Retail Media
CitrusAd
CitrusAd, part of Epsilon within Publicis Groupe, is a retail media technology platform that retailers and marketplaces use to launch and operate their own sponsored-product and onsite display networks. It supplies the auction, ad serving, targeting, and white-labeled self-service tools that let brands buy placements directly on a retailer's site and app, with Epsilon identity data enabling offsite activation and closed-loop sales measurement. It suits retailers building a monetizable media business and brands that want first-party, shopper-level reach across many retailer storefronts.
What it does
CitrusAd is the engine retailers run underneath a branded retail media network rather than a place where most brand teams log in directly. It provides the real-time auction, ad server, targeting, and self-service portal that turn a retailer's site and app into sellable sponsored-product and display inventory. Because it sits inside Epsilon and Publicis, it layers identity and first-party shopper data on top, enabling offsite extension beyond the retailer's own properties and closed-loop measurement that ties exposure to actual purchases. Retailers white-label the buying interface for their suppliers; brands then plan and buy placements across each storefront. The platform's value is operational scale: standardized auction mechanics, measurement, and self-service tooling across many retailer relationships instead of bespoke one-off integrations.
Where it fits
CitrusAd sits at the setup stage of retail media, powering the network infrastructure that brands later buy through with tools like Pacvue or Skai.
Core features
- Real-time auction and ad server for sponsored products and onsite display
- White-labeled self-service portal for retailer suppliers
- Epsilon identity and first-party shopper data integration
- Onsite and offsite (extended reach) activation
- Closed-loop sales measurement tying ads to purchases
- Targeting and reporting across multiple retailer storefronts
Best for
- Retailers and marketplaces building a monetizable media network
- Brands seeking shopper-level reach across many storefronts
- Teams wanting standardized retail media buying and measurement
Beginner notes
- Know your side of the table: retailers operate CitrusAd, while brands usually access it through the retailer's white-labeled portal.
- Lean on the closed-loop measurement to judge incrementality, not just attributed ROAS, before scaling spend.
- Treat offsite extension as a separate lever from onsite sponsored products, since audience quality and intent differ sharply.