When you combine the store portfolios of CVS Health, Kroger, and 7-Eleven, you're looking at roughly 25,000 locations across North America.
At RetailSpaces, three seasoned store development executives; Danni Gallagher (VP of Planning, Design and Construction at CVS), Rob Lancaster (Head of Real Estate Development at Kroger), and Terri Micklin (Store Development and Facilities Leader at Seven Eleven), sat down with James Bell from AGI to discuss the realities of managing massive retail footprints in an increasingly complex world.
Key Takeaways
- The Impossible Trinity Still Rules: Despite technological advances, the fundamental challenge remains unchanged—retailers must deliver on time, cost, and quality simultaneously. "Every conversation comes along with the dollar sign," Gallagher noted, while Lancaster emphasized that "once we announce we're opening X new stores for the year, we have to hit that number."
- People Are Everything: All three executives identified their teams as their primary concern. From managing burnout to adapting to hybrid work models, the human element tops their list of challenges. "I spend 80% of my time worrying about the people," Micklin revealed.
- True Partnership Over Transactions: The vendor relationship has evolved beyond simple procurement. These retailers want partners who act as extensions of their teams—providing market intelligence, problem-solving support, and genuine collaboration across thousands of projects.
- AI Adoption Through Small Wins: Rather than revolutionary overhauls, successful AI implementation starts with tactical, transactional processes. "Stack small wins," Micklin advised, while Lancaster focuses on getting his teams "more time behind the windshield and less time behind the screen."
- Adaptability Is the New Superstar Quality: In performance reviews, the ability to pivot has become the most critical skill. As Lancaster put it: "We shouldn't be afraid of AI taking any of our jobs. We should be afraid of people that embrace AI taking our jobs."
Watch the full conversation below...
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