Jeff Edison, chairman and CEO of Phillips Edison & Co., Inc. (Nasdaq: PECO), sat down for a video interview during Nareit’s REITweek: 2025 Investor Conference in New York City on June 2-5.
Edison underscored the company’s enduring stability and forward-thinking approach despite broader economic uncertainties. He pointed to the resilience of necessity-based retail centers anchored by top grocers as a major strength. “What Phillips Edison has been able to do is add to that a very strong growth strategy,” Edison noted, emphasizing their ability to deliver consistent results even in volatile environments.
Edison described a retail landscape where limited new construction is giving Phillips Edison pricing power and better control over center merchandising. He also acknowledged strong tenant demand and resilient consumer sentiment: “It’s kind of surprising with as much turmoil as there is that the consumer has maintained…a strong position.”
On the innovation front, Edison shared that each department at Phillips Edison has been tasked with adopting an AI solution. Early applications are already enhancing efficiencies in areas like HR and legal, and Edison expressed enthusiasm for how AI will soon support smarter acquisition strategies and broader operational improvements.