Retail tops industry ad spend in first half 2021, finds Nielsen Ad Intel July 22, 2021 10:34 Nielsen Ad Intel has released the latest data on media investment across key media in Australia for the first half of 2021. The retail sector topped ad spending across the first half of 2021, with the largest share of advertising being attributed supermarkets, food outlets (takeaway/restaurants) and household furnishings. Harvey Norman Holdings has topped the rankings for brands spend. The past year has seen advertisers shifting the focus of budgets and messaging to adapt to changes in caused by the pandemic. Nielsen Ad Intel commercial lead, Rose Lopreiato said: “We are seeing more brands play their part in helping businesses back on their feet since the beginning of the pandemic. Importantly, this isn’t just an arena for banks and large conglomerates to play in, even smaller brands can help business owners, employees or those now unemployed in a way that is unique to them.”