CONNECTING THE DOTS AT GROCERYSHOP
Groceryshop 2025 reaffirmed its role as the industry's leading stage for grocery and CPG innovation. From packed sessions to the energy around our booth, one message stood out: the grocery industry is hyperfocused on uniting data, technology, and creativity to deliver a smarter, more seamless shopper experience. This recap serves to outline key takeaways that we can all benefit from.
But first, in the spirit of gratitude, we want to thank everyone who connected with our team at the show — whether during a strategic meeting in our rooftop conference room, a scheduled Meetup, or one of those spontaneous moments that turned into meaningful conversation on the show floor.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM GROCERYSHOP 2025
Across more than 100 client meetings and dozens of content-led sessions, our team came home with three key takeaways that reflect where the industry is heading, and how Inmar is helping partners lead the way:
RETAIL MEDIA IS RAISING THE BAR ON PARTNERSHIP AND PERFORMANCE
One of the most forward-looking conversations at Groceryshop came from Best-in-Class Retail Media Networks, featuring Ahold Delhaize USA's Bobby Watts alongside leaders from Kroger and Walgreens. The session spotlighted how the most advanced retail media networks are evolving from “media sellers” into strategic growth partners in order to help brands build equity while driving measurable sales.
Bobby shared how Ahold Delhaize (ADUSA) is reimagining its retail media network around transparency, collaboration, and shopper-first innovation. Central to that vision is the grocer's new digital store initiative, which blends analog signage, mobile app integration, and in-store media to create a connected ecosystem— bridging the gap between digital and non-digital shoppers.
By standardizing trusted metrics, linking retail media more closely to overall marketing and sales planning, and enabling full-funnel storytelling across both on-site and in-store channels, ADUSA is setting a new benchmark for how retail media can deliver incremental business impact and earn a larger seat at the marketing table.
In our in-booth Retail Media AMA (Ask Me Anything) interview with Cate Carley, EVP of Sales at Inmar, industry analyst Andrew Lipsman reinforced this perspective:
"In-store media is really the next major media channel — it's where retailers can differentiate. It has all the qualities of great media: high-quality video, cultural relevance, valuable audiences, and contextual power that digital can't always match. For many retailers, the store itself is becoming their version of TV."
For Inmar, this vision reflects our shared commitment to partnership and accountability. Through retailer-verified measurement and unified activation across incentives, media, and data, Inmar's platform helps brands understand and influence shopper behavior to drive measurable sales growth.
AGENTIC AI MOVES FROM BUZZWORD TO BUSINESS DRIVER
Artificial intelligence was the backbone of nearly every conversation, as leaders from Walmart, Sprouts, and Microsoft showcased how it's shifting from pilot projects to enterprise transformation.
The biggest evolution? Agentic AI—systems that act autonomously to plan, learn, and optimize—is now reshaping forecasting, pricing, and personalization. Success, however, still depends on balance: pairing machine efficiency with human expertise.
That philosophy is central to Inmar's own innovation roadmap. Our AI-powered workflow tools, predictive audiences, and unified measurement frameworks are designed to simplify complexity, scale personalization, and give our clients actionable insight, turning intelligence into true impact.
HEALTH AND VALUE ARE REDEFINING THE SHOPPER JOURNEY
The grocery industry is being re-written by two converging forces: health and value. Research shared in the GLP-1's Impact on Preferences session revealed that households using weight-management medications are shopping and consuming differently, spending up to 10% less on groceries but prioritizing nutrient density and functionality.
Danone's case study offered a roadmap for how brands can adapt: building innovation pipelines around high-protein, gut-health, and low-sugar offerings, supported by retailer collaborations and education-driven media. It's a signal that personalization now extends beyond convenience to connect shoppers' wellness goals and financial realities.
For Inmar, this underscores our continued investment in health-minded data and targeting capabilities. By linking wellness insights, purchase behavior, and personalized offers, we help partners create experiences that support both healthier consumers and stronger category performance.
LOOKING AHEAD
Groceryshop 2025 affirmed that progress is rooted in connection — uniting the digital and physical store, empowering people through AI, and meeting consumers at the intersection of health, value, and convenience.
As we continue to innovate alongside our partners, Inmar remains committed to simplifying the complexity of modern commerce. To kick off our connection, fill out the below form.