News Briefs

German grocery chain Aldi Nord is testing self-checkout solutions at several stores in the Netherlands. The scan & go technology, kiosks and exit terminals are supplied by Shopreme, an Austria-based self-checkout solutions provider.

Not to be confused with Aldi Sud, which operates Aldi stores in the U.S., Aldi Nord does own Trader Joe’s, though there are currently none in the Netherlands and the chain primarily runs independently.

This initiative marks the first time Aldi Nord is testing dedicated self-checkout areas across all selected pilot stores, according to a media release from Shopreme.

The test implements Shopreme’s scan & go technology in the retailer’s mobile app, allowing shoppers to use the app to scan products and make payments via their preferred payment method (e.g., iDEAL, debit card, credit card, Google Pay and Apple Pay). Shoppers are issued a digital receipt within the app, allowing them to leave the store by scanning an exit code at the Shopreme vector terminal, which opens the checkout gate.

Shoppers can also leverage an alternative purchase method by scanning their products at Aldi Nord’s self-checkout kiosks provided by Shopreme, which says its user interface “resembles a modern smartphone app,” per the release. The kiosks dispense a short exit code receipt that opens the vector exit terminal so shoppers can exit the store after payment.

"At Aldi Nord, we are systematically leveraging the advantages of digitization and automation,” Dr. Christian Bock, team lead self-service checkout & cashless payment at Aldi Nord, said in the release. “To offer our customers a hassle-free experience, we are testing different shopping experiences and evaluating modern checkout systems. Shopreme has proven to be a reliant partner to gain a bigger picture of future checkout technologies, also referring to our in-store processes. These aspects play a crucial role when developing a long-term checkout strategy."

Dollar Tree’s Family Dollar will roll out an enhanced mobile app, which includes an updated shopping and savings experience, in October.

The discount chain’s mobile overhaul includes a fresh interface and more seamless navigation system to help shoppers manage coupons using a redesigned wallet feature, explore engaging weekly ads and easily locate products with intelligent searches, according to a media release.

"The launch of our new Family Dollar app is one more step in the digital transformation currently underway at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar,” Bobby Aflatooni, chief information officer, Dollar Tree, said in the release. “We are investing across the enterprise to make shopping with us even easier and more enjoyable. The redesigned Family Dollar app reflects the customer-centric approach we've applied to our digital roadmap to improve the shopping experience for our loyal shoppers and new customers alike."

Future phases of the digital transformation will include Family Dollar app features in early 2024, including in-app e-commerce, personalization capabilities and an evolved rewards experience, as well as a Dollar Tree mobile experience the retailer says its customers are seeking, per the release.

"We believe this new user experience will not only appeal to our customers but to brands who want to promote their products to our millions of customers through Chesapeake Media Group, our retailer media network," added Emily Turner, chief marketing officer, Dollar Tree.

The discount retailer selected digital consultancy Publicis Sapient to lead the program and enable Family Dollar’s enhanced mobile experience platform.

"We are proud to support Family Dollar in the launch of its new mobile experience using our core capabilities (strategy, product, experience, engineering and data and AI),” Sudip Mazumder, senior vice president, retail industry lead, North America at Publicis Sapient, said in the release. “The work is designed to offer exceptional usability and a best-in-class customer experience."

Retail media solutions provider Wovenmedia has partnered with Place Exchange, a supply side platform (SSP) for programmatic out-of-home (OOH) media, to help retailer clients attract spending from brands looking to advertise programmatically on in-store digital screens.

In-store media has been rapidly growing within the retail media sector, particularly given the proliferation of in-store digital screens that can deliver relevant messaging. With physical stores still overwhelmingly the place shoppers are making purchases – accounting for 85% of total retail sales in the U.S., according to Statista – digital screens in stores are poised to attract a growing share of spend. 

The integration of Wovenmedia’s in-store retail media network in the U.S. with Place Exchange will allow Wovenmedia’s existing and prospective retail clients to access the largest pool of demand from advertisers looking to leverage in-store screens as part of their omnichannel campaigns, according to a media release.

Place Exchange’s patented technology enables planning, targeting, execution and measurement of DOOH networks on par with other programmatic channels, all within the DSP platforms.

Jeff Karnes, chief operating officer at Wovenmedia, said in the release, “We are excited to partner with an industry leader in Place Exchange at a time when retail media networks are exploding. Retailers and grocers are looking to expand advertising opportunities for their brands and partners in the store.” 

