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

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices