As retail media enters its next phase, marketing efforts are moving up the funnel toward new formats like open web, social, and streaming TV. By leveraging partnerships with social media companies, streaming platforms, and publishers, retail media networks can reach consumers earlier in the buying cycle and build brand awareness.

Albertsons’ earnings beat expectations as debate over its acquisition by Kroger rages on: A wave of antitrust concerns from consumers, employees, suppliers, and government officials is putting the deal in doubt.

The rise of in-store retail media will prove that the physical store is the next major media channel for brands.

Search is already a major component of retail media; social is the next integration. Advertisers still view social media as a discovery medium and retail media as a conversion-driver. But both platforms are “potentially full-funnel,” according to Liz Cole, executive director and US head of social at VMLY&R, speaking at our “Attention!” summit.

Economic uncertainty caused investors to grow cautious: Even so, there were several significant acquisitions in 2022.

Kroger plans to acquire Albertsons, a nearly $25 billion deal that will result in a retail media network capable of reaching 85 million US households, according to the company.

Among US adults, 16% pay for a Walmart+ membership. Those subscribers skew younger: 23% of 18- to 34-year-olds pay for the premium, versus just 10% of those ages 55 to 65.

Kroger and Albertsons look to merge: A deal would create a supermarket giant that would be better able to compete against Walmart.

The top five digital grocers in the US will capture 67.2% of the country’s grocery ecommerce sales in 2022. That figure will rise slightly over the next two years, with leaders Walmart Inc. and Amazon growing their shares by about 1 percentage point each.

Inflation will drive sales growth, but consumers are also spending more of their overall grocery dollars online.

Grocers seek to make inroads with lower-income consumers: Walmart, Albertsons, and BJ's Wholesale Club are among the retailers eyeing the sizable customer segment.

The digital shelf has grown more competitive for CPG brands amid the rise of grocery ecommerce and increasing retail media ad spend.

Instacart jumped from 10.2% of US digital grocery sales in 2019 to 21.5% in 2020, taking over share as people pivoted to online grocery deliveries. Walmart has had the highest digital grocery share since 2020, which put it in good shape this past earnings season when consumers cut back on superfluous spending and sought grocery savings.

Nearly every modern consumer has at least some concern about the environment, but its influence on shopping behavior is far more nuanced.

Despite market uncertainty, rapid delivery is becoming a fact of life: Tesco, Albertsons, and Publix are some of the retailers inking deals with delivery platforms to offer quick fulfillment, while quick commerce startup Zepto is raking in cash from investors.

This inaugural benchmark evaluates 10 leading digital grocery services, ranked based on consumers’ demand for 30 different features.

Amazon’s bet on brick-and-mortar grocery has yet to pay off: A new report highlights the company’s physical retail struggles, but digital grocery remains a bright spot.

Brands eagerly jump on the retail media network bandwagon: As access to customer data becomes a priority for brands, retailers see an opportunity to diversify their revenue streams.

US digital grocery sales grew 63.9% year over year during the pandemic in 2020. In 2021, sales will reach $122.39 billion. This report details the emerging trends in digital grocery and the implications for key players in the space.

Before the pandemic, 84% of US adults shopped for groceries in stores, but as of June 2021, that number's slipped down to 70%.