274. Selim Tansug, COO at The Quality Group: Resilient & Customer Centric-Operations

A year later, we are back with a special CPG Guys × FMCG Guys crossover with Rick Swinkels, CEO of TCC Global, during Groceryshop in Las Vegas. You can also watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/rkq6l7SXA30  This time, we focus on why loyalty is the real growth lever in grocery right now. We dig into shopper “promiscuity” under value pressure, the surge of private label, how misused promos and siloed RMNs erode trust, and why paid memberships and smart, human-centred personalization are setting the next rules. Rick also shares how TCC’s physical-reward programs and new social “Loyalty Quest” turn everyday shoppers into loyalty activists—and deliver measurable, total-store lift. Tune in to hear about: Shoppers & value: tighter wallets, more store-hopping, bigger price delta vs. brands → private label wins; promos often train disloyalty. Loyalty > RMN: retail media must serve the experience; when RMN teams are siloed, messaging conflicts and trust suffers. Paid memberships: the next loyalty model—bundled value (delivery, exclusives, services) that changes behavior and economics. AI with a human core: backend gains + real personalization, but in-store experience, staff, and brand mission still do the heavy lifting. TCC playbook: physical rewards to shape behaviour (3–5% total-store uplift) and “Loyalty Quest” to reward shareable shopper moments. More  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmcgguys/   Audio Mixing by Rodrigo Chávez Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.  

Today’s guest is Selim Tansug, COO at The Quality Group, a leader in the Sports Nutrition and Functional space with brands like ESN and More Nutrition. With 20 years in supply chain and an 18-year career at Unilever, he shares his perspective on how the industry has evolved from global optimization to resilience and agility amid today’s volatility. From managing operations in Turkey, Vietnam, and Europe to leading the growth of a D2C sports nutrition business, Selim reflects on balancing speed, innovation, and technology while maintaining culture and a consumer focus. Tune in to hear about:  How supply chains are shifting from efficiency to resilience and agility. The role of innovation and digitalization in complex operations. Strategies for leading teams and managing rapid growth. Balancing short-term performance with long-term transformation. Challenges of demand planning in e-commerce and influencer-driven models.   More  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmcgguys/   Audio Mixing by Rodrigo Chávez Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.          

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V9dHBZDZv3A In this episode of The Hot Seat, we are joined by Jemma Haley from The John Lewis Partnership, who dives into her world of retail media strategy, sharing the highs, lows, and quirky bits of her day-to-day. Get to know her through rapid-fire personal questions, ping pong beer brands, “Would You Rather?” dilemmas, and the classic “Two Truths and a Lie”, where she shared her background dancing in a Status Quo video that might just go viral now. We know how to have fun but also when to keep it serious. Find out what she thinks about today’s hot topics: tech solutions vs. agencies, in-store vs. online shopping, and bold predictions for the next year. Oh, and did we mention the epic boat ride networking event? Lots of laughs, a little chaos, and memories made. It’s fun, fast, and full of personality. Definitely not your usual retail media podcast. More Women in Retail Media Collective: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-retail-media-collective/  The FMCG Guys: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmcgguys 

Sign up for Candid Commerce Amsterdam (Nov 5th at Capital C): https://candid-commerce.com/amsterdam-2025  See last year's event: https://candid-commerce.com/candid-commerce-amsterdam  Candid Commerce London: https://candid-commerce.com/candid-commerce-london  The Hot Seat: https://www.fmcgguys.com/hot-seat-wrmc/ 

In today’s episode we are joined by Sorin Patilinet from Pepsico. Growing up in Romania without access to global brands sparked his fascination with advertising and shaped his perspective on how marketing drives connection and influence. He joins Daniel to speak about his recent book “Marketing Effectiveness: Applying Marketing Science for Brand Growth”. Tune in to hear about: How Marketing blends creativity and analytical htinking The principles of marketing effectiveness and why it must be defined beyond ROI. The importance of integrating data and strategy to drive sustainable brand growth. How to balance global consistency with local market nuance. The role of AI in reshaping both work processes and consumer engagement. How effectiveness requires combining analytical rigor with creative judgment. Why diverse professional experiences build stronger marketers than linear career More Find the book on Amazon Here  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmcgguys/   Audio Mixing by Rodrigo Chávez Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.

