News Briefs

Heaven Hill Brands has selected Brandhub, the trade marketing platform from Select Design, to manage point-of-sale program execution across its retail network.

The Kentucky-based spirits supplier will use the platform to plan, order, track and measure POS activity across its portfolio of brands, which includes Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Deep Eddy Vodka, Tequila Ocho and Lunazul Tequila.

According to Brandhub, the platform will centralize program management, including budget administration and approvals, multi-vendor ordering, order tracking, real-time dashboards and field-level access on both desktop and mobile. The platform will also allow Heaven Hill sales representatives to place and track orders for pre-approved materials directly.

“We were impressed by the strength of Brandhub’s ready-built platform — it offered the core functionality we needed, with the flexibility to solve challenges unique to our business,” said Lynn Hasson, director of marketing procurement at Heaven Hill Brands.

The selection follows an evaluation process in which Heaven Hill identified its requirements for a trade marketing platform. Heaven Hill joins a growing roster of alcohol beverage producers using Brandhub for retail marketing execution.

Loblaw Cos.' retailer media network, Loblaw Advance, has made Criteo its preferred demand partner in Canada.

The agreement appoints Criteo as a direct sales agent for Loblaw Advance email display placements, expanding advertiser access to premium audiences across Shoppers Drug Mart, PC Optimum and PC Express newsletters.

The move brings Criteo's demand capabilities to the Loblaw Advance network, giving brands and agencies a new path to reach high-intent Canadian shoppers.

The Loblaw Advance connected commerce ecosystem is backed by:

• More than 18 million active PC Optimum loyalty members,
• 2,500 store locations,
• a leading e-commerce business,
• and approximately 25 million opted-in emails deployed each week.

"Loblaw Advance is focused on building high-quality, measurable retail media solutions that help advertisers connect with Canadian shoppers in more relevant ways," Leanne Gibson, SVP at Loblaw Advance, said in a statement. "Criteo brings established commerce media expertise, strong agency and brand relationships, and the demand capabilities to help more brands activate through our loyalty-linked email channels. This partnership allows us to extend our sales reach while maintaining the quality, control and trusted execution standards that define Loblaw Advance."

The partnership underscores both companies' commitment to advancing retail media in Canada and creating more effective ways for brands to connect with shoppers through trusted, high-intent environments.

Barrows Connected Store has appointed Brian Anthony vice president of connected creative strategy for North America.

In the role, Anthony will be tasked with helping retailers and brands develop in-store retail media strategies, creative experiences and performance-driven content. 

He'll lead the development of creative frameworks and strategic programs tied to the company’s technology platform, according to a company announcement. This will include developing creative systems and agentic workflows; advancing storytelling across physical and digital channels; and working with commercial, product, technology and client teams. 

He will also develop capabilities intended to help retailers and brands generate greater value from connected retail media.

Anthony previously held leadership roles at Triad Retail Media and CitrusAd, where he worked with retailers and consumer brands on creative solutions that connected marketing strategy with business outcomes.

The appointment follows the addition of Kathryn Mazza as chief growth officer for North America and the promotion of Tim Bagwell to chief technology officer. 

Love's Media Group, the retailer media network operated by Love’s Travel Stops, says it has surpassed 20 brand partnerships less than a year after launching and is expanding its team as it looks to build on early momentum.

Introduced in October 2025, the network allows advertisers to reach Love's customers across more than 600 travel stop locations through a mix of in-store, on-site and off-site media. The company said brands can engage professional drivers, road trippers, commuters, families, RV travelers and EV drivers before, during and after their visits.

Advertising opportunities available through the network include pump screen messaging, in-store digital displays, store signage, email marketing, push notifications, mobile app placements and off-site display advertising.

To support continued growth, Love's Media Group has also added three retail media professionals to its team: Alyssa Anttila and Evan Chefalo as sales managers, and Sara Andary as manager of retail media operations. The hires bring experience from retail media organizations including Lowe's Media Network, Hy-Vee RedMedia and Target’s Roundel.

"We've been intentional about building a team that combines deep retail media expertise with a commitment to innovation, collaboration and partner success," Tommy Greenberg, senior director of Love's Media Group, said in a media release.

The announcement reflects continued investment in retail media beyond traditional grocery, mass and drug retailers, as convenience and travel-stop operators expand their advertising offerings to connect brands with shoppers across multiple touchpoints.

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.”