“This partnership will allow Wovenmedia’s clients to unlock a new revenue stream as their inventory will now be readily accessible in the leading programmatic buying platforms used by digital advertisers and agencies, and increase the opportunities for in-store media to be integrated into omnichannel marketing strategies,” added Dave Etherington, chief commercial officer at Place Exchange.

Cresco Labs, the cannabis company behind popular THC brands and dispensaries such as Sunnyside, says it is the first cannabis company to launch advertisements on music and audio streaming platform Spotify.

The ad campaign communicates the benefits of shopping at Sunnyside dispensary through 30-second audio and in-app digital banners that drive to the retailer’s proprietary e-commerce platform. Advertising is supported by a volume-driving paid media campaign including programmatic buying, native ads and connected TV, per a media release.

“Audio streaming services represent a major opportunity for brands to reach large audiences in a targeted manner, and we’re excited to collaborate with Spotify to launch the first-ever cannabis ads from our Sunnyside national retail brand,” Cory Rothschild, Cresco Labs’ national retail president, said in the release. “Our Sunnyside advertising strategy is built on a data ecosystem enabling best-in-class targeting and measurement.”

Rothschild added that Spotify’s platform, which boasts more than 551 million users and 220 million subscribers, will enable Cresco’s marketing team to target ads “compliantly and profitably” to its core shoppers in Illinois where he says the company has a leading share in retail.

“This important partnership is not only a step in normalizing cannabis, but it also showcases the sophistication and quality of marketing that we have unlocked at Cresco Labs,” he added.

Sprouts Farmers Market is making progress on its five-year plan to grow its business 10% year-over-year with the opening of its 400^th store on Sept. 8.

Located in Haddon Township, New Jersey, this location marks Sprouts’ 23^rd store opening of 2023. Each new store adheres to an “innovative design concept,” featuring an open layout, community feel and produce at the heart of the market, according to a media release. The stores span 23,000 square feet and boast what Sprouts calls a “bright and airy” farmers market experience.

“Following the unveiling of our 399^th store just last week in Rialto, California, and now, on the opposite coast, our 400^th store celebrates its opening in Haddon Township, New Jersey,” Jack Sinclair, CEO of Sprouts, said in the release. “The expansion not only marks a significant milestone, but also represents our success in offering high quality better-for-you products to our customers coast to coast.”

Sprouts is now located in 23 states across the U.S.

Music, media and technology company Stingray has entered into a distribution agreement with Chinese consumer electronics company TCL Technology. The latter's TCLtv+ app is an online streaming service that gives its customers in North America access to a wide variety of free entertainment programming.

This deal brings Stingray's channels, including its FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel Ultimate Trivia, to TCLtv+ users as a way to enhance their entertainment experience with a diverse range of music and specialty content, according to a media release.

Now available on Google and coming soon to Roku and Amazon’s FireTV smart operating systems, the TCLtv+ app includes more than 200 FAST channels and 1,500-some on-demand movies and TV series from major and independent studios.

“TCL’s continued success is greatly due to the company’s innovation and vertical integration, but key content partners like Stingray have helped us become a top two best-selling TV brand in the U.S. for four consecutive years,” Mark Zhang, president, TCL North America, said in the release. “We’re excited to expand the TCLtv+ library with premium music and trivia programming.”

Users can now access Stingray Music's curated audio channels across genres, including cross-genre chart-toppers, genre-specific channels like “Remember the '80s,” Greatest Hits, Classic Rock, Hot Country, Hit List, Easy Listening, and TikTok Radio.

Ultimate Trivia by Stingray allows viewers to test their knowledge through quizzes and compete with others in a variety of categories, including geography, history, sports, arts and entertainment, science and current events.

In addition, viewers can access specialty channels, including:

• Stingray Naturescape: Combines scenery and close-ups with soundtracks for every moment of the day.
• Qello Concerts by Stingray: Transforms any screen into an immersive concert experience.
• Stingray Karaoke.
• Stingray Classica: Dedicated to global classical music, including concerts, operas, ballets and documentaries.
• Stingray Djazz: Dedicated to jazz lovers, showcasing both traditions and innovation.
• Stingray CMusic: Reinvents music videos to offer a new version of classical music.

"We are thrilled to be selected as an anchor content partner for TCLtv+," David Purdy, chief revenue officer of Stingray, said in the release. "This collaboration will enhance user engagement by offering free access to an unparalleled mix of music-related content worldwide."