​How the Best Category Teams Use Data and AI Today

​Tuesday, September 8 | 8:30–10:00 AM
Arkade | Bentonville, Arkansas

​What does a high-performing category team actually do differently with data and AI?

​Join us at Arkade for a practical conversation with Vazen Founder, Nick Theodore, about how leading CPG and retail teams are using technology to make better decisions—from understanding what is happening on the shelf today to testing what could happen tomorrow.

​Vazen (formerly VST) works with some of the world’s largest brands, including Nestlé, Unilever, Reckitt, Heineken, Mars, Danone, P&G, Ferrero, and Kellanova. As the company expands into the U.S., its team is bringing a perspective shaped by working with leading category organizations across the UK and Europe.

​This is an opportunity to learn how data, AI, and virtual testing are changing the way category teams approach assortment, planograms, shopper behavior, innovation, and in-store execution.

​What We’ll Explore

​1. From Retailer Data to Better Category Decisions

​Category teams have access to more retail data than ever—but turning that data into actionable decisions is another challenge.

​We’ll explore how teams can use this information to answer questions like:

• ​Where are the biggest opportunities within an assortment?

• ​How should a new product fit within an existing category?

• ​What does the shelf actually look like across different stores or markets?

• ​How can category, shopper marketing, and trade teams work from the same data?

​2. Using AI and Virtual Testing to Learn Before You Launch

​What if you could test a retail change before rolling it out to thousands of stores?

​Instead of waiting weeks or months to learn whether an idea works in market, teams can test and learn much earlier in the decision-making process.

​3. What This Means for the Future of Category Management

​As AI becomes increasingly embedded in retail, the opportunity isn't simply to automate existing processes.

​The bigger opportunity is to help category teams make better decisions, test more ideas, and learn faster.

​We’ll discuss what that looks like in practice—and where retail and CPG teams are already applying these technologies today.

​Who Should Attend?

​This conversation is especially relevant for professionals working in:

​Retail & Walmart

• ​Merchandising

• ​Category Management

• ​Insights

• ​Data Science

• ​Retail Analytics

• ​Shopper Strategy

• ​Data Ventures / Data Monetization

​CPG & Brands

• ​Category Management

• ​Consumer & Shopper Insights

• ​Shopper Marketing

• ​Field Sales

• ​Retail Strategy

• ​Commercial Analytics

​Agencies & Partners

• ​Market Research

• ​Consumer Insights

• ​Shopper Marketing

• ​Retail Strategy

• ​Agencies supporting CPG and retail clients

​If your work involves the shelf, assortment, planograms, shopper behavior, retail execution, or using data and AI to make better commercial decisions, we'd love to have you in the room.

​Why Bentonville?

​Northwest Arkansas is one of the best places to have this conversation.

​With Walmart, major CPG companies, agencies, technology providers, and retail innovators concentrated in the region, Bentonville offers a unique environment for seeing how data and AI are moving from emerging technology into everyday retail decision-making.

​Vazen is expanding into the U.S. and looking to build relationships across the Northwest Arkansas retail ecosystem. Come learn from their experience, see the technology in action, and connect with others thinking about the future of category management.

​Tuesday, September 8
8:30–10:00 AM
Arkade | Bentonville

​Space is limited. Registration is required.