Corporate
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Loretta Choy Appointed Head of Digital at Banana Republic
Retail industry veteran Loretta Choy has been tapped to lead the digital division at Banana Republic, bringing over 25 years of fashion leadership to the role. Choy, who most recently served at Curated For You, enters the position with a deep background in merchandising and omnichannel client services.
Modernizing Retail: A Blueprint for Long-Term Resilience
Retail executives face a shifting landscape where traditional models no longer guarantee dominance. To remain competitive, businesses must integrate advanced digital infrastructure, commit to sustainable operations, and embrace hybrid commerce, ensuring they can pivot alongside evolving consumer expectations in an increasingly volatile global market.
Refundjacking: Why Retailers Are Losing the War on Policy Abuse
Nearly one in three online shoppers now openly admit to exploiting refund policies, shifting what was once fringe dishonesty into a systemic e-commerce crisis. New data from Ravelin highlights that 27% of consumers participate in "refundjacking," a growing trend where shoppers treat return systems as a source of illicit income.
Searchable acquires Meridian to scale AI visibility platform
Searchable, an AI visibility platform founded in 2025, has acquired New York-based startup Meridian Tech in a deal valued in the seven figures. The acquisition marks a significant move in the company’s push to expand its footprint in the United States, following the launch of a Salt Lake City office.
Lagardère Travel Retail brings AI skin analysis to European airports
Travelers passing through Prague, Rome Fiumicino, and Amsterdam Schiphol can now access personalized beauty consultations via AI. Lagardère Travel Retail has integrated Perfect Corp.’s Skincare Pro technology into its airport operations, with plans to expand the digital diagnostic tool to two additional international hubs by the end of 2026.
Enrique Del Rio joins Reward as President to lead European expansion
Former Lloyds Banking Group executive Enrique Del Rio has been appointed President of customer engagement platform Reward. The move aims to accelerate the company’s commercial growth across the UK and Europe, leveraging his three decades of financial services experience to deepen strategic partnerships with major retail and banking institutions.
UK Retailers Shedding Millions Through Ineffective Loyalty Programs
UK retailers are forfeiting £806.9 million annually in potential gross margin, as loyalty programs fail to convert high member engagement into measurable commercial success. A study of 51 major brands by HyperFinity suggests the problem is not a lack of consumer interest, but a systemic failure in program execution.
Co-op and eStoreBrands to launch quick commerce analytics platform
Co-op is partnering with digital commerce specialist eStoreBrands to roll out Catalyst, an analytics platform designed to provide suppliers with granular insights into the retailer’s quick commerce operations. The tool aims to bridge a long-standing information gap by sharing data from the company's 2,300 convenience stores and delivery aggregators.
Amazon expands checkout-free tech to healthcare sector
A new retail store powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology has opened at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Centre. The launch marks a strategic push for the frictionless shopping system into healthcare environments, aiming to streamline the experience for patients, medical staff, and visitors navigating the facility.
Sainsbury's Taps Accenture Veteran for Food Transformation Role
William McGrath has joined Sainsbury’s as the new Head of Food WMS Transformation, stepping into the role after a thirteen-year tenure at Accenture. His appointment comes as the supermarket chain faces scrutiny over the deployment of facial recognition technology across its retail estate.
Space NK promotes Jotis Moore to Chief Technology Officer
After six and a half years steering the retailer’s engineering and infrastructure, Jotis Moore has been appointed Chief Technology Officer at Space NK. The transition marks a strategic shift for the company as it looks to consolidate its technology organization under new leadership to drive future digital initiatives.
Pop Mart integrates loyalty rewards with TikTok Shop in US
Pop Mart has expanded its membership rewards ecosystem to the United States, allowing TikTok Shop customers to sync their loyalty points across the brand’s digital and physical retail channels. Shoppers now earn one point for every dollar spent via the social platform, redeemable for exclusive perks and collectibles.
Ranju Das departs lululemon after AI and technology leadership stint
After a year of steering digital strategy for lululemon, Chief AI and Technology Officer Ranju Das has stepped down from the retailer. His departure marks the end of a tenure defined by global expansion and a significant focus on integrating artificial intelligence into the brand's expansive retail operations.
Chris Greenwood hands over Mamas & Papas IT leadership after 36 years
After a career spanning more than three decades, Mamas & Papas CIO Chris Greenwood is stepping down from his post. He has officially passed the leadership of the retailer’s IT department to Chris Platt, who joined the organization in July as the new IT and Transformation Director.
Chipotle strengthens European tech leadership with Gerard Barrago hire
Gerard Barrago has transitioned to Chipotle Mexican Grill as Head of European Technology & Restaurant Systems. Leaving his previous post at Five Guys Europe, Barrago joins the fast-casual chain during a period of significant international expansion, bringing extensive industry experience to oversee the brand's evolving digital and operational infrastructure across the region.
