mathis Martines, Enlightened, Formerly Kroger

54. If you think retailers just want lower prices and bigger promos, you're missing the point. What they really want is growth—and partners who make their jobs easier.  In this in-depth conversation with former Whole Foods, Fresh Market, and Kroger executive Mathis Martines, we pull back the curtain on what retailers actually need from brands. We discuss why category managers can become your biggest advocates—or your biggest roadblocks. We unpack how shrinking shelf space and expanding e-commerce are changing retail strategy. And we break down the blocking and tackling brands must own: supply chain discipline, out-of-stocks, distributor relationships, and in-store execution. You'll learn how to earn the "license to play" in a category, how to become a value-added resource instead of an ATM, and why driving traffic and growing market basket size matters more than slotting fees. Download my free Strategic Solutions to Grow Your Brand guide and learn how to build a selling story that earns you an equal seat at the table. Then explore additional episodes to deepen your retail growth strategy. Get instant access on the show webpage: RetailSolved.com/session54