EnsembleIQ

What EnsembleIQ does

EnsembleIQ is a privately held North American B2B media company operating as a platform of approximately 24 trade media brands across retail, convenience, grocery, pharmacy, hospitality, consumer goods, and hardware-building-supply sectors. Its portfolio includes long-established titles such as Progressive Grocer, Convenience Store News, Drug Store News, Hospitality Technology, Chain Store Age, Consumer Goods Technology, Canadian Grocer, and The Medical Post, supplemented by membership communities (Path to Purchase Institute, Restaurant Technology Network) and a French-language Canadian healthcare cluster (Profession Santé, Québec Pharmacie). The company also owns and operates a large calendar of B2B events including MURTEC, NACS Show programming (Top Women in Convenience), Hotel Visionary Awards, Grocery Tech, Pro-Dealer Summit, Category Summits, Inside Beauty & Wellness Forum, Canada-U.S. Pharmacy Forum, and Xspecs, as well as recurring award programs and sponsored proprietary research studies.

The underlying technology stack is a multi-site digital publishing and events platform spanning 40+ branded websites, content management, event registration, subscription/membership systems, and email marketing infrastructure. Headquartered at 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago, the company operates as Eagle Operating Corp. (d/b/a EnsembleIQ) under Illinois jurisdiction, with 251-500 employees and an estimated 24 million annual digital pageviews and 12 million unique users across its portfolio.

EnsembleIQ monetizes through five interlocking revenue streams: subscription/membership content (Path to Purchase Institute, Restaurant Technology Network workgroups, with annual and monthly billing and free trial options); event registration fees and corporate sponsorships across dozens of proprietary conferences; display, native, video, and newsletter advertising across its 24+ publications; sponsored awards and recognition programs (Top Women in Convenience, Star Women in Grocery, Hotel Visionary Awards, MURTEC Lifetime Achievement, GenNext); and proprietary market research studies (Grocery Tech Trends Study, OTC Counselling and Recommendations Survey) often co-sponsored by enterprise advertisers such as Diebold Nixdorf. The company was founded in 2016 following its acquisition of Edgell Communications, and is led by CEO Jennifer Litterick with co-founder Angela Diffly.

Name

EnsembleIQ

Legal name

Eagle Operating Corp.

Website

https://ensembleiq.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

EnsembleIQ is a North American B2B media company operating 24+ trade publications, owned events, and member communities serving retail, convenience, grocery, pharmacy, hospitality, and consumer goods professionals with content, research, awards, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Subscription/Membership Content: EnsembleIQ offers paid subscription/membership communities for certain brands (e.g., Path to Purchase Institute, Restaurant Technology Network workgroups) providing gated industry research, reports, and peer networking. Members receive access to proprietary content, workgroup meetings, and community resources. Pricing is subscription-based with annual renewal and free trial options described in terms and conditions.
2. Event Registration & Sponsorship: EnsembleIQ generates significant revenue through event registration fees and sponsor/exhibitor packages. Events include MURTEC (restaurant technology), NACS Show-adjacent programming (Top Women in Convenience), Hotel Visionary Awards, Grocery Tech, Pro-Dealer Summit, Category Summits, Inside Beauty & Wellness Forum, Canada-U.S. Pharmacy Forum, and dozens more. Sponsors pay for booth space, badge scanning, lead access, and branded content placement.
3. Digital & Print Advertising: EnsembleIQ sells display advertising, sponsored content, and branded editorial placements across its portfolio of B2B publications including Progressive Grocer, Convenience Store News, Drug Store News, Hospitality Technology, Chain Store Age, Store Brands, Canadian Grocer, and others. Ad formats include banner ads, native content, video, and email newsletter placements.
4. Awards & Recognition Programs: EnsembleIQ operates multiple awards programs (Top Women in Convenience, Top Women in Grocery/Star Women in Grocery, Hotel Visionary Awards, GenNext, MURTEC Lifetime Achievement, Progressive Grocer Outstanding Independents, and others) that generate sponsorship revenue and reinforce publication authority. These programs are integrated with events and generate editorial coverage.
5. Market Research & Surveys: EnsembleIQ conducts and publishes proprietary market research, surveys, and industry studies (e.g., Progressive Grocer's Grocery Tech Trends Study, OTC Counselling and Recommendations Survey). Research findings are presented at events and used to attract sponsor participation and media coverage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EnsembleIQ is a North American B2B media company that publishes 24 trade media brands covering retail, convenience, grocery, pharmacy, restaurant technology, hospitality, hardware, and consumer goods sectors. It monetizes these brands through display advertising, sponsored editorial content, event registrations and sponsorships, paid membership communities, proprietary market research, and award programs. The portfolio includes Progressive Grocer, Convenience Store News, Drug Store News, Hospitality Technology, Canadian Grocer, and others, reaching 12 million annual unique users across 40+ branded websites.

