About Us
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We are an industry-leading organization conducting research on people & culture, shopper insights, technology and sustainability in the retail space.
Our organization is comprised of two Councils: CCRRC, which conducts research for supermarkets and similar large stores, and NACS CCRRC, which conducts research for convenience stores.
Two Councils, one shared vision.
While CCRRC and NACS CCRRC serve different sectors, the Councils share the same mission: to create in-depth retail industry research that provides actionable insights.
Values
- Collaboration
- Insights-Driven Research
- Innovation
- Customer-Centricity
Frequently Asked Questions
By creating a collaborative space for industry executives, the Councils are able to identify common challenges that warrant further research. Working with those executives and third-party experts allows for the discovery of strategic, practical solutions that benefit the entire industry.
While Coca‑Cola funds the two Coca‑Cola Retailing Research Councils, it has no role in selecting research topics, conducting research or interpreting the findings. This protects the integrity of the Councils and provides fair and actionable insights that benefit the grocery and convenience retail industries and their operators.
Each of the two Councils is made up of 15–20 retailers representing a variety of operating styles, store types, and ownership. This includes large chains and small independent stores, and at times even direct competitors. The Council members typically serve four-year terms before new retailers from the same regions are selected.
Each Council publishes a report approximately every two years. Additionally, various sections of each report are shared in blog posts and at conferences.
Council Membership
Council Leadership
Pamela Stewart
Chief Customer Officer, Retail North America Operating Unit, The Coca‑Cola Company
Pamela Stewart has spent over 20 years across the Coca‑Cola System in various key executive roles in the areas of sales, operations, franchise, finance, general management, foodservice on premise, and retail business segments. She is the Chief Customer Officer – Retail for the North America Operating Unit of The Coca‑Cola Company leading the entire Retail customer organization across physical, digital, and pureplay partners.
Prior to this role, Pamela was the President, West Zone Franchise Operations responsible for over 80M consumers, 600+ retail and foodservice on premise customers, 20+ bottlers, franchise leadership, operations, and all routes to market for the West geography of North America. Before her career at Coca‑Cola, she spent several years in finance across the Telecommunications industry.
Pamela currently is on the Board of Directors of Utz snacks brands company; Board member of Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) Executive Board, Girls Inc., and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Executive Board. She also is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, Black Women on Boards, NextUp, and Leadership Atlanta. Pamela holds her undergraduate and graduate business administration degrees from Georgia State University and Oglethorpe University and her Harvard Business School executive education certification.
Pamela is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 2024 Savoy Top Corporate Executive; 2024 Top 50 Women Leaders in Consumer Products & Retail; 2022 Phoenix Award bestowed by the Mayor of Atlanta; 2020 Visionary by Consumer Goods Technology; and 2020 Woman of Influence in the Food Industry by Griffin Report.
Sheila Ebanks
Head of Large Store Division, Retail North America Operating Unit, The Coca‑Cola Company
Sheila has over 15 years of consumer-packaged goods experience and has held various leadership roles in sales operations and customer management. She formerly worked for PepsiCo and has worked within our bottling system at Coca‑Cola Beverages Florida (CCBF) over the last six years. During her tenure at CCBF, Sheila held the position of Large Store Customer Management Director and Vice President of Customer Relationship Management for Retail and Digital, with progressive results in transforming the business. She also has held various leadership positions within the Coca- Cola System, including but not limited to being a voting member of the Customer & Commercial Leadership Team, Co-Chair for the South Region Customer Leadership Board 2020-2023, and a member of the Body Armor Business Advisory Board.
Sheila is the Region Advisor for NextUp’s Florida Region, where she champions sponsorship for female talent & allyship. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing & Management Communications, and a Master’s in Business Administration degree from Florida State University.
