Here’s how ad buyers ranked the retail media networks of 14 leading CPG-focused retailers—including Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons, Amazon, Costco Wholesale, CVS, Instacart, Kroger, Target, and Walmart—according to the attributes they value most.

Kroger’s sales sag as grocery prices stabilize: That new state of play could drive the grocer to look to high-margin retail media to drive growth.

Cara Pratt, SVP of Kroger Precision Media, is right when she says that “retail media is media.” While the fast-rising ad format may draw its unique power from retail—specifically the first-party consumer purchase data used for high-octane targeting and closed-loop measurement—it’s not a physical product sold on store shelves and shouldn’t be treated as such.

Walmart expands in-store retail media opportunities: The big-box retailer is giving advertisers more opportunities to reach physical shoppers with digital screens, audio ads, and sampling.

In-store retail media initiatives are gaining momentum: Loblaw, Macy’s, and Schnucks Markets are the latest retailers to invest in the channel.

Albertsons hit its marks in Q1: The company is leaning into private labels, growing its loyalty program, and boosting its digital sales.

Amazon is the biggest retail media network in the US, accounting for three-quarters of retail media revenue share, per our forecast. But its limited grocery footprint leaves an opportunity for competition. Here are recent updates in grocery retail media, and a prediction on the future of in-store retail media.

Walmart was the biggest US retailer by US sales in 2022 with nearly $500 billion in sales, more than double the size of runner-up Amazon, according to the National Retail Federation.

Evolving consumer behavior and easing regulations are opening new pathways for long-term growth.

The pandemic ecommerce boom that drove online sales is over. But marketplaces will continue to expand their share of US retail ecommerce, contributing almost 40% of the $588 billion in US online sales growth that we forecast over the next five years.

Proximity mobile payments are finally reaching a critical mass of users, fueling spending growth. While it will slow in the coming years, providers are capitalizing on growth by building multifunctional ecosystems that expand their captive audience and tighten relationships.

On today's episode, we discuss Apple’s dominance in the digital wallet arena. In our “Headlines” segment, we look at the ramifications of The Kroger Co.’s about-face on Apple Pay and how the EU is scrutinizing Apple Pay in its antitrust investigation. In “Story by Numbers,” we examine how Gen Z’s use of iPhones will keep Apple competitive in the digital wallet space and the success of Apple’s new savings account. And in our new segment, “What If,” host Rob Rubin presents a few hypotheticals and discusses what things would look like if they were true. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst David Morris.

Amazon, Costco Wholesale, and other retailers now face an uphill battle to win recurring revenues in the era of subscription fatigue.

The mega-retailers want to offer the instant payments rail as an alternative to fee-laden cards

The way advertisers think about TV is changing as it shifts from linear to ad-supported streaming. Here are three developments shaping TV ad measurement, streaming behaviors, and consumer targeting.

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.

Disney and Kroger team up to enhance targeting, measurement capabilities: The partnership gives CPG advertisers the ability to better connect ad exposures to sales or their KPI of choice. (This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.)

Retailers and restaurants struggle to fill positions: Over 36% of companies said hiring has gotten harder over the past year.

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.

Pacvue expands beyond retail media to offer retailers a holistic ecommerce solution: The goal is to provide some consolidation in a highly fragmented, competitive marketplace.