ShopFully and MEDIA Central join forces with Flipp creating the global leader in “drive-to-store” marketing

ShopFully and MEDIA Central, the European leaders in drive-to-store, have joined forces with Flipp, the Canadian technology company leader in digital merchandising in North America, to create the global leader in the market. Following the merger between ShopFully and MEDIA Central one year ago, this new industry-defining transaction combines the leadership and expertise of these three companies to serve thousands of blue-chip retailers and brands across 27 global markets, reaching over 400 million head of household shoppers in Europe, North America, Latin America, and Australia.

The new ownership structure will be led by majority owner Truelink Capital, and include Insight Ventures, Bregal Unternehmerkapital, and Highland Europe.

In a transformative phase for retail, where offer communication is crucial for attracting value-driven shoppers and the rise of Retail Media demands new advertising solutions, Flipp, ShopFully and MEDIA Central are merging at the perfect time to capitalise on these trends.

Flipp helps major retailers and brands in the US and Canada enhance digital merchandising by creating and distributing local promotions to millions of engaged shoppers. ShopFully and MEDIA Central empower retailers and brands to engage consumers with hyper-localised digital promotions, driving foot traffic and online sales across Europe, Australia, and Latin America. 

Flipp, ShopFully and MEDIA Central will maintain their brands and continue serving customers in their respective markets.

Stefano Portu, CEO of ShopFully and CEO Digital at MEDIA Central Group, comments: "Following the combination of MEDIA Central and ShopFully last year, this integration is the natural next step in our strategy, creating a unified global leader in Drive-to-Store Marketing. Leveraging our unique, AI-powered marketing tech platform and investing jointly into product and technology will allow us to offer even greater value to our customers worldwide."

"Flipp is trusted by retailers and brands to provide innovative merchandising solutions in the evolving digital landscape," says Michael Silverman, CEO of Flipp. "Shoppers expect seamless personalised experiences across their shopper journey, spanning both in-store and online touchpoints. By merging Flipp, ShopFully and MEDIA Central expertise, we will offer a full range of drive-to-store solutions. This will ensure that shoppers are empowered with critical shopping content, while retailers and brands can leverage their promotions to drive shopper engagement."

This merger unites leadership and management of ShopFully, Flipp and MEDIA Central, creating unparalleled value for customers and shoppers. For over a decade, these companies have led the analog-to-digital transition. Their combined platforms will create an advanced digital merchandising network and shopper dataset, helping retailers and brands connect with shoppers. By integrating their networks, the two companies will serve complementary audiences, extend their global reach, accelerate innovation, and enhance value for clients on a global scale.

The transaction is expected to close by Q4 2024, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

ABOUT FLIPP

Founded in 2008, Flipp is a technology platform that is reinventing the way people plan their weekly shopping trip. Flipp connects North America's retailers and CPG manufacturers to tens of millions of high intent shoppers each week. Flipp helps partners redefine how shoppers discover products and make purchasing decisions in the digital world. The platform extends from upstream integrations with offer management systems to analytics and insights on the distribution and engagement of digital merchandising content. For more information, visit corp.flipp.com and follow @getflipp on social media.

ABOUT MEDIA CENTRAL

The MEDIA Central Group is a European market leader in drive-to-store marketing solutions. The Group unites the leading specialist for data-based 360° offer communication, MEDIA Central, international leading drive-to-store technology platform, ShopFully, together with the experts for digital offer communication, Offerista Group, and the data science experts for the moment of purchase decision, Yagora. It is represented by over 900 employees in 21 locations across Europe, Australia, and Latin America, and currently serves top retailers and brands in 24 countries from all industries.

ABOUT SHOPFULLY

ShopFully is an international tech company and leader in Drive to Store solutions, connecting millions of shoppers with local stores around them. Operating in 25 countries, ShopFully partners with over 500 top retailers and brands to enhance their digital and physical marketing strategies, leveraging proprietary technology to drive foot traffic and sales.