Product overview

EnsembleIQ is a North American B2B media company operating as a platform of 24 media brands across retail, technology, consumer goods, healthcare, and hospitality sectors. The portfolio includes major industry publications such as Progressive Grocer, Hospitality Technology, Convenience Store News, Drug Store News, Consumer Goods Technology, Chain Store Age, Canadian Grocer, and The Medical Post, among others. The company provides industry insights through digital content, research reports, awards programs (including Top Women in Convenience, Star Women awards, Hotel Visionary Awards, and Product of the Year Canada), and hosts major events including MURTEC (restaurant technology), Xspecs (retail environments), and various industry-specific conferences. The company also offers membership communities, workgroups, and marketing services through its various brand platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Canadian Grocer: Magazine and digital platform for Canadian grocery industry
• Chain Store Age
• Consumer Goods Technology
• Convenience Store News
• Convenience Store News Canada / OCTANE
• Drug Store News (DSN)
• HBSDealer
• Hospitality Technology
• The Medical Post
• Monday Retail IQ
• Path to Purchase Institute
• Pharmacy Practice + Business
• Product of the Year Canada
• Profession Santé
• Progressive Grocer
• Québec Pharmacie
• Restaurant Technology Network
• Storebrands

Products and services

• Progressive Grocer B2B trade media brand covering the grocery retail industry with news, research, and industry reports including the Grocery Tech Trends Study.
• Hospitality Technology Media brand serving the restaurant technology and hospitality industry, hosting MURTEC conference and awards programs including Top Women in Restaurant Technology and Hotel Visionary Awards.
• Convenience Store News Industry media outlet covering the convenience store sector with news, analysis, and the Top Women in Convenience awards program.
• Drug Store News Retail pharmacy industry media outlet publishing news, industry insights, and healthcare awareness campaigns including #FillHealthCareGaps.
• Consumer Goods Technology Media brand focused on technology and innovation in the consumer goods sector.
• Chain Store Age Media brand covering retail industry news with focus on store planning, design, construction and facilities management through the Xspecs event.
• Canadian Grocer Canadian grocery industry media brand publishing news and hosting the Star Women in Grocery awards program.
• Path to Purchase Institute Industry insights organization focused on consumer purchase behavior and path to purchase research; operates as a paid membership community.
• Restaurant Technology Network Professional community and media platform for restaurant technology leaders with workgroups and networking.
• Store Brands Media brand covering the store brands and private label industry.
• HBSDealer Media brand serving the hardware and building supply dealer industry, hosting Pro-Dealer Industry Summit and Top Women in Hardware awards.
• MURTEC Conference Restaurant Technology (MURTEC) conference and awards program - the industry's leading event for restaurant technology innovation, featuring AI Summit, executive summits, and breakthrough awards.
• Top Women in Convenience (TWIC) Industry's first awards program recognizing female leaders in convenience retailing, integrated into the NACS Show program.
• Star Women in Grocery Awards program presented by Canadian Grocer recognizing outstanding women in the Canadian grocery industry since 2012.
• Xspecs CSA's X/SPECS event reflecting the evolution of physical retail environments and innovation in customer experience transformation for store planning, design, and facilities management.
• Product of the Year Canada Canada's largest consumer-voted award program recognizing product innovation across consumer categories.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24 million annual digital pageviews and 12 million annual unique users across the portfolio
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Canadian Pharmacists AssociationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 October 2026The Canada-U.S. Pharmacy Forum is presented by Drug Store News (an EnsembleIQ brand) and the Canadian Pharmacists Association. The forum brings together 50 of the most influential pharmacy leaders from Canada and the United States for peer exchange and cross-border healthcare insights.
• Diebold NixdorfminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2026Diebold Nixdorf sponsored Progressive Grocer's Grocery Tech Trends Study, the findings of which were previewed at the GroceryTech event in Charlotte, N.C. The report focused on food retail technology trends including self-checkout improvements, AI integration, and hyper-personalized customer offerings.
• CVS HealthminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2026CVS Health joined EnsembleIQ's DSN #FillHealthCareGaps campaign as an industry supporter, helping raise awareness of pharmacists' role in delivering primary care services amid a projected shortage of 80,000 primary care physicians in the U.S. by 2030.
• WalmartminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2026Walmart joined EnsembleIQ's DSN #FillHealthCareGaps campaign as an industry supporter, helping raise awareness of pharmacists' role in delivering primary care services amid a projected shortage of 80,000 primary care physicians in the U.S. by 2030.
• Kroger HealthminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2026Kroger Health joined EnsembleIQ's DSN #FillHealthCareGaps campaign as an industry supporter, helping raise awareness of pharmacists' role in delivering primary care services amid a projected shortage of 80,000 primary care physicians in the U.S. by 2030.
• Giant EagleminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2026Giant Eagle joined EnsembleIQ's DSN #FillHealthCareGaps campaign as an industry supporter, helping raise awareness of pharmacists' role in delivering primary care services amid a projected shortage of 80,000 primary care physicians in the U.S. by 2030.
• Ahold Delhaize USAminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2026Ahold Delhaize USA joined EnsembleIQ's DSN #FillHealthCareGaps campaign as an industry supporter, helping raise awareness of pharmacists' role in delivering primary care services amid a projected shortage of 80,000 primary care physicians in the U.S. by 2030.
• National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2026NCPA joined EnsembleIQ's DSN #FillHealthCareGaps campaign as an industry supporter, helping raise awareness of pharmacists' role in delivering primary care services amid a projected shortage of 80,000 primary care physicians in the U.S. by 2030.
• Loop AIcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 March 2026Loop AI sponsored the 2026 Top Women in Restaurant Technology Awards and Rising Star Awards, organized by EnsembleIQ's Hospitality Technology magazine. The awards were presented at the MURTEC conference in Las Vegas, with Loop AI receiving brand visibility and association with the restaurant technology community.
• VenzacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 October 2025Venza was named the exclusive sponsor of the 2025 Hotel Visionary Awards, hosted by EnsembleIQ's Hospitality Technology magazine. As exclusive sponsor, Venza received prominent brand placement across event materials, the awards ceremony, and associated marketing communications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Informa: Global B2B events, exhibitions, and trade media company. Operates major events and publications across retail, hospitality, and consumer goods verticals, directly comparable to EnsembleIQ's event-and-publication model at significantly larger scale.
• Hearst B2B Media (HCPro, etc.): B2B media division of Hearst operating vertical publications, events, and research across healthcare, retail, and technology. Comparable to EnsembleIQ's diversified multi-vertical B2B media model.

Direct peers

• Emerald (Emerald Holding): B2B media and events company operating vertical trade shows, conferences, and publications across retail, hospitality, and technology. Closely mirrors EnsembleIQ's combination of owned events, content brands, and sponsorship-driven revenue.
• Questex: B2B media and information services firm running vertical events, publications, and research across hospitality, retail, and healthcare. Directly comparable business mix to EnsembleIQ's event, research, and editorial franchises.
• Winsight (Informa): B2B media company serving the restaurant, convenience, and grocery industries with publications and events (e.g., Restaurant Business, CSP). Overlaps with EnsembleIQ's Convenience Store News, Progressive Grocer, and MURTEC audiences.
• Lebhar-Friedman: B2B media company focused on retail and foodservice verticals (e.g., Chain Store Age sister brands historically, Retail Leader). Operates events and trade publications comparable to EnsembleIQ's retail-media portfolio.
• Access Intelligence: B2B media company operating vertical trade publications, events, and research across retail, healthcare, and technology. Closely comparable to EnsembleIQ's multi-brand publishing and events portfolio.
• BNP Media: B2B media company publishing trade magazines, hosting events, and producing research for industries including retail, hospitality, and building products. Comparable to EnsembleIQ's trade-publication and events business mix.

Emerging players

• Industry Dive: B2B digital media company operating dozens of vertical newsletters and publications across industries including retail, healthcare, and hospitality. Competes with EnsembleIQ for digital advertising and sponsored-content dollars in shared verticals.

Others

• Ensemble: Different organization; included only as a name-collision note. Not a comparable business peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ensembleiq
• Xx.com/edgellcomm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EnsembleIQ