EIQ BrandLab, the full-service strategic marketing and creative agency operated by EnsembleIQ for the global B2B market, has won seven AVA Digital Awards for digital excellence.

The AVA Digital Awards is an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals responsible for the planning, concept, direction, design and production of digital communications. The awards are administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP).

Each of the entries were developed in partnership with clients ranging from CPG brands to enterprise technology companies.   

Platinum Awards
Web Interactive Capabilities: Convenience Store News and E. & J. Gallo Winery, Just Chillin’: How to Get More Out of Ready-to-Drink Beverage Sales 

Native Advertising: Progressive Grocer, Europe, Home of Cheese 

Website, Shopper Marketing: Progressive Grocer and Anheuser-Busch, Ignite

Gold Awards
Website Redesign: EnsembleIQ

Microsite: Consumer Goods Technology and SAP, Reimagine Consumer Products 

White Paper: Consumer Goods Technology and Google, Retail and CPG Reinvented

Web Infographics: Progressive Grocer and Bumble Bee, Seafood Future: Bumble Bee Eliminates Plastic Waste

“EIQ BrandLab aspires to be a true firebrand in business marketing and we’re honored to work with some of the most forward-thinking companies in retail, healthcare and hospitality,” Darren Ursino, vice president of brand engagement at EnsembleIQ, said in a media release. “We are very proud to have been recognized by the AVA Digital Awards for our work.”

 “The redesigned EnsembleIQ corporate website, created by EIQ BrandLab, has been well received by our audience. We are very pleased to have received this honor from the AVA Digital Awards,” said Joe Territo, EVP, content and communications.

Pearl Media, in partnership with Seaport Capital, has acquired Lure Outdoor, making it one of the premier street-level out-of-home (OOH) media companies in the U.S.

Based in New York, Lure Outdoor's OOH mix encompasses more than 120 street-level billboards, barricades and storefronts throughout New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.  

Montclair, New Jersey-based Pearl continues to focus on delivering brands more specific media buys through partnerships with sought-after, mixed-use developments and large format OOH assets in urban core downtown markets around the country, according to a news release from the company. The acquisition enables Pearl to provide expanded reach to high-impact media within major cities.

"Pearl Media was born in OOH on the street level, pioneering the acceptance of storefronts into the OOH media mix over a decade ago,” said Joshua Cohen, CEO of Pearl Media, in the release. “Today, the business has grown in several directions; however, we have never lost our love for the medium and we recognized Lure has done an amazing job building out this high-profile permitted inventory in some of the top neighborhoods and cities in the country.”

"Seaport has invested in OOH companies over the last 25 years, and we believe that the collection of Pearl and Lure assets is extremely unique and attractive in the markets in which they operate," added Bob Tamashunas, Partner at Seaport Capital.

For the last eight years, Lure Outdoor has led the way in curating and developing niche "can't miss" eye-level billboards and in-window displays, capturing consumers' attention with “bold and innovative” campaigns. Lure's assets have enabled brands to break through busy streets and neighborhoods to connect with consumers. "With shared values and a shared love for street-level OOH media, joining Pearl is the ideal next step for Lure to grow. We are excited to see Pearl's vision for the combined entity come to fruition", said Jonny Kaloudis, CEO of Lure.

Cub Foods is launching an artificial intelligence (AI) solution to better manage its promotions. The Midwest discount grocery chain tapped tech firm Cognira to help analyze historical performance, embed workflows and approvals, provide AI insights that align with the business and forecast promotional demand across all products.

The AI solution covers the life cycle of promotion planning and includes the support of in-store discounts and weekly circulars, as well as online ads and personalized offers based on AI.

“Consumers are consistently searching for promotions that are most relevant to their purchasing habits and our job as their grocer is to bring those promotions to them as efficiently and effectively as possible,” said Luke Anderson, chief information officer at Cub, in a news release from Cognira. “Working with Cognira and their centralized solution for promotion planning, optimization, and personalization will give us the ability to achieve that vision.”

