From Casual to Causal: Proving In-Store Works — Liz Roche, Albertsons

S3 E3 · Jan 26, 2026 · 30 min

Why ad plays aren't enough, and what it takes to move from pilot programs to network scale.

Show notes

In this episode of The Middlemen Podcast, we sit down with Liz Roche from Albertsons Media Collective to talk about what it actually takes to scale in-store retail media.

Albertsons isn’t just testing screens in a handful of locations — they’re building the measurement, infrastructure, and operating model required to move from pilot programs to real network scale.

This conversation is less about hype and more about accountability — and what brands should actually look for as in-store retail media matures.

What we cover

Why “ad plays” aren’t enough to prove in-store performance
How validated impressions and foot-traffic signals change how media is trafficked
What it means to move from casual measurement to causal outcomes
Why in-store media only works when it’s tightly connected to merchandising

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