Relationshop, a Houston, Texas-based provider of digital engagement solutions for supermarkets and other retail chains, has finalized a merger between Mercatus Technologies and Stor.ai.
The new company will be called Mercatus, in recognition of the equity the e-commerce brand has achieved in the grocery sector, and will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Relationshop.
The merger combines Mercatus’ enterprise e-commerce platform with Relationshop’s expertise in unifying first-party data and powering personalized digital engagement. The transaction follows the news of Relationshop acquiring Stor.ai in January 2023.
The merger comes at a time when regional grocers and independents face stiff headwinds from larger national chains and mass retailers. In November, research from Brick Meets Click and sponsored by Mercatus showed mass merchants surpassed supermarkets to become the primary retail format that most households relied on for their grocery purchases during the month, whether online or in-store.
The combined capabilities will create a connected commerce ecosystem with enhanced shopper engagement, personalization and loyalty solutions scaled for retailers of all sizes in North America, Europe and the Middle East.
With the merger, several Mercatus executives will take on key roles within the expanded organization.
“Mercatus has been at the forefront of serving the digital commerce needs of regional grocers and supermarkets for over 15 years,” said Sylvain Perrier, newly appointed president of North America and global COO.
“This merger increases our capability to deliver unprecedented value to our clients by combining our proven technology and e-commerce expertise with the innovative shopper engagement and personalization solutions from Relationshop.”
Galen Walters, founder and CEO of Relationshop with five decades of grocery retail experience, will serve as the new CEO of Mercatus.
“The senior leadership team at Mercatus, backed by our board, is wholeheartedly devoted to advancing the connected commerce requirements of grocery retailers,” Walters said.
“Grocery retailers need flexible, automated solutions capable of addressing the competitive threat posed by national chains and the loss of control that comes from relying on third-party delivery providers. As we look to the future, we are excited to join forces, enhancing our offerings to uniquely satisfy the evolving demands of supermarkets and our customers worldwide.”
Details of the transaction were not disclosed. Piper Sandler and Solomon Partners acted as financial advisors to Relationshop and Mercatus, respectively.
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