Kellanova Execs Predict Top 2026 Tech Trends, Shift From Modernization to Reinvention
The coming year is set to see increased shifts in the tech landscape within the consumer goods industry. According to Kellanova global chief digital and information officer Lesley Salmon, digital transformation will move away from modernization to reinvention, with key tech such as agentic AI and connected commerce leading the way.
"From AI that fuels creativity to connected systems that enhance sustainability, the convergence of technology and human ingenuity is reshaping every part of the CPG ecosystem," Salmon said in a company blog.
Below, learn which tech trends will change how consumer goods companies do business, according to Salmon and other Kellanova executives, and how the industry is approaching digital transformation in these spaces.
Agentic AI
Agentic capabilities allow companies to analyze real-time data, make recommendations and execute actions without direct human intervention, leading to faster decision-making and increased operational efficiency.
"As these AI 'agents' become integrated into CPG workflows, companies are using them to automate repetitive tasks, streamline cross-departmental processes and respond predictively to market fluctuations," said Salmon.
She sees widespread adoption in the near future, which will free up employees so they can focus on higher-value work while allowing companies to "react with unprecedented speed and precision."
Ramesh Kollepara, Kellanova's global chief technology officer, added that advanced algorithms will drive increased efficiency across the business, particularly in supply chain management, demand forecasting and inventory control.
"AI-powered personalization will allow brands to create tailored experiences that deepen engagement and loyalty," he said. "Machine learning will continue to transform product innovation — helping us anticipate consumer needs, spot emerging trends faster and make smarter decisions."
Beyond the Forecast: Gartner predicts that by 2027, the cost-to-value gap for process-centric service contracts will be reduced by at least 50% due to agentic AI reinvention. AI agents will facilitate transforming interactions into a process, allowing value creation beyond labor through innovative workflows.
Advanced Consumer Analytics
Brands are getting closer than ever to their consumers by using advanced analytics to gain deeper insights into their preferences, behaviors and trends — driven by an increase in data collected through digital touchpoints.
Loretta Franks, Kellanova's chief data and advanced analytics officer, added that Kellanova has been able to unlock sharper segmentation and smarter campaigns to drive stronger ROI through data-driven marketing.
[Also: How Kellanova’s data clean room and AI pilot helped develop real-time consumer personalization]
The company has created what it calls an "RGM Navigator" that is enabled by advanced algorithms and AI/ML models to provide optimized pricing and promotion insights, such as which products to promote, when and how deep to discount, and for how long. As a result, Kellanova's salty snack promotions increased 91% in effectiveness from 2024 to 2025.
This, paired with agentic capabilities, will allow Kellanova to move from data summarization to actionable insights through a virtual analyst that automatically identifies trends and explains growth drivers.
Beyond the Forecast: At CGT's Consumer Goods Sales & Marketing Tech Summit earlier this year, Nicole Vinson, VP of global marketing excellence at Kellanova, said the company operates like a SWAT team when it comes to driving a shared data strategy that is consumer centric.
“Every region has a voice in shaping our standards. Cross-functional pods that can rapidly solve problems alongside IT and data analytics partners," said Vinson. "That collaboration creates alignment, rather than enforcement.”
Connected Commerce
The line between digital and in-store experiences has been blurred, and connected commerce (or phygital experiences) will be key in 2026, according to Salmon.
"The future of retail is connected," added Charisse Hughes, global chief growth officer. "We're building ecosystems where physical and digital experiences work together — from interactive packaging that links to digital content, to data-driven in-store engagement."
Beyond the Forecast: To create a connected commerce strategy, Molton Brown's Naresh Krisnamurthy has said companies must use technology to break down silos between commerce, marketing and data.
This results in streamlined omnichannel experiences for all consumers, whether they shop online or in-store (or both). For example, Molton Brown uses its data to craft a personalized journey that begins with a welcome email, gets consumers interested with predictive product recommendations and then reactivates them with post-purchase communications.
Smart Supply Chains
Supply chains in the future will be heavily automated, powered by IoT sensors, predictive analytics and blockchain to ensure increased transparency and reliability, predicts Salmon.
"Our goal is a supply chain that's not just efficient, but smart and resilient," added Rodrigo Lance, SVP of the company's global supply chain. "By connecting data from sourcing to shelf, we can anticipate disruptions, improve transparency and serve consumers with greater speed and reliability."
Salmon stated that smart supply chains build consumer trust, enable product traceability and verifiable sustainability claims, and lead to more informed purchasing decisions.
Beyond the Forecast: Kellanova is leaning into smart assortment to prevent out-of-stocks and transform shelves into responsive, data-driven touchpoints that reflect how shoppers truly behave.
“At Kellanova, we are building a shared data layer so that shelf intelligence, display and digital shelf data all operate off the same ecosystem, creating a single source of truth,” said Meera Patel, Kellanova senior director, global commercial advanced analytics. “When connected seamlessly, decisions can be coordinated across key elements of the shelf. This will allow us to see how an in-store display drove online search lift, or how a bid change on a retailer site impacted shelf productivity and availability.”
[Also: Kellanova refocuses on traditional pricing and promotions as volume growth returns]
Sustainable Technology
Salmon predicts that sustainability and technology will be inseparable as advances in data analytics, materials science and packaging innovation accelerate CPG's transition toward a circular economy.
"As a digitally driven, technology-forward organization, we're embedding sustainability into every stage of our innovation pipeline," added David Lestage, chief R&D officer. "Whether it's optimizing energy use in manufacturing or applying AI to food and packaging design to evaluate more sustainable ingredients and material choices, we're demonstrating that what's better for the planet is also better for business."
Beyond the Forecast: CGT's 2025 Supply Chain Tech Study found that 55% of respondents report that their supply chain performance is "very good or excellent" when it comes to sustainability efforts. This is up 15% over last year.
Salmon emphasized that while all of these trends signal a tech-enabled future, it is people who drive true transformation.
"When we combine data, technology and human curiosity, that's when real magic happens. It's how we turn insights into impact," she said.
