Retail Strategy & Commercial Positioning
For brands & retailers
- Product & category positioning
- Price architecture & margin logic
- Branded vs private label strategy
- Market entry & expansion planning
Athens, Greece
Driving clarity.
Delivering value.
VDS Advisory supports founders, investors, and operators with practical strategy across Retail strategy, negotiations, pricing, and systems.
How we work.
Retail is a game of details—terms, promos, systems, and execution. We keep engagements practical, measurable, and built around how retailers and brands actually operate.
Choose the engagement model that fits your stage. We can start light and scale up—without losing speed.
- Quick diagnostic across pricing, terms, promos, and execution
- Clear prioritization: what to fix first and why
- Action plan with owners, KPIs, and timeline
- Market entry, systems, private label, category reset
- Defined scope, timeline, and deliverables
- Hands-on support from strategy through execution
- Always-on partner for negotiations, planning, and problem-solving
- Weekly cadence + ad hoc escalation
- Dashboards, governance, and stakeholder alignment
- Listings secured, margin uplift, scale milestones
- Aligned incentives with clear measurement rules
- Best for high-impact commercial projects
- For high-potential cases where we can compound impact
- Skin-in-the-game structure, agreed up front
- Longer-term partnership orientation
Services built for retail reality.
Practical advisory for brands, retailers, and operators—covering positioning, terms, pricing, systems, and growth.
Buyer, Supplier & Negotiation Advisory
Both sides of the table
- Buyer pitch & listing strategy (for brands)
- Supplier negotiation & term optimization (for retailers)
- Listing fees, rebates, promos, penalties
- Contract review & risk prevention
Costing, Pricing & Margin Engineering
Retail-grade financial reality
- True cost-to-serve modeling
- Promo & rebate impact analysis
- Margin recovery projects
- Price index & competitive benchmarking
Go-to-Market, Roll-Out & Scale
From first listing to real growth
- Pilot launches & regional roll-outs
- Category resets & shelf optimization
- KPI definition (sell-out, promo ROI, sales/m²)
- National & multi-chain expansion
Retail Systems, ERP & Data Enablement
Where most people fail — and you differentiate
- ERP, POS & inventory system advisory
- EDI & supermarket compliance readiness
- Demand forecasting & replenishment logic
- Retail dashboards & reporting structure
CRM & Trade Relationship Management
Professionalizing relationships
- Buyer & supplier CRM setup
- Promo calendars & contract tracking
- Distributor & account management structure
- Internal sales & category workflows
Quick Commerce, E-Commerce & Omnichannel
Built to complement — not destroy — retail
- Q-commerce entry (Wolt, Glovo, efood, dark stores)
- Retail vs DTC pricing & channel conflict control
- Click-&-collect & local delivery strategy
- Digital shelf & app visibility optimization
Franchise Concepts, Commercial & Development
Ideas to roll-out
- Franchise concept development & commercial models
- Financial modelling for franchise and multi-site growth
- Development planning, pilot stores & roll-out support
- Operational playbooks and franchise onboarding
Investment Advisory
Capital, valuation & deal readiness
- Fundraising strategy and investor materials
- Commercial due diligence and valuation support
- Deal structuring, term guidance, and negotiation support
- Investor-ready financial models and scenarios
Total Quality, Food Safety & Hygiene
Safety-first operations
- Integrated Total Quality Framework Design
- HACCP & Food Safety System Mapping
- Certification Standards Benchmarking & Strategic Preparation
- Hygiene & Sanitation Program Design
- Risk Assessment & Traceability Planning
- Technical Documentation & Manuals
Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory readiness
- Regulatory Gap Analysis
- EU & National Legislation Mapping
- Compliance Roadmap Development
- Audit Readiness & Inspection Support
- Licensing & Permits Advisory
Import–Export Advisory
Cross-border trade support
- Market Access Regulatory Assessment
- Import / Export Compliance Mapping
- Labeling & Claims Compliance Design
ESG & CSR — Mapping to Development
Sustainable commercial value
- Sustainability & ESG Baseline Mapping
- ESG Strategy & Policy Design
- ESG KPIs & Performance Metrics
- CSR Program Development
- ESG Data Collection & Reporting Support
Meet our team.
Focused team with practical retail experience. Download CVs to learn more.
Nektaria K.
Total Quality & ESG Expert
Chemist with an MSc in Food Science & Technology and 16 years of experience, specializing in Total Quality Excellence and the strategic integration of ESG criteria within the business ecosystem.
Download CV
Dimitris S.
Data Enginner/Business Intelligence Analyst
Experienced Data Engineer & Business Intelligence Analyst with a strong background in delivering end-to-end data solutions across multiple sectors, with proven expertise in ETL pipelines, data warehousing, and advanced analytics
Download CV
Dimitris St.
Business and Finance Advisor
Experienced business and finance professional with a strong background in procurement, financial analysis, and business planning across retail, consulting, and FMCG sectors. Proven ability to drive data-informed decisions, optimize commercial performance, and support strategic growth initiatives.
Download CVWho we serve.
Clear focus. Two client types where we can create outsized commercial impact.
Food Brands & Producers
We help you:
- Enter supermarket chains
- Negotiate better terms
- Scale sustainably
- Build systems that buyers trust
Independent Supermarket Chains (1–10 Stores)
We help you:
- Improve margins & category performance
- Negotiate like big chains
- Launch private label profitably
- Implement modern retail systems
- Compete with nationals & q-commerce
Get in touch.
Prefer to call or email? Use the options below to reach us directly.
VDS Advisory
Quick contact
Call us directly or open your mail client to send an email.