Retail media networks (RMNs) have become a valuable asset for brands and retailers. According to a new report by Criteo, produced by Coresight Research, "Retail 2025: 10 Trends Shaping the Retail Media Market," available in English, the global retail media market will total $179.5 billion in 2025, representing a robust year-over-year growth of 15.4%. Third-party data, advances in AI (artificial intelligence), and closed-loop attribution should drive rapid growth.
In recent years, more retailers have launched RMNs due to their high margin potential, which, according to the report, is estimated at 70% gross margin. Brands are increasingly investing in RMNs due to retailers' primary data, which allows them to create and deliver highly targeted and personalized advertising campaigns. Advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning are further amplifying the value of this data, revealing new insights that help brands maximize the benefits of RMNs.
Retailers have a significant opportunity to increase MRI profits in 2025. However, this will require significant actions to differentiate one network from another as competition increases. According to the Criteo report, retailers, advertisers, and technology companies will need to focus on these 10 trends to maximize RMN opportunities from 2025 onward:
Innovation and Technology
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) to deliver next-generation ad automation and personalization
- Programmatic advertising will drive operational efficiency across NMRs
- Ad formats will continue to expand
- Strategic partnerships to unlock off-premise growth
Market Changes
- In-store retail media will continue to be a “test and learn” channel
- Retail media will strengthen its position as a full-funnel advertising tool
- Retail media will drive first-party data enhancement
Data and Measurement
- Building trust and transparency will be more critical than ever for NMRs
- Measurement standardization to gain attention
- Emerging NMRs will disrupt the retail media ecosystem
“The retailers that are seeing the greatest growth and have weathered the storm of inflation and consumer spending contraction with the least impact are those that have intelligently diversified their revenue streams and invested in developing advanced retail media networks,” said Coresight CEO Deborah Weinswig.
"AI enhancements have the potential to revolutionize retail media and will be the driving force behind the next big leap in the industry, creating new opportunities for brands and retailers," says Tiago Cardoso, Managing Director for Latin America at Criteo. AI-based algorithms will enable prioritization of top-performing products and real-time bid optimization, maximizing advertising spend efficiency and replacing mere impressions with measurable results. With advances in predictive AI and machine learning, brands will be better positioned to anticipate consumer behaviors and make real-time decisions.
For additional insights into each of these trends, see the full report “Retail 2025: 10 Trends Shaping the Retail Media Market” (available in English),clicking here.