In today’s episode we are joined by Pavi Gupta, Insights and Analytics VP at Chobani, with nearly three decades of experience across global FMCGs. Over his career, he has witnessed and shaped how new technologies transform the way organizations generate and apply insights. He joins the show to discuss how curiosity, empathy, and change management remain at the core of the function, and why elevating the role of insights is more critical than ever. Tune in to hear about: How AI and automation free teams from grunt work to focus on creativity and empathy. Shifting mindsets: seeing AI as augmentation rather than replacement. Managing both passive and active resistance to change. Why curiosity and the art of asking the right questions remain the human superpower. Lessons from technologies ahead of their time, like electric cars in the 1890s and early social listening projects. More: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmcgguys/   Audio Mixing by Rodrigo Chávez Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.

The Hot Seat is a special episode series of The FMCG Guys in collaboration with the Women in Retail Media Collective. You can also watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/nGmcW0BSxTQ  In every episode (cadence TBD!), we will be unveiling the most personal and fun side of different Retail Media Personalities. Expect Quick-fire games, bold opinions, and zero buzzwords. This section will be hosted by the co-Founders of the collective Ana Laura Zain and Emma Helsloot and our very own Daniel Torres.  

Axel Adida, Chief Digital Officer at Beiersdorf—the German company behind iconic personal care brands like Nivea and Eucerin and Ultra-Premium Beauty La Prairie —joins Christina and Daniel to explore how his passion for pop culture and the “Zeitgeist” (the spirit of the times) shapes his approach to connecting heritage brands with today’s trends. Tune in to hear about: How skincare education has evolved from beach balls and TV ads to TikTok and AI-powered routines Social Media as a (suprisingly?) much more candid form of content and brand exposure The role of influencers, creators, and UGC in driving authentic consumer engagement What Pop Culture means and why it matters for FMCG brands The shift from “brand says” to “people say” in consumer communications How Beiersdorf balances nostalgia, inclusivity, and innovation across its brand portfolio Why AI and generative search will be game-changers for brand visibility and consumer decision-making Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmcgguys/   Audio Mixing by Rodrigo Chávez Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.

For many people in our industry, our guest doesn't need any introduction. Roger Dunn has become one FMCG and Retail's Top Voices through his content and thought leadership in Retail Media. What maybe some people don't know is that Roger also serves in a global role at the world's largest liquor company: Diageo. In this episode, we speak not only about the latest in Retail Media but we specifically focus on what's in it for the Brands and Consumers. Tune in to hear about: How Roger became a Linkedn Top Voice The Retail Media boom and why brand have bought into it Why Amazon's still ahead of the game One-size-fits-all versus composable How Retail Media can - or not - benefit consumers Subscribe to Roger's newsletter:  https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-ai-commerce-brief-7362761335731863552/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmcgguys/   Audio Mixing by Rodrigo Chávez Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.

Stefano Volpetti is the President of Smoke-Free Products and Chief Consumer Officer at Philip Morris International. With a background in Consumer Goods at P&G, he joined the legacy tobacco business to lead it into a new era: smoke-free. In this episode, we explore what motivated his move to a controversial industry—challenging his own pre-conceived ideas—and how he’s reinventing the category through product innovation, consumer understanding, and innovative marketing and route-to-market. Tune in to hear about: Stefano’s career journey from Procter & Gamble to Philip Morris in a variety of functions and roles Their flagship product IQOS, and how it’s become a multi-billion dollar brand Shifting from B2B to a consumer-centric B2C How experiential marketing is key to consumer adoption The importance of courage, purpose and continuous improvement   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmcgguys/   Audio Mixing by Rodrigo Chávez Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian   Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.