A few weeks ago, I sat down with Brian Monahan of Albertsons Media Collective, for a profile in The Drum. And let me tell you, Brian isn’t your typical corporate executive. He’s unfiltered, entrepreneurial, and not afraid to say what everyone else in retail media is only thinking.
In this 'Snips' episode, I dive into some of the biggest insights from Brian’s recent appearance on The Snarketing Podcast, where he expanded on themes from our original conversation. Find links to my profile in The Drum and the full Snarketing episode under 'Links & Resources' below.
I explore Brian's bold takes on where retail media really stands, why alignment between advertisers and retailers matters more than ever, and how Albertsons is experimenting with ideas that most leaders wouldn’t dare to pitch in their first 60 days. If you think you know what retail media looks like, Brian might just convince you to think again.
This episode is sponsored by Connected Commerce at Acosta Group
Timeline
[1:12] - Brian’s bold claim: Retail media is the only medium where buyers and sellers share the same goal.
[2:00] - Beyond ads: How gamified scavenger hunts and shoppable recipes could redefine in-store engagement.
[3:26] - The big money challenge: Why most retail media networks are still living off trade and shopper budgets.
[4:30] - The “do or die” moment: How retailers can tap into national brand dollars by integrating workflow and data.
[6:00] - Rethinking brand equity: What retailers like Safeway and Acme can teach us about customer loyalty and trust.
[7:27] - A bold experiment: Albertsons’ “BOGO for retail media” program that proves alignment with advertisers.
[8:30] - Looking ahead: Why Brian Monahan is just getting started.
Links & Resources