Functional benefits are no longer the sole measure of a product's value. Emotional resonance and sensory appeal are increasingly driving purchase decisions.

For younger consumers, emotional buying means seeking products that offer aesthetic appeal, playful experiences, and self-expression. For older consumers, it means products that deliver comfort, nostalgia, and a sense of emotional security.

As this shift accelerates, the emotion economy is emerging as a new driver of product strategy and growth.

This session explores:

- How can buyers identify emotional needs across generations and build more targeted selection strategies?

- How can assortment innovation meet both Gen Z's emotional impulses and seniors' psychological needs to unlock cross-generational growth?

- What emerging micro-trends in F&B's emotion economy should buyers watch to stay ahead?

As consumers grow more sensitive to widely available, lookalike products, membership retailers like Sam's Club must rethink supplier selection and brand portfolio strategy.

This session explores:

- Why are shoppers unwilling to pay a premium for products they can find anywhere?

- How can exclusivity—through custom formulations, unique packaging, and added services—create perceived value and justify premium pricing?