Company Description
Advantage Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: ADV) is described as a leading omnichannel retail solutions agency in North America, positioned at the intersection of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brands and retailers. The company is characterized in its public communications as a business solutions provider to consumer goods manufacturers and retailers, with a focus on helping brands and retailers of all sizes generate demand and get products into the hands of consumers wherever they shop.
According to Advantage Solutions, its services are data- and technology-powered and draw on what it describes as unparalleled insights, expertise and scale. The company emphasizes its role in connecting CPG brands and retailers across in-store, online, and broader omnicommerce environments. It highlights capabilities that span creating consumer experiences, optimizing how products appear and are managed at retail, and supporting e-commerce and digital channels.
Business focus and service themes
In its own descriptions, Advantage Solutions points to several recurring themes in its business model:
- Omnichannel retail solutions: The company presents itself as operating across in-store and online environments, supporting brands and retailers along the path to purchase.
- CPG and retail orientation: Advantage Solutions consistently identifies consumer goods manufacturers and retailers as its core client base, noting that it serves CPGs of all sizes and retailers across North America.
- Data and technology enablement: Public materials emphasize data- and technology-powered services, including the use of platforms and analytics to generate insights and support execution.
- Demand generation and retail execution: Advantage Solutions states that it helps clients generate demand and ensure that products are available to consumers, with an emphasis on retail execution and getting products into shoppers’ hands.
The company also notes that it has offices throughout North America and mentions strategic investments and owned operations in select international markets, indicating that while its primary focus is North America, it has some international exposure through these arrangements.
Segment and capability references
Advantage Solutions’ public disclosures reference multiple business areas and capabilities. In earnings releases, the company refers to business segments such as Branded Services, Experiential Services, and Retailer Services. These segments are discussed in the context of financial performance and demand trends, indicating that Advantage Solutions organizes its activities into distinct service groupings for reporting and management purposes.
In addition, the company describes a "Branded Services" business segment that serves as an extension of CPGs’ sales and marketing teams. Public statements about this segment highlight a focus on turning insights into action, integrating technology, and using the company’s network scale along the path to purchase. Experiential Services and Retailer Services are cited in financial updates as areas where the company tracks demand and profitability trends.
Omnichannel and agency positioning
Advantage Solutions is repeatedly characterized in its news releases as an agency company. It is described as an omnichannel retail solutions agency that operates at the center of commerce between CPGs, retailers, and e-commerce. The company cites recognition in the Ad Age Agency Report, where it is listed among the largest agency companies in the United States and worldwide based on revenue, reinforcing its positioning within the agency and marketing services landscape.
In that context, Advantage Solutions states that it offers services across the path to purchase, mentioning areas such as branding, retail media and promotion, creative services, media, marketing technology, events and conferences, packaging design, and sampling and demonstration. These references indicate that the company’s agency-related activities extend across multiple marketing and retail support disciplines.
Use of data, technology, and AI
Several public communications reference Advantage Solutions’ efforts to advance technology and data use. The company describes its services as data- and technology-powered and notes transformation initiatives aimed at AI enablement and improved business insights. In collaboration announcements, Advantage Solutions is associated with solutions that harness data and AI to optimize and simplify complex supply chains and order management processes.
For example, in a case study highlighted by a partner, Advantage Solutions is described as having implemented a new order management platform that uses data and AI to optimize order processes, from forecasting to delivery tracking. The company also references IT transformation initiatives that are described as improving efficiency in its business and enabling better service to clients.
Retail execution and in-store visibility
Advantage Solutions’ public materials emphasize retail execution and in-store performance. In a partnership announcement with Instacart, the company is associated with combining Instacart’s in-store audit capabilities with Advantage’s retail execution services. The described model uses technology and a distributed shopper community to generate real-time insights on product availability, pricing, placement, and display execution, which then trigger actions by Advantage field teams.
This approach is presented as giving CPGs visibility into in-store conditions and the ability to act quickly to address issues such as out-of-stocks and display compliance. The company positions this as part of its role in helping brands and retailers improve on-shelf availability and overall performance.
Client base and scale indicators
In a technology partner’s description of work with Advantage Solutions, the company is said to serve thousands of CPG clients and to support a large volume of back-office transactions related to contracts, orders, invoices, cash applications, and deductions. While specific client names are not detailed in the provided materials, the repeated references to CPG manufacturers and retailers, and to serving brands and retailers of all sizes, indicate that Advantage Solutions focuses on business-to-business relationships in the consumer goods and retail sectors.
The Ad Age ranking and references to revenue-based listings further indicate that Advantage Solutions is recognized within the agency market based on its reported revenue, though detailed financial metrics are treated as time-specific and are not relied on here for evergreen description.
Geographic footprint
Advantage Solutions states that it has offices throughout North America. It also notes that it has strategic investments and owned operations in select international markets. These statements suggest a primary operational footprint in North America with additional international activities through investments and owned entities, as described by the company.
Stock listing and regulatory reporting
Advantage Solutions Inc. is identified in its public releases and SEC filings as trading on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol ADV. The company files periodic and current reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Form 10-K annual reports and Form 8-K current reports that discuss financial results, executive appointments, and other corporate developments. These filings provide detailed information on the company’s financial condition, segment performance, and risk factors.
Risk and reporting considerations
In its earnings-related communications, Advantage Solutions references the use of non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Unlevered Free Cash Flow, and it notes that reconciliations to GAAP measures are provided in its filings. The company also includes cautionary language regarding forward-looking statements and refers readers to the risk factors section of its Annual Report on Form 10-K and other SEC filings for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that may affect its business and results.
Summary
Overall, Advantage Solutions Inc. presents itself as an omnichannel retail solutions agency focused on serving consumer-packaged goods manufacturers and retailers. It emphasizes data- and technology-enabled services, agency capabilities across the path to purchase, and a role at the intersection of CPG brands, retailers, and e-commerce. Its public communications highlight business segments such as Branded Services, Experiential Services, and Retailer Services, and describe ongoing efforts to use technology, including AI, to enhance efficiency, insights, and execution for its clients.