Global retail media company STRATACACHE and the National Retail Federation (NRF) are set to host the inaugural event, 'What’s in Store for Retail Media Networks,' dedicated to exploring the expanding role of physical stores in the $122bn global retail media ecosystem.

Scheduled for 13 January 2024 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, US, the event serves as the prelude to NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show, taking place from 14-16 January.

Comprising ten presentations and panels, the day will feature key industry figures, including executives from Albertsons, Kroger, and Unilever.

Notable participants also include shopper marketing experts from the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business, as well as thought leaders from McKinsey & Company, the Interactive Advertising Bureau, and Solomon Partners.

Three key topics shape the day's discussions

“What makes this event unlike any others is that there is zero pay-to-play content in the day,” states Chris Riegel, CEO of STRATACACHE. The day's content revolves around three foundational topics:

• In-store experience: Andy Murray, category captain for Shopper Experience and Content sessions, will lead discussions based on his extensive experience. The session, titled 'Creating a Total In-Store Communication Architecture: Harmonising Shopper, Brand, and Retailer Needs,' will feature insights from Evan Hovorka, VP of Product and Innovation of Albertson’s Media Collective, and Beth Ann Kaminkow, Global CEO of VMLY&R Commerce.
• Monetisation and value: Kevin Carbone, CEO of PRN, will serve as category captain for Monetisation and Value sessions. Quinton George, partner at McKinsey & Company, will delve into the complex dynamics between brands and retailers, offering insights into the supply and demand side of the retail media network landscape.
• Technology, measurement, and insights: Riegel will guide discussions on technology, measurement, and insights. The day will see the introduction of a new IAB white paper on in-store metrics, presented by Jeffrey Bustos, VP of Measurement and Addressability Data at the IAB. Riegel will also lead a fireside chat on threats to loyalty programmes with Paul Martino, vice-president and senior policy counsel at the NRF.

As digital retail media advertising spending in the United States is poised to surpass TV advertising revenue, this event marks a significant effort to explore the potential of in-store audiences and the global shift toward digitising bricks-and-mortar stores.