Five Disruptors Shaping the Future of Retail Media

In this final part of our series, we shine a spotlight on the pioneers who lead the way in providing retail media services. The world of retail media is a thriving industry worth millions of dollars, with grocers anticipating a remarkable 27% increase in advertising sales driven by media monetization. Additionally, research from Grocery Doppio predicts a forthcoming shift where 17% of total grocery sales will be digital by 2027. 

Given these compelling factors, investing in retail media becomes a strategic necessity. The featured companies play a crucial role in helping grocers seamlessly bridge the gap between different sales channels. Their efforts enhance personalized shopping experiences and act as a catalyst for achieving higher incremental ROI.

Swiftly - Utilizing AI technology, this retail tech company empowers retailers with all-encompassing omnichannel solutions. Their platform merges in-store and digital elements while harnessing insights from first-party data. Through their mobile and digital platform, they provide marketers access to an expansive network of nationwide stores. Collaborating with Save the Mart and Family Dollar, the company's digital platform propels retailers to elevate sales and cultivate customer loyalty. 

Co-founded in 2018 by Henry Kim and Sean Turner and headquartered in Seattle, the firm's integrated platform seamlessly fuses essential components such as Retail Tools, Mobile Platform, Analytics and Insights, and Retail Media Networks. This approach empowers retailers and brands to amplify campaigns by harnessing their proprietary first-party data and reaching a broader customer base.

The company is funded by a  consortium of 13 institutional investors, including notable entities like Gaingels, BRV Management, and Wormhole Capital.

Trade Desk -  An AI-driven media platform is revolutionizing the marketing landscape by enabling marketers to seamlessly launch and assess campaigns, providing consumer insights and empowering them to engage effectively. In June, the company introduced Kokai, a digital measurement platform infused with AI capabilities. This innovation facilitates retailers and marketers in harnessing valuable data through their Retail Sales Index, TV Quality Index, and Quality Reach Index.

Founded in 2009 by Jeff Greens and headquartered in California, the company has forged strategic partnerships within the digital advertising sphere, notably collaborating with prominent grocery retailers such as Walmart, Walgreens, Albertsons, Lidl, Ocado Retail, Dollar General, and others. The company is funded by  investments from 21 institutional investors, such as Citibank and City National Bank.

Firework  A video commerce platform captivates brands and audiences through its innovative shop services within live streaming and shoppable videos. This ingenious solution spans personalized video chats and vertical videos, effectively bringing the immersive in-store experience to customers across a spectrum of brands.Co-founded in 2017 by Jerry Luk and Vincent Yang, the company is headquartered in California. It has strategically partnered with prominent grocery retailers such as Walmart, Kraft Heinz, Albertsons, Sam's Club, and Fresh Market.The company is funded by by a consortium of 10 institutional investors, noteworthy backers include American Express Ventures, SoftBank Vision Fund, IDG Capital, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Cooler screens - The company is a retail media technology firm at the forefront of revolutionizing digital in-store media and merchandising. By harnessing the power of AI, analytics, and IoT sensors, the company facilitates captivating digital experiences through intelligent screen software and hardware. This technology seamlessly transforms existing surfaces such as walls, coolers, aisles, end caps, windows, and food service boards into interactive mediums. With a range of offerings, including a marketplace platform, analytics tools, media solutions, and cooler screens, the company was established in 2017 by Arsen Avakian and is headquartered in Chicago. It has formed strategic partnerships with renowned grocery and consumer packaged goods (CPG) retailers, including Walgreens, Kroger, Murphy USA, CVS, Coca-Cola, Chobani, Mars Wrigley, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Giant Eagle, and Chevron.The company is funded by investments from eight institutional backers, notable among them being Microsoft Accelerator, SVN, and Verizon Ventures.

RelevanC - Leveraging the capabilities of AI to harness extensive datasets, this company offers a cutting-edge digital catalog solution tailored for retailers. It empowers retailers with a comprehensive digital asset repository alongside exclusive tools, enabling them to create impactful store campaigns. Additionally, retailers can capitalize on these campaigns while generating real-time data insights.Established in 2017 under the leadership of CEO Cyrille Geffray, the company is headquartered in Paris. With a global reach spanning four continents, it has established operational bases in Paris, Brazil, and Colombia. The company has forged notable collaborations with key industry players, including Everli, Franprix, Grupo Libertad, Intermarché, and Cdiscount.