Can retail media be a brand channel? With Tesco's Tash Whitmey

Can retail media be a brand channel? With Tesco's Tash Whitmey

May 4, 2026 · 34 min · Season 5 · Episode 89

About this episode

The episode discusses the growth and innovations in retail media with Tesco's Tash Whitmey.

This week, The Media Leader is embarking on its first ever Retail Media Week in Focus. The fledgling channel has been having a moment. Investment in retail media has grown substantially – in 2025, adspend in the channel grew 17.5% year on year, according to the latest AA/Warc figures. Brands are seeking to join up the ends of the funnel by targeting consumers based on their shopping habits and measuring directly the link between ad delivery and outcomes within closed-loop retail environments. But, as attendees heard at The Media Leader 's Future of Brands event last week, with growth has come some scepticism – is retail media overhyped? Is it just useful for lower-funnel activations? How is it being defined on media plans? One of the largest retail media players here in the UK is Tesco. Recently, The Media Leader reported that Tesco Media had launched new video ad inventory on its website and app as it looks to offer brand advertising opportunities to marketers. Tash Whitmey is the managing director of the Tesco Media and Insight Platform. She joined host Jack Benjamin recently via video call to discuss the latest innovations the company is making, the state of the retail media…

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