Connect with shoppers in urban markets
Partner with Acosta to ensure your brand reaches, and stands out in, independent urban stores like bodegas, which are often challenging to service.
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Winning in independent retail
Fifty-nine percent of urban shoppers visit their local independent retailer between one and six times weekly. Acosta’s Urban Retail team helps brands increase sales in these underserved, yet essential retail outlets.
12
Major markets covered
23k
Independent convenience stores
54.5M
Consumers reached
Services
Differentiated urban selling solutions
Acosta’s urban selling solution helps brands increase their presence in high-traffic independent urban retail locations and distributor networks. With extensive connectivity to independent grocery and wholesale decision makers, our team sells in distribution and displays, captures primary shelf space and broadens your reach to urban markets.
Store owners value our partnership, recognizing our effectiveness in increasing visibility and efficiency in their operations. We’re able to quickly bring new items to market with industry-leading, wholesaler-to-shelf selling of your products from a fleet of fully stocked vans across major urban markets.
Data-Driven Strategy
Take a proactive face-to-face selling approach with fact-based strategies to significantly influence buying decisions of independent store owners.
In-Market Sales
Eliminate the need for retailer orders and increase speed to shelf with urban sales reps equipped with cargo vans carrying products, racks and point-of-sale materials.
Distribution
Leverage direct and indirect buying distributors and jobber networks to gain new points of distribution and ensure adequate stock levels.
Share of Shelf
Capture premium space, secure incremental displays and secondary placements, and optimize the shelf.
Trusted by trusted brands
Today’s biggest brands leverage Acosta’s broad reach for distribution gains and speed to shelf in challenging urban markets. Put your products in the hands of consumers with our proven approach of connecting face-to-face with store operators.
Independent/Urban FAQs
Lean into our experience in retail and expertise in urban markets with these frequently asked questions.
Why should I focus on urban markets?
While urban independent stores are traditionally difficult to service, 94% of shoppers in underserved communities regard their local stores as important and 59% visit their local independent shops between one and six times weekly. And, in these areas, shoppers are 2x as likely to shop locally daily. Ignoring these markets means a missed opportunity to connect with a vibrant and loyal audience and increase sales of your products.
How is this model different than a traditional headquarter sales or broker model?
This specialized team focuses on independent stores and bodegas in highly urban cities as opposed to major chains. Our relationships are with the store owner and operators themselves, who rely on our urban sales team to increase efficiencies in the ordering and merchandising processes. With specialized cargo vans, our team has the ability to haul product and sell directly into the store at the time of purchase.
What major markets does Acosta’s Urban Retail team operate in?
Acosta’s Urban Retail team covers 12 major metropolitan markets: New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Miami, Philadelphia, and Baltimore/Washington, D.C.
We help brands gain new distribution points, secure incremental display space, and ensure independent operators reorder to keep your products on shelves. Our approach combines mobile van sales, direct wholesaler relationships, and in-store merchandising to accelerate speed-to-shelf.
How quickly can I expect to see sales impact?
We can accelerate product launches and get your items on shelves faster — often bypassing traditional order delays. We recommend starting with a pilot in New York City, followed by Los Angeles, to maximize early results. These two markets consistently deliver the strongest ROI thanks to their high store density and our deep connectivity with regional distributors.
Does Acosta support convenience chains like 7-Eleven?
Absolutely. If your brand needs full-scale headquarters-level representation, explore Acosta’s broader Convenience capabilities. We work across 1,000+ distributors and chains nationwide to maximize your brand’s reach.
Already approved for distribution? That’s where our Urban Retail team steps in. We make sure your products are stocked and replenished at major convenience chains like 7-Eleven. We can also sell your products to independent operators in key urban markets — so you never miss a sale.