Kevin LeMoyne
President, Customer Leadership, Convenience Retail North America Operating Unit, The Coca‑Cola Company
Kevin is a 30-year veteran of The Coca‑Cola Company, currently leading the Convenience Retail Customer Leadership group within its North American Operating Unit. Throughout his career, Kevin has demonstrated a passion for building high-performing, diverse teams that focus on value creation with the most strategic clients. He has held numerous senior leadership roles over the years spanning from Retail Sales, On-Premise Sales, and Strategic Partnerships, including the hospitality and entertainment sectors. Kevin has also held numerous leadership roles in Sales Operations, Revenue Growth Management, and Market Development. Kevin is an active member of the National Association of Convenience Stores Supplier Board, where he serves as the chairman of the Supplier Membership Committee.
Originally from Livonia, New York, Kevin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from the State University of New York, College at Cortland.
Kevin and his family enjoy traveling, playing golf, and being active in the community. In 2018, he and his wife Anne co-founded Lovin’ Every Day Foundation in honor of their late son, Matthew. This 501(c)(3) public charity is committed to raising awareness, funding critical research, and aiding families in need related to genetic heart arrhythmia conditions.
Kevin, Anne, and their children, Kamryn and Nate, reside in Milton, GA.
Henry Armour
CEO, NACS
Henry Armour is the president and CEO of NACS in Alexandria, Virginia.
Armour grew up working in his family’s retail automotive and wholesale transportation businesses, Armour Oil Company, from an early age pumping gas, selling tires, and polishing trucks. He managed the company’s retail service stations and transportation facilities, negotiated labor contracts, oversaw the company’s petroleum supply system, and handled government affairs, rising to the position of vice president and chief operating officer of the company in 1977.
In 1980, Armour joined The Standard Oil Company of Ohio where he served as manager of development strategies. Three years later, he founded West Star Corporation, which grew to include 59 NOW! convenience stores, truck stops and quick service restaurants in the Pacific Northwest. He sold the company in 2004.
In 1988 Armour founded a second company, Epoch Corporation, which operated retail enterprises in California. In July 2005, he became president and CEO of NACS.
Armour has long been active as a volunteer for NACS, serving two one-year terms as NACS chairman of the board (2001-2003), as treasurer/ chairman-elect and vice chairman of research & development, as well as chairman of the Technology and Education Sessions committees, and was a member of the association’s Category Management and Future Study 2000 committees. Armour is currently serving on the NACS/Coca- Cola Retailing Research Council.
Armour earned a B.A. in economics from Stanford University in 1973. A year later he earned an M.Sc. in economics from the London School of Economics, and then returned to Stanford to earn an M.B.A. in 1976 and a Ph.D. in economics in 1977.
Marvin Vines
Vice President Industry Leadership, Retail North America Operating Unit, The Coca‑Cola Company
A veteran of the Coca‑Cola Company for 29 years, Marvin is a seasoned leader with the proven ability to develop winning strategies and inspire teams to achieve sustainable growth. He currently serves as Vice President, Industry Leadership, Retail for Coca‑Cola North America Operating Unit. He is responsible for creating and cultivating c-suite level relationships with most strategic retail partners and industry leaders.
Prior to his current role, Marvin served as Group Director, National Sales, leading the Aramark account team, where he was responsible leading his team to drive sustainable growth with Aramark, the third largest concessionaire in the world.
Marvin’s various other roles in Coca‑Cola range from finance to sales analysis to deal management and negotiation.
Marvin holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC. He was also recently appointed to the University of North Georgia Foundation Board of Trustees.
He and his wife Camille have been happily married for three years and have a blended family of 5 children and 6 grandchildren. Marvin and Camille currently reside in Alpharetta, GA.
Michael Sansolo
Research Director, CCRRC
Countless studies and years of work with some of the world’s most innovative companies gives Michael Sansolo a unique and diverse view of the changing nature of trends impacting shoppers, employees, competition, economics, supply chains and management. A long-time senior vice president of the Food Marketing Institute and now a consultant, speaker and author, Sansolo has traveled the globe working with companies on adjusting to new market conditions.
He currently serves as the research director of the Coca‑Cola Retailing Research Councils of North America, working with these groups on emerging business topics such as social networking, emerging technology, store management and changing consumer wants and needs.
