EVP and COO
The Vitamin Shoppe
Andrew Laudato is the EVP & COO of The Vitamin Shoppe and a recognized thought leader in retail and technology. He co-founded and chairs the Retail AI Council, guiding the industry’s adoption of artificial intelligence. Passionate about leadership and innovation, he serves on the board of Rufflebutts and frequently speaks at industry events. Laudato is the author of Fostering Innovation: How to Build an Amazing IT Team, where he shares his practical, people-first leadership approach.
Tuesday Jan 13
12:10pm - 12:40pm
Javits North, Level 4, Klaviyo Stage
As AI agents begin to take the reins on everything from product discovery to checkout, the way consumers shop is about to shift dramatically. To meet this moment, leading brands are rethinking how they structure product information, loyalty experiences, and payment flows—designing systems that allow digital “co-shoppers” to act instantly, confidently, and securely on behalf of their users. This session will unpack how businesses can surface the right data to support smart, on-brand recommendations, implement merchandising and fulfillment strategies for fully automated carts, and build a trust layer that ensures security and privacy without introducing friction. Discover what it takes to enable AI-powered shopping that feels effortless—for both the customer and the brand.
Sunday Jan 11
11:20am - 11:40am
Overview Lounge, Javits North, Level 5
A dynamic, interactive format where attendees can engage directly with NRF speakers: leading retail executives, experts in their field and technology innovators. These 20-minute sessions are an open mic opportunity for attendees with an All-Access Pass to ask their most pressing questions — whether about strategy, technology adoption, consumer behavior, talent or future trends. The topics discussed are decided by the audience-driven questions. These sessions are closed to press and off the record.
The session is designed to:
• Foster candid dialogue with industry leaders
• Surface real challenges attendees are facing in their businesses
• Provide practical insights that go beyond the prepared remarks of a keynote
• Encourage peer-to-peer learning as questions from the audience often spark ideas relevant to all
It’s less presentation, more conversation — an opportunity for attendees to hear personalized perspectives from the experts shaping the industry today.
