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Key takeaways from Live Retail Week and The Grocer 2025

Live 2024: Retail Week and The Grocer. Photography by Gomes, UK

UK – At Ocado, the three key principles driving its double-digit growth ambitions are clarity, culture and collaboration, according to Amit Chitnis, chief commercial officer. Speaking at the Retail Week Live 2025 event in London on 11 February, Chitnis stated: ‘We are the fastest-growing supermarket in the UK, and we believe in progress over perfection. We have strong customer insights, but they need to be translated into action.’

He described the Ocado Roots brand accelerator platform as a space where challenger brands can access mentorship. With over 100 brands now selling through the platform, it fosters a community of like-minded start-ups, allowing emerging brands to learn from one another.

Chitnis added: ‘We have a soft spot for start-ups. It’s a democratic approach that promotes a network of creativity, enabling us both to learn. We can be small, fast and innovative. This also makes us a wide-range supermarket retailer. We have a David and Goliath mindset.’

Another talk highlighted the growing opportunity in retail media. A major trend in e-commerce, retail media refers to ads placed directly on a retailer’s website, such as promoted products on Amazon or Tesco’s grocery site.

‘We are seeing a huge increase in retail media ad spend,’ said Simon Dyer, regional vice-president of marketplace specialist Mirakl. According to Statista and WARC, global digital retail media ad spending is projected to reach £136.5bn ($169.5bn, €163.6bn) by 2025, up from £108.6bn ($134.8bn, €130.1bn) in 2023.

Retail media is now one of the biggest forces shaping online marketplaces, creating a cycle of growth often referred to as the ‘marketplace flywheel’. As Dyer explained: ‘Having more sellers on your e-commerce front end is key. More sellers bring more products; more products and greater choice improve customer experience, which, in turn, drives more traffic.’

The flywheel model enhances competition, leading brands to invest more in retail media ads to stand out. This allows retailers to refine product recommendations and organise displays more effectively, making it easier for customers to find what they need.

Tash Whitmey, managing director of Tesco’s Media and Insight platform, reinforced this idea. She explained that Tesco sees retail media as a way to enhance the shopping experience rather than just a tool to generate revenue from suppliers. ‘It’s about improving the experience for our customers – and when we do that well, the business benefits naturally follow.’

Strategic opportunity

Supermarkets and grocers are adopting a challenger mindset, learning from the start-ups and brands they support. Businesses should consider how to foster a community of mentorship and creative exchange, feeding insights back into the business at a grassroots level

Equinox and Stripes Beauty launch luxury menopause spa experience

US – The Spa by Equinox Hotels has partnered with pro-ageing beauty and wellness brand Stripes Beauty to introduce a high-tech, luxury wellness spa circuit tailored to women navigating perimenopause and menopause.

The Pause + Renew spa circuit features advanced therapies such as Stripes Beauty Hydration and Sculpt Therapy with Icoone Roboderm, a Dr Lara Devgan Dermal Renewal Facial and a NutriDrip CoQ10 Booster Shot. Guests also receive a take-home Stripes Beauty gift, including the Vag of Honor hydrating gel.

‘Menopause deserves attention, respect and care,’ said Naomi Watts, founder and chief creative officer of Stripes Beauty. ‘This partnership is a pivotal step in our mission to take the stigma out of menopause, and make science-backed solutions and luxury wellness more accessible to women navigating this life transition.’ To celebrate the launch, Watts will host an exclusive event in February.

As menopause education improves, retreats tailored for women undergoing this life transition are set to become a cornerstone of wellness tourism – a topic we explore in our Menopause Travel microtrend report.

Equinox Hotels, US

Strategic opportunity

Wellness and travel brands must evolve beyond one-size-fits-all offerings, designing targeted experiences that address life-stage-specific needs such as menopause-focused spa circuits or hormone-balancing retreats

Stat: Teens say Victoria’s Secret Pink is one of North America’s coolest brands

Victoria's Secret Valentine’s Day 2025, US

US – According to YPulse’s annual Cool Brands Report, released in early 2025, 71% of North American teenagers say it is important that the brands they purchase are cool. After surveying over 22,800 teenagers aged 13–17 in the US and Canada, the agency compiled a ranking of the ‘coolest brands in North America’.

Nike tops the list, with 73% of teens surveyed considering the sportswear brand the coolest they know. Second place goes to Sour Patch Kids (69%), showing that the legacy confectionery brand – created in the early 1970s – remains popular among teens. The Pink line by Victoria’s Secret, designed for younger consumers, ranks third, with 68% of teens naming it the coolest brand.

Surprisingly, TikTok is only the fourth coolest brand (66%), followed by Doritos in fifth place (65%).

Interestingly, a survey of teenagers of the same age across the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy found that the three coolest brands are Nike (71%), Coca-Cola (66%) and Victoria’s Secret (61%). Netflix ranks fifth (58%), while TikTok falls to 11th place, with only 55%.

For more insights into teenage consumer behaviour, explore our Teen Fashion Market report.

Strategic opportunity

The Pink line by Victoria’s Secret proves the power of sub-brands designed for younger demographics. Consider how to create youth-focused sub-brands, exclusive product lines or ambassador programmes tailored to Gen Z and Gen Alpha