Simbe

It’s my distinct privilege to announce the formation of Simbe’s Strategic Advisory Board! For decades, #retail has relied on three data sources: supply chain, point of sale, and consumer engagement. But none of those capture what happens where shoppers make purchase decisions: the shelf. That’s why we're building retail’s fourth pillar of truth: shelf intelligence — the essential data infrastructure for modern AI initiatives. Simbe’s Strategic Advisory Board will help guide this next era and is united by the conviction that digitizing the shelf is the foundation of the intelligent retail operating model. Members of the board include: Anne Mezzenga: CEO & Co-founder of OmniTalk; board member and former Target executive who led the Store of the Future project. Bennett Morgan: BCG Senior Advisor; former exec at SpartanNash, Amazon, Walmart, and H-E-B with decades of merchandising leadership. Bob Hardester: Former CIO & Chief Supply Chain Officer at Schnucks Markets and Express Scripts, with deep digital & supply chain expertise. Bruce Burrows: Former CIO at Sobeys and Loblaw; led multimillion-dollar IT and supply chain modernization initiatives. Chris Walton: Co-CEO & Co-founder of OmniTalk, Forbes contributor, and former Target executive leading Store of the Future and online merchandising. Marybeth Hays: Board member, Kearney senior advisor, former EVP at Walmart U.S. Consumables & Health, with senior roles at Sam’s Club, Lowe’s, Walmart China. Sean Spillane: Former SVP of Strategy & Real Estate at Stop & Shop; previously spent 20 years in Accenture’s retail strategy practice. We’re also thrilled to welcome David Steck, Schnucks’ former VP of IT Store & Emerging Technology, as Expert in Residence. The timing couldn’t be better. Capex surged 91% YoY in Q2, with in-store #retailtechnology spend up 151% YoY, underscoring unprecedented investments. Our Strategic Advisory Board knows what it takes to transform operations at scale. Their backing makes one thing clear: digitizing the shelf is retail’s future, and Simbe is leading the way.

I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Simbe as an Expert in Residence. One of the highlights of my career was spearheading the first-ever chainwide deployment of autonomous mobile robotics at Schnucks—a journey that transformed how we thought about delighting guests and empowering store teammates with in-store technology. I’m looking forward to working with Simbe’s clients (the largest number globally in the sector!) to bring the power of shelf data to life, so they can unlock the same significant value from in-store intelligence that we did at Schnucks.

Thrilled to be sharing my next chapter - VP EMEA at Simbe! I’m excited to announce that today I’m starting my new role as VP of EMEA with Simbe Robotics. Over the last 25 years, I’ve helped bring a range of pioneering technologies to market – from the first mobile email platform, to the first mobile advertising platform, and then more recently, bringing the first fixed camera for retail solution to the UK. I’ve always derived the most satisfaction from using new technology to deliver huge value to customers. Across Europe, I’ve consistently heard the same priorities from retail leaders: how to overcome labour shortages, smooth supply chain issues, and ensure shelves are stocked to deliver the best customer experience and ultimately increase sales. Store Intelligence like Simbe’s directly addresses all three. When I first entered this space five years ago, even the earliest systems delivered real benefits to forward-thinking retailers, but they also faced limitations. With Simbe’s multi-modal approach, those limitations are gone, especially now for: • Fresh, bakery & produce: High-frequency image scanning handles it. • Apparel, club, home improvement, & leisure: RFID technology ensures accuracy on difficult to see products. • Store-specific layouts: Simbe’s Tally robot autonomously maps each store building a Real’o’Gram as it works, removing the need for manual system training with a planogram. This is why I believe Store Intelligence has shifted from a nice-to-have to a must-have, bridging the data gap between what comes in the back door and what leaves through the front. With more customers than any other provider, Simbe is already the standout leader in this field, and I’m looking forward to helping expand our presence even further in EMEA and support more retailers in unlocking the full value of this amazing technology.   A big thank-you to Brad Bogolea, Brooks Augustine, Benjamin Bond, Chris Jensen and Aya I. for all your support throughout the recruitment process. I’m looking forward to working with the entire Simbe team to build the next chapter of this game-changing technology.

I enjoyed a few days of fresh ideas, fresh connections, and fresh ocean air at FMI Fresh Forward in San Diego where they delivered it all, right down to dinner on a yacht. In a keynote on labor and leadership, Suzy Monford shared a simple but powerful reminder: Gen Z (and really, every generation) does their best work when they have tools that make the job easier, faster, and more meaningful. The right technology frees teams up for the parts of the job that matter most: serving shoppers, creating standout merchandising, and building community. A panel on labor challenges took that idea further. The message to retailers: 1️⃣ Focus on the fixes that have the biggest impact on sales and the shopper experience 2️⃣ Put clear, actionable insights directly in associates’ hands 3️⃣ Free up time for more customer engagement and creative displays 4️⃣  Make change stick by showing quick wins and building confidence along the way 🤝 It was inspiring to see so many practical, people-first strategies, proof that leading retailers are using technology to make stores better for both shoppers and teams. Thanks to FMI- The Food Industry Association, the speakers, and everyone who brought fresh thinking to the table. And a special nod to the yacht captain who kept us on course while we navigated new horizons. #FMIFreshForward #RetailLeadership #ShelfIntelligence #GroceryInnovation