retail media networks

McDonald's has announced the launch of a new advertising network, moving into the fast-growing retail media space. The move means the fast food giant will sell ad space across its own channels, joining retailers and brands that have built media businesses on their customer data and reach. Industry observers are watching how a restaurant chain competes in a space dominated by grocery and e-commerce players.

Ad tech companies Teads and Koddi have launched a capability allowing brands to add retail media ads to broader advertising campaigns across the United States and Europe. The move links retail media networks with wider programmatic buying, letting brands combine shopper data with larger brand campaigns. It reflects the continued growth of retail media as one of advertising's fastest-expanding channels.

Coconut Cannabis, a dispensary located near Bemidji, Minnesota, is preparing to begin retail sales of medical cannabis. The opening adds to the state's expanding network of licensed medical cannabis retailers, giving patients in the Bemidji area a closer option for obtaining medical marijuana products. Local media covered the business launch as part of regional business news.

Retail trade commentary argues that simply installing digital screens in stores is not enough to build a successful in-store retail media network. The piece suggests retailers need more than hardware — including relevant content, audience measurement and advertiser demand — to turn screens into a genuine revenue channel. It reflects a broader debate about how physical retail can compete with e-commerce platforms in the fast-growing retail media advertising market.