Providing a glimpse into the strategies behind a year marked by economic uncertainty, ecommerce disruptors, and rising competition for consumer loyalty, our “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast’s unofficial retail awards offer lessons for brands to make more informed decisions in 2024. Our analysts discuss the winners that caught their attention—for better or worse.

By sticking to its values, Trader Joe’s has maintained the feeling of a neighborhood store while scaling across the country, while H-E-B’s commitment to caring for its community has won it the heart of Texas. Erewhon has taken a different approach, leveraging its famous clientele and access to lifestyle brands to become a pop culture icon.