Placer.ai Promotes Ethan Chernofsky to the Role of Chief Marketing Officer
In a significant development for the retail sector, Placer.ai has expanded its market intelligence platform to encompass traffic count, population-based trends, retail format analyses, planned developments, and more. This move aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the retail landscape.
Ethan Chernofsky, Placer.ai's Chief Marketing Officer, shared his enthusiasm about his role, stating that it's about understanding the 'what' and the 'why', making it both intriguing and rewarding. Chernofsky's previous roles include stints as VP of Marketing at Orbs, director of corporate marketing at Similar Web, and VP at Headline Media.
According to the latest findings from Placer.ai, overall grocery visits increased by 1.5% year-over-year in 2025. This surge was particularly notable on July 10, 2025, when foot traffic was up 15% compared to the 2025 year-to-date daily average and up 11.4% compared to the 2025 year-to-date Thursday average.
The data also highlighted the top grocery brands for 2025 and their growth drivers, although specific brand details were not provided in the summarized results. This increase in grocery visits contrasts with more mixed trends seen in other retail and dining sectors. For instance, casual dining visits stabilized in the first half of 2025, with visit-per-location metrics remaining roughly steady despite some store closures.
Insights from Placer.ai’s research suggest that retailers such as Trader Joe’s and Sprouts performed well in retail foot traffic, indicating strong grocery sector fundamentals.
Looking ahead, Placer.ai is tracking the latest culinary innovations and product launches with a potential spillover effect on the grocery sector. The company is also involved in the GroceryTech session, sharing insights alongside Schnucks, Forty Acres Market, and other industry leaders.
Chernofsky expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue guiding the evolution of Placer.ai's approach and product, aiming to deliver maximum value to customers and partners. He joined Placer.ai in 2019 and previously served as SVP of Marketing.
In May, Placer.ai published a report on grocery visit trends, revealing that shoppers are visiting supermarkets more frequently but spending less time in store during each visit. This report underscores the growing consumer engagement with grocery stores, as measured by Placer.ai’s geolocation analytics.
The journey at Placer.ai over the past six years has been remarkable, according to Chernofsky. He earned a master's degree in international relations from The London School of Economics and Political Science and a bachelor's degree in government, diplomacy, and strategy at Reichman University in Israel.
In other news, Hormel Foods has announced a leadership change, with Ghingo joining the board of directors and taking on the role of President. Ettinger's role as interim CEO will end after 15 months. Additionally, Giacomo Campinoti has been appointed as the new CEO of Filippo Berio USA, a longtime Italian brand.
These findings and developments underscore the dynamic and evolving nature of the retail and grocery sectors, with Placer.ai offering a critical vantage point into these shifts.
- Ethan Chernofsky, Placer.ai's Chief Marketing Officer, discussed their recent expansion in the business sector, revealing that they're now incorporating finance, technology, and retail data into their market intelligence platform to provide a comprehensive understanding of the retail landscape.
- As part of their ongoing involvement in the GroceryTech session, Placer.ai will be sharing insights on the latest culinary innovations and product launches in the technology sector, with the potential to impact the grocery sector.
