Texas A&M scholar named one of RETHINK Retail’s top experts for third year in a row
National honor highlights Simon Somogyi’s sustained research leadership in food e-commerce and retail innovation
For the third year in a row, Simon Somogyi, Ph.D., head of the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Agricultural Economics Dr. Kerry Litzenberg Sales and Economic Endowed Chair, has earned a place on RETHINK Retail’s 2026 Top Retail Experts list, a prestigious global accolade in the retail and consumer packaged industry.
Somogyi, also director of the Weston Agrifood Sales Program, joins a select group of influential voices – researchers, analysts, executives and strategists – whose work shapes the retail industry.
Experts are selected based on measurable industry impact, depth of thought leadership, and sustained contributions to advancing retail through research, public discourse and real-world implementation.
Somogyi was selected in the academia category for his research on digital food retailing, consumer behavior and smart retail platforms.
This recognition culminated during RETHINK Retail’s AI in Retail Conference and Gala on Jan. 12, where awardees will be formally highlighted among industry leaders convening during National Retail Federation week in New York.
Research explores digital food retailing and evolving consumer behavior
Somogyi’s work focuses on how technology is reshaping food procurement, distribution and consumer decision-making.
He studies how consumers use click-and-collect, self-checkout, third-party delivery apps and loyalty platforms, areas that increasingly define retail performance and customer expectations.
“Much of my research looks at digital forms of food retailing and how both consumers and the industry react to these models,” Somogyi said. “Convenience and variety are driving the marketplace. Families are busy, and anything that makes purchasing food as frictionless as possible, whether ordering on an app or collecting curbside, is where the growth is.”
Major U.S. grocers have continued to expand food e-commerce, with efficient logistics systems and membership-driven loyalty programs fueling rapid adoption, Somogyi added.
“We’re at a point where billions of dollars in food sales occur online, and companies that can order, fulfill and deliver efficiently are winning,” he said.
Looking ahead, Somogyi expects 2026 to bring continued growth in “frictionless” food retailing, driven by platform convenience, logistics innovation and consumer time pressures.
New research to look at how farmers and ranchers reach consumers digitally
Somogyi received the award because he is exploring consumer convenience and its impact on markets as well as how producers can connect directly with their customers.
His team recently submitted a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant proposal to study how producers worldwide sell value-added products online and how those models might translate to U.S. markets.
“Farmers and ranchers are busy running 365-day operations, and traditional sales channels like farmers markets or farm stands are familiar and widely used,” Somogyi said. “But there are emerging models globally where producers are far more digitally engaged with consumers, and we want to understand what that means for U.S. producers.”
Somogyi’s proposed study will evaluate existing U.S. and international models, assess consumer and producer interests in engaging with these models, and provide producers with strategies for using these platforms to reach new markets.