Cub has embraced grocery tech in other ways. In late 2021, the grocer teamed with CitrusAd to better engage shoppers through personalized online experiences powered by retail media technologies.

Owned by United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), Cub Foods operates almost 80 grocery stores and pharmacies in Minnesota and Illinois.

The Mars Agency will forge a new international partnership with Australian retail activation agency XPO Brands.

The collaboration is part of The Mars Agency's ongoing international expansion, which began in 2010 with the opening of their London office. The growth will support the agency’s blue-chip client roster with full-service capabilities in four continents across a slew of regional and local markets.

Partnering with XPO Brands sets The Mars Agency up to significantly enhance its presence in Australia and New Zealand markets, while also adding diverse new talent and specialized capabilities.

"Our global clients will value XPO's strong presence in the Australian and New Zealand commerce space, led by their local expertise across shopper, retail and experiential marketing," said Darren Keen, The Mars Agency CEO of international markets, in a recent media release. "We're excited about the way XPO helps strengthen the global TMA proposition."

Founded in 2013, XPO Brands is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with an additional arm in Melbourne. Its integrated, below-the-line campaigns span shopper marketing, digital and content, experiential events and product sampling.

There is no change in leadership on either side. Keen will oversee the expansion as CEO of international markets. The Mars Agency, based in Southfield, Michigan, will now operate 16 offices spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Oceania, employing over 700 employees.

Walmart Canada has joined Canadian music, media and technology company Stingray Group’s retail media network. Under the agreement, Stingray is responsible for exclusive sales representation, in partnership with the Walmart Connect sales team, of all digital audio advertising within Walmart’s Canadian's stores.

The network enables brands to reach Walmart Canada shoppers through contextually relevant audio messages that are digitally ad-served (directly or programmatically) via Stingray’s proprietary streaming media technology, according to a news release announcing the partnership. Retail-based digital audio advertising enables brands to connect with “highly qualified” consumers during their in-store shopping journey.

“The Stingray team has built a powerful new model in the programmatic audio space, and their solution, combined with a focus on closed-loop measurement, aligns well with our goal of providing advertisers with innovative solutions that connect brands with customers in moments that matter,” Dana Toering, vice president, Walmart Connect Canada, said in the release.“These highly customizable audio ads are the perfect complement to our existing in-store and online offerings, providing something new to brands that are looking to boost their influence with the 1.5 million shoppers who visit Walmart stores daily across Canada.”

The network launches in 200 of Walmart Canada’s more than 400 stores in April. The remaining stores will launch by the end of the second quarter of 2022.

In January, Stingray expanded its retail-based digital audio advertising footprint in the U.S. by acquiring InStore Audio Network, an American network that reached 100 million shoppers each week in over 16,000 grocery retailers and pharmacies across the country. Under Stingray's ownership, InStore Audio Network continues to broaden its existing retail media offering with a focus on verified audience measurement, digital ad serving and programmatic monetization.

The Bluebird Group, an omnichannel retail service agency, has added Walmart as a partner following the acquisition of 479 Sales & Marketing, a Bentonville, Arkansas-based, omnichannel agency. The expansion adds to Bluebird's team of “strategically minded experts” and allows them to offer a larger array of services designed to help in-demand brands become retail-ready and deliver their products in-store and online, according to a news release from the agency.

"Our combined industry knowledge, data insights and analytics will provide our brand partners with the best services available," said Jason Kapsner, founder & CEO of Bluebird, in the release. "The 479 team shares our mission to be analytically forward-thinking and trusted stewards of our brand and retail partners. Their Walmart expertise is evident in their long-standing client relationships."

Bluebird has relationships with retailers including Target, Best Buy and Costco. The acquisition of 479 allows the company to expand their expertise to Walmart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club. All employees of 479 will transition to Bluebird and remain in Arkansas to continue to foster their Walmart relationships.

"We've been methodical in our search for the right partner,” said Kapsner. “We've been wanting to grow our relationship with Walmart, and 479 can help us do that. We're excited to bring them under the Bluebird umbrella and provide new opportunities for our brand and retail partners."