SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 2, 2025 - As consumer packaged goods companies head into 2026, Kellanova sees technology not as a back-office enabler but as a growth catalyst connecting insight to action, purpose to performance, and innovation to impact. From agentic AI to connected commerce and smart, sustainable supply chains, the company's leadership argues that digital transformation in CPG is now about reinvention, not just modernization.
Agentic AI moves from pilots to real business impact
Agentic AI is emerging as a force multiplier across the CPG value chain, capable of analyzing real-time data, making recommendations and executing actions without constant human intervention. In practice, that means automating repetitive tasks, streamlining cross-functional workflows and reacting to market shifts with new speed and precision.
"In 2026, we'll see advanced algorithms driving even greater efficiency across supply chain management, demand forecasting, and inventory control," says Ramesh Kollepara, Kellanova's Global Chief Technology Officer. "AI-powered personalization will allow brands to create tailored experiences that deepen engagement and loyalty. Machine learning will continue to transform product innovation - helping us anticipate consumer needs, spot emerging trends faster, and make smarter decisions. And with the responsible application of Agentic AI, we're unlocking new levels of agility, cost efficiency, and adaptability in an ever-changing market."
By embedding AI "agents" into planning, marketing and operations, CPG leaders can free teams for higher-value strategic work while ensuring routine decisions are made faster and with more data behind them.
Advanced analytics turns data into granular growth decisions
The explosion of digital touchpoints is giving brands unprecedented visibility into consumer preferences and behaviors. The challenge is turning that raw data into sharper segmentation, smarter campaigns and measurable ROI.
"Through data-driven marketing, we're unlocking sharper segmentation, smarter campaigns, and stronger ROI. Partnering across the business, we've built a market-leading capability, called 'RGM Navigator' that is powered by trusted data products and AI/ML models, providing optimized pricing and promotion insights, strengthening," says Loretta Franks, Kellanova's Chief Data & Advanced Analytics Officer.
Kellanova reports that this approach delivered a $1 incremental GSV return for every dollar spent by the Kellanova Marketing Fund while increasing trade investment, with salty snack promotions becoming 91% more effective between 2024 and 2025. The next evolution of RGM Navigator brings in agentic AI through:
- A virtual analyst that automatically explores data, identifies trends and explains performance drivers
- Moving beyond static dashboards to answer fundamental business questions, such as extracting promo lifts, reviewing elasticities, or understanding how competitive distribution affects Pringles' market share growth in the US
Together, these capabilities aim to help commercial teams make faster, smarter and more confident decisions that support sustainable, profitable growth.
Connected commerce makes 'phygital' the new default
Consumers no longer separate online and offline retail; they expect a seamless, "phygital" experience across touchpoints. For CPG companies, this requires designing journeys that connect the grocery aisle, the e-commerce basket and emerging digital interfaces.
"The future of retail is connected," says Charisse Hughes, Kellanova's 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."
That vision positions connected commerce as a growth driver that links brand storytelling, shopper marketing and retail execution.
Smart supply chains build resilience and trust
With volatility now a structural feature of global markets, resilient supply chains are becoming a key competitive asset. Digital intelligence powered by IoT sensors, predictive analytics and blockchain is helping CPG players move from reactive firefighting to proactive risk management.
"Our goal is a supply chain that's not just efficient, but smart and resilient," says Rodrigo Lance, SVP of Kellanova'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."
Beyond efficiency, smart supply chains support traceability, verifiable sustainability claims and more informed purchasing decisions, which are increasingly important to retailers and end consumers alike.
Sustainable tech ties ESG to innovation and growth
For Kellanova, sustainability and technology are now inseparable. Advances in data analytics, materials science and packaging innovation are accelerating progress toward a more circular CPG economy.
"As a digitally driven, technology-forward organization, we're embedding sustainability into every stage of our innovation pipeline," says David Lestage, Kellanova's 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."
Digital sustainability tools such as innovative packaging, digital product passports and carbon-tracking capabilities help turn ESG commitments into measurable outcomes. As consumers increasingly "buy values" as much as products, visibility into these metrics becomes a core part of brand equity.
Human + digital: the leadership agenda for 2026
Kellanova's outlook for 2026 reinforces a simple but strategic message: technology alone does not create transformation-people do. When data, technology and human curiosity are combined, CPG companies can turn insights into impact, ensure innovation is inclusive, and bring brands closer to consumers in meaningful ways. The leaders of this next chapter in CPG will be those who use technology not only to connect systems, but to connect people.
To explore more about Kellanova's digital, data and technology strategy in CPG, please refer to the company's official corporate channels.