Retail Tech Weekly: From AI Trolleys to Electric Fleets

The UK retail landscape is undergoing a rapid technological transformation. Morrisons has launched Instacart’s Caper Cart smart trolleys at its Preston store, allowing shoppers to track spending and weigh produce in real-time. Meanwhile, Tesco has completed the rollout of autonomous cleaning robots across 600 Express stores, utilizing 'co-bots' to automate routine floor maintenance and free up staff for customer service. Logistics are also evolving; M&S is expanding its low-carbon fleet with ten new DAF XD electric trucks, including an innovative model that uses an integrated inverter to power refrigeration, reducing reliance on diesel.

Investment remains robust, with the supply chain startup Freehand securing $75 million to deploy AI agents capable of managing enterprise-level spending. In the fashion and wellness sectors, Frasers Group has opened a massive 85,000 sq ft flagship in Dublin featuring state-of-the-art digital displays, while the bodywork brand MASAJ raised £1.5 million to scale its studio footprint. Simultaneously, Sephora has debuted an intimate boutique concept on London's Carnaby Street, integrating advanced skin-analysis technology to bridge the gap between digital diagnostics and in-store beauty consulting.