Associated Food Stores ramps up use of Instacart e-commerce and retail media solutions across banners
Associated Food Stores (AFS), a retail co-op, is bringing Instacart’s white label e-commerce solutions, Storefront and Storefront Pro, across five owned and operated banners and over 40 member owned banners.
Through this partnership, AFS will bring e-commerce and retail media capabilities to its owned and operated banners, including Fresh Market, Lin’s, and Macey’s, and independent member stores, including Broulim’s, Davis Food & Drug, Kent’s, and Lee’s.
“We’re excited to partner with AFS to bring our white-label e-commerce solutions and retail media monetisation to their owned and operated stores and independent retail banners,” says Nick Nickitas, General Manager of Independent Grocery and Mid-Market Retail Partnerships at Instacart.
“AFS has always championed innovation for local grocers, and together we’re scaling their digital transformation. With Instacart, AFS retailers are providing a seamless, connected shopping experience for their guests in-store and online, while maximising retail media contribution to enhance profitable growth.”
“Partnering with Instacart gives our local, independent retailers the ability to offer their shoppers a world-class online shopping platform – one that meets or exceeds what other regional or national grocers are doing today,” says Jason Sokol, Vice President of Marketing at AFS.
“With Storefront Pro, retailers have access to Carrot Ads, which fuels new opportunities for retail media growth while providing guests with a simple, reliable way to shop their favourite local stores online.”
“Instacart’s Storefront Pro has allowed us to go online quickly and confidently with a best-in-class e-commerce solution that delivers strong growth and revenue opportunities,” says CJ Davis, President at Davis Food & Drug.
“With Instacart’s premium white label e-commerce solution, we saw a 24% increase in sales and our monthly retail media revenue grew by 2-3x with Instacart’s retail media solution Carrot Ads.”
2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS
Retail media was a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
We received a record number of entries and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.
For a full rundown of all of the shortlisted entries, click here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC in Central London on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
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