Sansolo recently authored Business Rules! a collection of diverse and useful lessons in business success. Stories are gathered from companies of all sizes and lessons from professional sports, Broadway Theater, a New York City catering company and pop star Lady Gaga.
Previously, Sansolo co-authored The Big Picture: Essential Business Lessons from the Movies, a book that identifies creative lessons in leadership, marketing and workplace dynamics gleaned from movies as varied as The Godfather and Young Frankenstein. Topics in the book include ethics, brand building, crisis management, outside-the-box thinking and diversity. Sansolo also writes a weekly column on wide-ranging business trends for www.MorningNewsBeat.com, a daily blog with nearly 35,000 readers.
Katherine Santacoloma
Chief of Staff, Chief Customer Officer, Retail North America Operating Unit, The Coca‑Cola Company
Katherine Santacoloma, a proud native of Colombia, has called Atlanta home since she was 10. She has been with The Coca‑Cola Company for nearly a decade, holding various roles in Corporate Audit, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Development, and the Office of The Chariman & CEO. Currently, she serves as the Chief of Staff to the Chief Customer Office for North America Retail, where she spearheads a wide range of initiatives across the North America Retail Sales team.
Katherine’s journey with The Coca‑Cola Company has taken her around the globe, allowing her to gain invaluable insights into the company’s operations in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Before joining The Coca‑Cola Company, Katherine worked at Ernst & Young as a Senior Assurance Associate. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Professional Accountancy from Georgia State University.
Katherine has also been previously involved in various organizations such as HYPE, ALPFA, and other internal Business Resource Groups (BRGs). Her commitment to personal and professional growth is driven by her passion for continuous learning and development. Above all, Katherine takes immense pride in her most important role – being a mom to her 18-month-old beautiful boy, Gianni, who is the biggest joy of her life.
Leslie Sarasin
CEO, FMI
Leslie G. Sarasin is the President and CEO of FMI – The Food Industry Association. Under her leadership, FMI has become a member-centered organization, helping food retailing venues find innovative ways to feed families and enrich lives. Before joining FMI 16 years ago, Sarasin was the president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute. She holds a JD from the University of San Diego and a BA in economics from Smith College.
Sarasin is admitted to practice law in California and the District of Columbia. She serves on the Boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Partnership for a Healthier America, and the Congressional Hunger Center. She is also involved with the National Association of Manufacturers and the International Women’s Forum of Washington, D.C. and serves on the Business Advisory Council of Western Kentucky University’s Gordon Ford School of Business.
Sarasin has been recognized multiple times as a Progressive Grocer “Top Women in Grocery” and among Mass Market Retailer’s “Most Influential Women.” She received the Hospitality Good Scout Award in 2019 and was named “Association CEO of the Year” by CEO Update in 2021.
Greg Ferrara
CEO, NGA
Greg Ferrara is the President and CEO of the Washington, DC based National Grocers Association (NGA). NGA is the national trade association that is the voice of the retail and wholesale companies which comprise the independent sector of the supermarket industry, as well as those companies that provide products and services to the industry. In his role as President and CEO, Mr. Ferrara is responsible for working with NGA’s Board of Directors to develop and implement a strategic vision which advances the Association’s efforts and public policy positions. Prior to being appointed President and CEO in September 2019, Mr. Ferrara served for many years in various leadership roles at NGA, including as the organization’s chief lobbyist.
Mr. Ferrara brings a wealth of experience in the grocery industry, having managed his family’s century-old supermarket in New Orleans before the store was ultimately destroyed in 2005 in Hurricane Katrina. Greg holds a BA in Political Science from Loyola University New Orleans and is a fellow of the prestigious Institute of Politics at Loyola University. He is a graduate of the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management (IOM), is a graduate of the NGA Executive Leadership Program at Cornell University and is an Eagle Scout. Greg and his wife Nicole are the proud parents of two children, Matthew and Katelyn.