CitrusAd

Pioneer in retail media technology, acquired and integrated into Publicis Groupe's Epsilon division

CitrusAd was a retail media technology platform that enabled retailers and marketplaces to monetize their digital properties through sponsored product advertising. Founded in 2017, the company provided a self-service platform that allowed brands and suppliers to bid on advertising placements directly on retailer websites and apps, creating an additional revenue stream for retailers while helping brands reach high-intent shoppers at the point of purchase. The platform specialized in onsite search and display advertising, offering retailers a white-label solution that integrated seamlessly with their existing e-commerce infrastructure. CitrusAd was acquired by Publicis Groupe in December 2021 and subsequently integrated into Publicis's Epsilon division to strengthen its retail media capabilities. The acquisition was part of Publicis's strategy to expand its commerce media offerings and compete more effectively in the rapidly growing retail media network space. Following the acquisition, CitrusAd's technology and team were absorbed into Epsilon's broader retail media solutions, with the CitrusAd brand eventually being phased out in favor of Epsilon's unified retail media platform. At the time of its acquisition, CitrusAd had established partnerships with major retailers globally and was recognized as a pioneer in the retail media space, helping to establish the category that would become one of the fastest-growing segments in digital advertising. The company's technology and approach to retail media influenced the development of retail media networks worldwide and contributed to the broader shift of advertising dollars toward commerce-focused channels.