Richard Trainor: This is Not Just a Podcast…

Retail Analyst Richard Trainor, who joined Bernstein in 2025 after five years at Marks & Spencer, joins host Patrick Robinson to explore what separates the winners from the rest in one of Europe's most competitive sectors: food retail. While grocery retail may appear to be a slow-growing, low-margin industry, Richard explains why distinctive business models and disciplined execution can still generate exceptional returns. The conversation examines the importance of scale, the rise of discounters across Europe, and how different markets have developed their own winning retail models. Richard also shares insights from his time at Marks & Spencer, discussing what successful retail transformations look like in practice, why the in-store experience remains the clearest indicator of a retailer's health, and the leadership required to turn around struggling businesses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.