Simbe Reaches Milestone With 3,000 Autonomous Retail Robots
Simbe has secured contracts for 3,000 autonomous shelf-monitoring units, marking what the company identifies as the largest commercially committed fleet of shelf intelligence technology. This milestone signals a shift in retail operations, where physical AI is moving from experimental pilot programs to becoming essential infrastructure for global store chains.
VILLOID partners with StrongPoint for world's largest Pio installation
Norwegian online fashion retailer VILLOID is set to host the world's largest AutoStore Pio facility, following a contract agreement with automation provider StrongPoint. Valued at approximately NOK 17 million, the project aims to bolster the retailer's fulfilment capacity as it moves to a new location ahead of 2027.
LeMieux launches peer-to-peer resale platform within mobile app
Equestrian brand LeMieux is expanding its digital ecosystem with the launch of ReRide, a dedicated peer-to-peer resale marketplace integrated directly into its mobile app. The move aims to foster a circular economy among its community, allowing riders to trade pre-loved gear and source discontinued items in a centralized digital space.
Snappy Technologies readies AI assistant for retail store management
Snappy Technologies is preparing to launch a specialized AI assistant designed to streamline retail operations and data analysis. The tool, which integrates directly into the Snappy Shopper admin dashboard, aims to automate routine administrative tasks while providing retailers with actionable insights into sales performance and product trends.
Beyond the bot: how agentic voice is repairing retail’s trust crisis
Sixty-four percent of shoppers will abandon a brand after repeated negative experiences with automated support systems. As retail platforms struggle under the weight of legacy chatbots and malicious bot traffic, the industry is pivoting toward agentic voice technology to replace rigid decision trees with genuine, action-oriented problem solving.
Tesco overhauls fuel network with Vontier payment technology
Tesco is upgrading its nationwide network of more than 700 petrol stations with a new integrated payment and fuelling platform. The grocery giant is deploying hardware and software from Vontier Corporation, specifically utilizing components from Gilbarco Veeder-Root and Invenco to streamline forecourt operations.
Retail Tech Weekly: Profound Hits $1.8bn Valuation as AI Shifts Focus
The retail landscape is pivoting toward agentic commerce, underscored by Profound’s massive $180 million Series D funding round. This milestone, which values the AI marketing platform at $1.8 billion, signals a broader industry transition where autonomous agents are replacing traditional search-based customer interactions.
Deann Evans departs Shopify after five-year leadership tenure
Deann Evans has stepped down as Managing Director for EMEA at Shopify, concluding a five-year tenure that saw the e-commerce platform expand its footprint across Europe. Her departure marks a transition for the company as it shifts focus toward agentic commerce and AI-driven discovery tools for merchants of all sizes.
Deadline looms for 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Companies have exactly two weeks left to finalize their submissions for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards. The entry period concludes on October 2, paving the way for a ceremony in London this November that recognizes global excellence in retail technology and omnichannel innovation.
Retail Tech Weekly: M&S, The Entertainer, and Global Automation Shifts
Scene: A flurry of digital transformation across the UK high street this week, as retailers from M&S to The Entertainer pivot toward smarter inventory and customer-facing AI. From surplus food management to warehouse robotics, the industry is accelerating its move toward a more integrated, tech-driven future.
AI Agents and Automation Redefine the Retail Landscape
The retail sector is shifting toward an agentic future where AI does not merely assist, but actively participates in commerce. From Flying Tiger’s compliance needs to Profound’s $1.8 billion valuation, recent market movements highlight a transition where autonomous systems are becoming the primary customers for brands.
Fanatics Collectibles expands to Paris with second flagship store
Following the success of its London debut on Regent Street, Fanatics Collectibles is crossing the English Channel to open its first continental European flagship in Paris. The new 5,500-square-foot space on Rue Saint-Lazare is set to launch on October 23, marking a major expansion for the trading card retailer.
Costco Expands Nationwide DoorDash Partnership in US
Costco Wholesale has officially brought its full inventory to the DoorDash Marketplace across the United States. The nationwide expansion allows members to order groceries, electronics, and Kirkland Signature products for same-day delivery, marking a significant escalation in the retailer's push for on-demand convenience.
Pizza Pilgrims launches nationwide UK delivery via Uber Eats
London-based pizzeria chain Pizza Pilgrims has entered a strategic partnership with Uber Eats, marking a significant expansion of its delivery footprint across the UK. The move signals a shift for the artisanal brand, which aims to provide broader access to its Neapolitan-style offerings for both mid-week meals and weekend gatherings.
Puresport and Visualsoft modernize retail tech for charity pop-up
Performance wellness brand Puresport partnered with e-commerce agency Visualsoft to overhaul the digital infrastructure for its "Thrift it back" charity event. By deploying a robust Shopify POS system, the team aimed to solve common temporary retail hurdles, including unreliable connectivity and fragmented sales reconciliation, to benefit Greenhouse Sports.