What Barrows Connected Store does

Barrows Connected Store is a retail design, media, and technology company that transforms physical retail stores into digital media networks. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the company combines 35 years of physical retail expertise with a vertically integrated technology stack spanning hardware design and manufacturing, a proprietary software platform, content production, and managed operations. It employs 501-1,000 people across offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.

Its core technology is Connect OS, a full-stack in-store ad tech platform comprising Network Manager (real-time display health monitoring), Campaign Manager (booking, targeting, and execution), and Insights Manager (multi-source analytics). Connect AI sits on top of this stack as an optimization layer that applies real-time data and feedback loops to targeting, creative performance, media monetization, and campaign outcomes. The platform supports a hardware portfolio of in-store digital displays, including Power Aisle, Promo End Cap, HBC End Cap, End Cap, Entrance Screen, Totem Display, Goal Posts, and Aisle End Caps. Deployment examples include Tesco and Spar in the UK and Europe, Kroger and Walgreens in the US, and Hy-Vee with over 10,000 screens across 400+ stores.

Revenue is generated through three streams: advertising monetization on in-store media networks sold to brands, hardware and Connect OS software licensing with recurring platform access, and managed services covering content production and ongoing network operations. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company sells via a direct enterprise field sales motion to C-suite and category buyers at major global retail chains, with named customers including Tesco, Kroger, Walgreens, Spar, Hy-Vee, and Albertsons. Recent leadership appointments in early 2026, including a new Global CEO and a Chief Growth Officer for North America, signal a deliberate commercial expansion push.

Name

Barrows Connected Store

Legal name

Barrows Connected Store

Website

https://barrowscs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Barrows Connected Store is a retail design, media, and technology company that transforms physical retail stores into digital media networks, serving global enterprise retailers with its Connect OS software platform, proprietary digital display hardware, and managed services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. In-Store Media Network Monetization: Transforms retail spaces into media channels, selling advertising inventory to brands across digital displays positioned throughout stores. Revenue derived from premium digital screen placements, in-store audio offerings, and dynamically targeted campaign delivery.
2. Hardware & Platform Licensing: Provides proprietary hardware (digital displays, totems, end caps, aisle screens) and Connect OS software platform to retailers. Includes ongoing platform access and network management services.
3. Managed Services: Full-service managed operations including content production, campaign execution, and ongoing network optimization delivered as a service to retail partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Barrows Connected Store designs, builds, and operates in-store digital media networks for major retail chains. It combines proprietary Connect OS software (network management, campaign management, analytics, and Connect AI optimization) with proprietary in-store display hardware (Power Aisle, End Caps, Totems, Entrance Screens, Aisle End Caps, Goal Posts) and end-to-end services spanning design & engineering, manufacturing, operations, content production, and data & analytics.

Product overview

Barrows Connected Store is a retail design, media, and technology company that transforms physical stores into high-performing media channels. The company offers a vertically integrated, modular service model combining 35 years of physical retail expertise with digital technology. At its core is Connect OS, a full-stack proprietary ad tech platform that unites hardware, software, and insights to power in-store media networks. Connect OS comprises three components: Network Manager (real-time display health monitoring), Campaign Manager (campaign booking, targeting, and execution), and Insights Manager (multi-source analytics). The platform is enhanced by Connect AI, which uses real-time data and AI-driven feedback loops for continuous optimization of targeting, creative performance, media monetisation, and campaign outcomes. Complementing the platform are physical digital display products including Power Aisle, Promo End Cap, HBC End Cap, End Cap, Entrance Screen, Totem Display, Goal Posts, and Aisle End Caps, all supported by end-to-end services spanning Design & Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Content Production, and Data & Analytics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connect OS: Full-stack in-store ad tech suite - a purpose-built proprietary platform uniting hardware, software, and insights to power in-store media networks.

Products and services

• Connect OS
• In-Store Digital Displays
• Design & Engineering Services
• Hardware Manufacturing
• Operations & Network Management
• Content Production
• Data & Analytics

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ digital screens and in-store audio offerings deployed at scale
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KrogercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Kroger announced plans in June 2025 for a new animated content platform built by Barrows Connected Stores. This represents a significant product development partnership where Barrows serves as the technology builder for Kroger's retail media network expansion.
• AlbertsonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlbertsons launched a digital display network across 80 stores in partnership with Stratacache. While not a direct Barrows partner, this indicates competitive positioning in the retail media space.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Scala (a STRATACACHE company): Scala is a long-standing digital signage and in-store media software platform owned by STRATACACHE, used by retailers worldwide for campaign management and network monitoring. It overlaps directly with the Campaign Manager, Network Manager, and Insights Manager modules inside Barrows' Connect OS platform.
• Cooler Screens: Cooler Screens transforms grocery cooler and freezer doors into digital media surfaces, monetizing shopper attention at point of purchase through retailers like Kroger, Albertsons, and Wakefern. It competes head-to-head with Barrows' Power Aisle, End Cap, and cooler-adjacent display products for retail media shelf-edge and aisle budgets.
• STRATACACHE: STRATACACHE is the largest dedicated in-store digital media network operator in North America, providing display hardware, content management, and retail media monetization solutions to grocery, convenience, and restaurant chains. It is the most direct competitor to Barrows, having won the Albertsons 80-store digital display deployment that Barrows was also pursuing.
• Grocery TV (SageNet): Grocery TV is a venture-backed in-store digital advertising network focused exclusively on grocery and convenience retailers across North America. It is a focused competitor to Barrows' smaller-format grocery and convenience deployments and competes for the same CPG and retailer retail-media budgets.

Emerging players

• Reflect Systems: Reflect Systems provides digital signage, interactive displays, and retail media network solutions with a focus on experiential in-store environments. It overlaps with Barrows' premium end-cap and entrance screen deployments for experiential retail media networks.

Broad incumbents

• Avery Dennison Intelligent Labels: Avery Dennison's Intelligent Labels business provides RFID-based digital shelf and inventory solutions that increasingly bundle in-store media and shopper engagement capabilities for retail customers. As the largest smart-label incumbent, it represents both a strategic partner and competitor for shelf-edge and aisle media networks that Barrows serves.
• VusionGroup (formerly SES-imagotag): VusionGroup is a global leader in electronic shelf labels (ESL) and in-store digital infrastructure, deploying at scale across European grocery and big-box retailers. While primarily ESL-focused, its VusionCloud platform increasingly competes with Barrows in-store media and IoT retail infrastructure for the same enterprise retail budgets.

Others

• Criteo (Retail Media): Criteo operates one of the largest third-party retail media platforms, enabling brands to buy on-site, off-site, and in-store advertising through retailer partnerships. While focused on digital commerce media rather than physical in-store screens, it competes for the same CPG advertiser budgets that ultimately fund Barrows' in-store media revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Barrows Connected Store