This Week in Retail Media

Advertising spend is to go up, Holiday spend is up and Albertsons ups its AI. Kate and Jonathan take a merry walk through the top stories This Week, In Retail Media.Learn more about What's in Store for Retail Media Networks at NRF and register for your tickets at STRATACACHE.comStory One: WPP estimates commerce media spending to overtake TV this yearhttps://digiday.com/media-buying/wpp-estimates-commerce-media-spending-to-overtake-tv-this-year/Story Two:CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor’s November Data Shows Strong Year-Over-Year Growth in First Half of Holiday Season https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/cnbc-nrf-retail-monitor-s-november-data-shows-strong-year-over-year-growth-in-first-half-of-holiday-seasonStory Three:Albertsons Introduces Agentic AI Shopping Assistant https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/features/news-briefs/albertsons-introduces-agentic-ai-shopping-assistant

Jonathan and Kate explore the likely impact on the retail media ecosystem of the IPG takeover by Omnicom. Then they discuss why challenger brands are thriving online and why Morrisons are installing 300 digital screens. Learn more about What's in Store for Retail Media Networks at NRF and register for your tickets at STRATACACHE.comStory One: Omnicom Closes $13 Billion Deal for IPG, Creating Advertising and Communications Gianthttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/omnicom-closes-deal-ipg-advertising-mega-deal-1236436486/Story Two: IPG Study Reveals Legacy Brands Losing Agentic Commerce Warhttps://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/411004/ipg-study-reveals-legacy-brands-losing-agentic-com.html?edition=140734Story Three:Morrisons joins forces with BMO for DOOH advertising debuthttps://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2025/11/morrisons-digital-screens/

Kate and Jonathan discuss what Walmart’s quarterly results say about its identity as a media brand or retailer or both. The partnership between Albertsons Media Collective and NBCUniversal is also explored with tensions around new digital signs at Toronto’s Union Station bus terminal and their use of facial-detection technology. Secure your spot for What’s in Store for Retail Media Networks. More information and a link to purchase tickets at STRATACACHE.com.Story One:Walmart’s ad business surges 53%, e-commerce growth tops 20% for 7th straight quarter https://www.storyboard18.com/advertising/walmarts-ad-business-surges-53-e-commerce-growth-tops-20-for-7th-straight-quarter-84556.htmStory Two:Albertsons and NBCUniversal Introduce CTV Closed-Loop Measurement https://progressivegrocer.com/albertsons-and-nbcuniversal-introduce-ctv-closed-loop-measurementStory Three:Digital ad using facial recognition in Toronto’s Financial District draws concerns, expert weighs inhttps://nowtoronto.com/news/digital-ad-using-facial-recognition-at-torontos-union-station-draws-concerns-expert-weighs-in/

This week Jonathan and Kate take a look at the partnership between Uber and Loblaws and what Loblaw Companies Limited are saying about their retail media earnings potential. From there, the duo turn to massive signs in escalator spaces in the John Lewis Bluewater store. Finally, Tik Tok takes a turn under the spotlight as the platform releases its Safety Report. To find more information on and to get tickets for What’s in Store for Retail Media Networks at NRF’s Big Show please visit. https://bit.ly/4oUQVYIStory One:Loblaw and Uber Eats team to bring on-demand grocery delivery to more Canadians https://chaindrugreview.com/loblaw-and-uber-eats-team-to-bring-on-demand-grocery-delivery-to-more-canadiansStory Two:John Lewis unveils cutting-edge retail media suite in refurbed Bluewater store https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2025/11/john-lewis-retail-media-3/Story Three:TikTok Outlines Latest Measures To Protect In-App Shoppershttps://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-shop-safety-report-2025/805086/

Jonathan and Kate consider the custom attention metrics being offered by Uber Advertising before turning towards Co-Ops 1000th front of store screen. The dynamic advertising duo then discuss how Amazon are bringing everyday essentials into Whole Foods. The agenda for What’s in Store for Retail Media Networks at NRF’s Big Show is now available with new speakers added each week.Story One:Uber Launches A Platform-Specific Attention Metric With Adelaide And Kantarhttps://www.adexchanger.com/platforms/uber-launches-a-platform-specific-attention-metric-with-adelaide-and-kantar/Story Two:Co-op Media Network installs milestone 1000th front-of-store digital screen https://www.theretailbulletin.com/food-and-drink/co-op-media-network-installs-milestone-1000th-front-of-store-digital-screen-05-11-2025/Story Three:Amazon’s grocery store dreams are reshaping Whole Foodshttps://www.theverge.com/news/814454/amazon-whole-foods-fulfillment-concept-store

After a week off - Kate and Jonathan return to discuss if Amazon is truly being helpful with their new AI tool, why apps in store are useful and lucrative as Walmart reveals their holiday plans, and what might be holding in-store retail media back.Story One:Amazon Launches New AI Shopping Tool in US for the Indecisivehttps://www.businessoffashion.com/news/technology/amazon-launches-new-ai-shopping-tool-in-us-for-the-indecisive/Story Two: Walmart Looks to ‘Rewrite the Holiday Playbook’ with New In-Store AI Experienceshttps://www.retailtouchpoints.com/topics/data-analytics/ai-machine-learning/walmart-looks-to-rewrite-the-holiday-playbook-with-new-in-store-ai-experiencesStory Three:IAB Europe updates retail and commerce media landscape map https://ppc.land/iab-europe-updates-retail-and-commerce-media-landscape-map/

Kate and Jonathan are in the same physical space - that of the Scala showroom in central London where they discuss the in-store investment of Loblaw, why Instacart and Tik Tok are teaming up, and why Duolingo is speaking the language of narrative advertising.Story one:Loblaw expands in-store digital media networkhttps://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-media/loblaw-expands-in-store-digital-media-networkStory Two: Instacart brings retail media targeting to TikTok Ads Managerhttps://searchengineland.com/instacart-tiktok-ads-manager-463072Story Three:Gen-Z-Targeted Language Platform Campaignshttps://www.trendhunter.com/amp/trends/duolingo-ads

Jonathan joins from Advertising Week in New York to discuss what OpenAI’s Instant Checkout means for shoppers and suppliers. He and Kate then explore why American Express and Mastercard are launching their own commerce networks and what Ahold Delhaize USA’s proprietary retail media platform Edge will mean for marketers.Story One:Buy it in ChatGPT: Instant Checkout and the Agentic Commerce Protocol https://openai.com/index/buy-it-in-chatgpt/Story Two:Powering smarter and more personal advertising with Mastercard Commerce Mediahttps://www.mastercard.com/us/en/news-and-trends/press/2025/september/powering-smarter-and-more-personal-advertising-with-mastercard-commerce-media.htmlStory Three:Ahold Delhaize USA to launch new retail media platformhttps://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-technology/ahold-delhaize-usa-to-launch-new-retail-media-platform