News Briefs

Barrows Connected Store has promoted Tim Bagwell to chief technology officer as the connected retail technology provider looks to accelerate innovation across its AI-powered in-store retail media platform.

Previously serving as chief product and data officer, Bagwell will now oversee the company's global technology strategy, including engineering, platform architecture, artificial intelligence, data and product innovation. 

According to the company, the move reflects its continued investment in technology leadership and connected commerce innovation as retailers continue investing in AI, automation and measurable in-store media capabilities. 

Bagwell, who previously held leadership roles at Triad Retail Media, has led the evolution of Barrows' proprietary ConnectOS platform, which enables retailers and brands to activate, manage and measure in-store digital media campaigns through real-time content orchestration and analytics.

As CTO, Bagwell will continue leading the company's technology roadmap, with priorities that include advancing AI-powered retail media capabilities; expanding the ConnectOS platform; enhancing data, measurement and automation; and scaling global engineering operations. 

The company also announced two additional leadership appointments. James Stokes has been named global head of engineering, where he will oversee platform architecture, infrastructure and integrations. Jonathan (Jono) Kellerman has been appointed global head of product, leading strategy across the ConnectOS platform, digital displays, hardware, software and measurement solutions.

All three executives have played key roles in developing the company's technology platform since its founding in 2018. According to Barrows, the expanded leadership structure is intended to support global growth and accelerate the development of next-generation connected retail solutions. 

Ahold Delhaize USA is teaming with Pear Commerce to further its digital commerce capabilities across the grocer’s Food Lion, The Giant Co., Giant Food, Hannaford and Stop & Shop banners.

Through Pear Commerce’s technology, shoppers can now add items to their carts from recipes on consumer packaged goods partner websites, brand product pages and store locator tools, creating a more seamless journey from meal inspiration and product discovery to their online grocery carts.

Through the integration, Ahold Delhaize USA's stores and e-commerce platforms will be connected to a broad network of CPG partners and digital touchpoints. This includes shoppable recipe experiences that let shoppers browse recipes and add ingredients directly to their carts, as well as shoppable product pages and store locator tools that help facilitate purchases online and in stores.

For Ahold Delhaize USA, the partnership with Pear Commerce supports more efficient paths to purchase and allows brands to engage customers across a variety of digital experiences. The integration also creates new opportunities to connect AD Retail Media investments more directly to shopping actions, helping brands engage shoppers closer to the point of purchase.

“This partnership reflects how we are continuing to evolve our digital ecosystem to better serve our customers and our partners,” Keith Nicks, chief commercial and digital officer, Ahold Delhaize USA, said in a media release. “By creating more intuitive connections between inspiration and purchase, we’re helping shoppers move from discovery to cart with fewer steps, while unlocking additional opportunities for our CPG partners to engage shoppers in more meaningful and actionable ways.”

In-store retail media platform Grocery TV has added more than 3,500 audience attributes across categories including automotive, finance, health and wellness, telecom, and CPG through a partnership with Esri. The move marks an expansion of Grocery TV's behavioral and psychographic targeting that spans its national retailer-owned network of more than 6,700 stores.

The partnership, which includes Esri's Market Potential dataset, lets brands and agencies plan against in-store audiences aligned with how they already plan to buy TV and digital, the company said. While in-store media has historically relied on broad demographics or geographic proxies, Grocery TV allows advertisers to build custom store lists based on shoppers who over-index on behaviors including prioritizing organic food.

"In-store media is increasingly being viewed as an extension of video and digital strategies, not just an out-of-home buy," said Marlow Nickell, co-founder and CEO of Austin, Texas-based Grocery TV. "The partnership with Esri enhances our ability to let media buyers approach in-store by audience, not just by placement. Most purchases still happen in physical stores, and reaching the right shopper at the point of decision is one of the most valuable moments in the funnel."

Grocery TV activates behavioral targeting at scale across independent and regional grocers throughout the country with its more than 120 retail partners and its network that reaches 95 million unique shoppers, the company said.

Vusion has agreed to acquire In-Store Media (ISM) as it looks to strengthen its position in the in-store retail media market.

Financial terms of the proposed deal were not disclosed. 

ISM, based in Barcelona, operates retail media networks across 90 retail banners and works with more than 1,600 brands in nine countries spanning Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. The company generated approximately $136.65 million in revenue in 2025, according to Vusion, and has a portfolio of more than 50 print and digital in-store advertising solutions.

Vusion expects the acquisition to advance its vision of transforming physical stores into connected digital media platforms. By combining its connected store technology with ISM's retail media expertise and advertiser relationships, the company aims to help retailers better monetize in-store traffic while providing brands with more measurable shopper engagement opportunities.

The companies will build a new platform for digital in-store retail media that connects retailers, brands, and shoppers through measurable and real-time in-store activation, according to a statement. 

The Raley's Cos. has made several leadership appointments designed to bolster customer engagement, improve operations and position the company for continued growth. This latest round of changes was unveiled by Raley’s owner and CEO Mike Teel in partnership with Co-Presidents Tiffanie Burkhalter and Jen Warner. 

"The grocery industry is evolving rapidly, creating new opportunities to serve customers in better and more meaningful ways," Teel said. "These leadership appointments position us to build on our legacy of innovation, move with greater agility and help define the next chapter of The Raley's Cos."

As part of the leadership changes, Carol Barsotti has been named chief marketing officer, adding responsibility for marketing to her existing brief of communications, government affairs and community impact. Barsotti's expanded role reflects the company's belief that brand, customer connection and community impact are increasingly interconnected and best furthered through a unified strategy.

Meanwhile, Natalie Slatter has been promoted to SVP, enterprise operations. She is responsible for leading store operations across the company's banners, with a focus on supporting store teams, strengthening operational excellence and ensuring that customers continue to benefit from the Raley's long-standing service, care and engagement efforts.

Additionally, Levi Wingo has been promoted to SVP, sales and merchandising strategy. He heads up Raley's merchandising strategy, innovation, category growth and customer value initiatives. Wingo will help advance the products, offerings and experiences that keep the company customer-centric.

The appointments build on an established leadership team spanning the company's operating divisions. Its members include Paul Gianetto, president of Raley’s; Faith Garrard, VP of sales and merchandising for Raley’s; Jess Blakely, VP of sales and merchandising for Bashas'; and Ralph Woodward, SVP of operations for Bashas'.

Amazon Ads has expanded its Omnichannel Metrics (OCM) offering with retailer-level reporting, giving U.S. advertisers new insight into which retailers their Amazon DSP campaigns are driving sales.

Earlier this year, OCM began providing product category-level breakouts. The latest update adds retailer-level units sold and sales metrics at both the campaign and study level, allowing advertisers to better understand where purchases occur outside the Amazon.com store.

According to Amazon Ads, the enhancement combines first-party Amazon Shopper Panel data with third-party signals to measure the impact of Amazon DSP campaigns beyond Amazon. The retailer-level reporting is based on exposure-based attribution, enabling marketers to identify where ad-exposed shoppers ultimately make purchases and optimize their omnichannel media strategies accordingly.

The feature is available to Amazon DSP self-service and managed-service advertisers in the U.S.