Zach Overton on Samsung's Brick and Mortar Experience
For electronics giant Samsung, the retail experience has to be “so much more than just shopping,” says Zach Overton, VP of consumer experience for Samsung. That’s why Samsung is rolling out a multipurpose digital hub to test out products that amplify everyday experiences. Zach Overton sat down with Alyssa Julya Smith at the eTail conference in Palm Springs, California to discuss the company's new venture.
Overton explains that it's really "about how you make the brick-and-mortar space the most profound expression of your brand.”
The two-year-old Samsung 837 venue, located in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, features events like movie screenings and live performances. It allows customers to become immersed in Samsung technologies through virtual reality and interactive art installations.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after they joined in a massive merger that created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. When the company formed in 2015 it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz's net revenue has fallen every year since 2020.
About 780,000 pressure washers sold at retailers like Home Depot are being recalled across the U.S. and Canada, due to a projectile hazard that has resulted in fractures and other injuries among some consumers.
President Donald Trump has fired one of two Democratic members of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to break a 2-2 tie ahead of the board considering the largest railroad merger ever proposed.