#169 - Target’s Inclusive and Interconnected Approach to Plant-Based

Eat For The Planet with Nil Zacharias

Le’Spencer Walker is Director of the Merchandising Vendor Development (MVD) team and lends his skills and leads in many areas at Target. Currently leading a team that identifies, develops and on-boards women and minority owned brands aligned to Target strategies. Over his 12 years at Target, he made and continues to make a conscientious effort to align his work with his passions through education with storytelling, creating authentic products, leveraging research to amplify strategy, building tools & resources for small minority owned businesses to help them succeed, and bring joy to all. He designed & developed 1000+ products with 7 patents, co-led the Target Owned Brand team communications strategy, former member of the Black History Month enterprise assortment team, and former chairman of The SQUAD - Target’s Owned Brand team engagement committee. A Jackson Mississippi native who resides in Minneapolis with his wife Lauren and two little ones. Purpose and family drives him; “purpose driven people, lead purpose driven lives and, when we look back, did we do our best?... Because that’s what matters”

Topics Covered

• Le’Spencer’s current role at Target.
• Target’s approach to partners and building a more inclusive and diverse product set and supplier base.
• Culture and lifestyle changes driving food trends at Target.
• Target’s approach to the plant-based food category.
• Plant-based categories that are showing the most potential.
• Target’s long term view on plant-based food and sustainability.
• Why Le’Spencer is excited about speaking at and attending Plant Based World Expo 2022 in September.

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