In a stroke of retail conference genius, RetailSpaces asked Omni Talk Retail’s Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton to sit down with two retail industry leaders, David Carey, VP of Design, Construction & Maintenance at Schnucks, and Dan Gavin, VP of National Real Estate at Aldi, to record a live podcast from the conference stage about how these two well-respected retailers drive growth and foster innovation while navigating the challenges of store design, construction, and expansion.Carey shares insights on Schnucks’ approach to implementing cutting-edge retail technology, such as smart carts and electronic shelf labels, and how the company manages to maintain a fast pace of innovation that puts Schnucks, not just on par, but ahead of the industry.Gavin delves into Aldi’s ambitious growth plans, including their recent acquisition of Southeastern Grocers as well as their ambitious new store expansion expansion plans. He compares the processes involved in acquisitions and new builds, touching on lease negotiations, employee considerations, and the complexities of driving sustainability across different formats.The conversation also covers Schnucks’ and Aldi’s approach to theft prevention and shrink reduction, as well as the unique processes and technologies both companies use to manage their capital investments efficiently.There’s even live Q&A at the end!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy