Corporate
Found 897 articles
Asda and Morrisons deploy new AI tech to secure UK stores
Retailers are accelerating the adoption of digital intelligence to combat theft and streamline operations. Asda is expanding a crime-reporting pilot following a successful ten-week trial in London, while Morrisons is deploying Everseen’s computer vision across 200 stores to monitor self-checkout accuracy and reduce shrinkage.
Google and UK Retailers Set for IMRG Growth Summit
The UK e-commerce association IMRG has finalized the speaker lineup for its upcoming Growth Summit, set for September 23 at London’s ExCeL. The event aims to bridge the gap between retail ambition and practical AI implementation, addressing how businesses can navigate the complexities of modern digital growth.
Retail Tech Weekly: Delivery Shifts and AI-Driven Store Operations
Online shoppers are rewriting the rules of engagement, as new research reveals that delivery reliability now outweighs speed in driving brand loyalty. This shift arrives alongside a wave of investment in AI-powered loss prevention and fulfillment systems, signaling a broader transformation in how global retailers manage store safety and customer expectations.
AI Startup Swap Bolsters Executive Suite With Trio of Senior Hires
Cross-border e-commerce platform Swap has secured three high-profile executive appointments, signaling an aggressive push to scale its agentic storefront technology following a $149 million funding round. The company, which provides infrastructure for over 1,000 consumer brands, is now positioning itself to reshape the future of global retail commerce.
Walmart’s Justin Breton named to AAF Hall of Achievement
Justin Breton, head of partnerships and emerging experiences at Walmart, has been selected for induction into the American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Achievement. The honor recognizes marketing leaders under 40 who have demonstrated exceptional innovation, leadership, and service within the advertising industry.
Morrisons Taps Vision AI to Streamline Self-Checkout Queues
Morrisons is deploying Everseen’s Evercheck platform across 200 UK stores, utilizing real-time computer vision to automate the self-checkout experience. By providing on-screen prompts for item correction, the retailer aims to reduce friction at the till and allow store staff to pivot toward more direct customer service roles.
Boxbar Tech Scales Self-Service Automation at Brighton and Butlin’s
Self-service bar technology is becoming a staple of the British leisure industry, with Boxbar Tech expanding its footprint through high-capacity deployments at the On The Beach Brighton festival and a 119-terminal rollout across Butlin’s resorts, signaling a shift toward automated drink service at scale.
Lidl expands surplus food partnership to 200 stores
Lidl GB is scaling up its surplus food redistribution program, partnering with the app Olio to connect volunteers with excess fresh produce, meat, and bakery items. The initiative, managed alongside Neighbourly, is now live in 200 stores, with a full national rollout planned by the end of this year.
Sur La Table Appoints Allbirds Veteran Benny Joseph as CTO
Benny Joseph has transitioned to Sur La Table as the retailer's new Chief Technology Officer, ending a nine-year tenure at Allbirds. During his time at the footwear brand, Joseph held a unique hybrid role that combined technical leadership with oversight of supply chain and corporate culture operations.
Morrisons deploys Everseen computer vision to speed up self-checkouts
Morrisons is integrating Everseen’s Evercheck platform into 200 of its UK stores, marking a significant push to streamline the self-checkout process. The technology uses real-time computer vision to help shoppers correct missed items on the spot, aiming to reduce queue congestion while freeing up staff for customer-facing duties.
Snappy Shopper launches same-day grocery delivery in Guernsey
Guernsey residents now have access to same-day grocery delivery through a new partnership between Snappy Shopper and Alliance Supermarket. Utilizing the Snappy Shopper app, customers can order items from The Food Warehouse in St Martin for rapid home delivery, marking the company’s second major expansion into the Channel Islands.
Albertsons brings Safeway shopping to ChatGPT via new plugin
Albertsons Companies is integrating its Safeway brand into ChatGPT, allowing customers to build grocery carts through conversational AI. The move aims to streamline the shopping experience by letting users request items, discover products, and manage digital lists directly within the interface before finalizing their purchases on the Safeway website.
The Hidden Inventory: Solving the Grocery Store Top Stock Blind Spot
Grocery retailers have long struggled with a persistent operational blind spot: the inventory sitting on top of shelves. While products are received and stored in this space, they remain disconnected from replenishment workflows, forcing staff into inefficient manual audits that fail to keep pace with daily store transactions.
RTIH Innovation Awards open for 2026 entries with new submission portal
The eighth annual RTIH Innovation Awards has officially opened for entries, introducing a streamlined, end-to-end digital submission platform. Designed to simplify the process for both participants and the judging panel, the portal allows entrants to manage documentation and track their progress through to the final selection phase.
John Viera takes innovation lead at John Lewis amid digital pivot
John Viera has been appointed Retail Innovation & Change Manager at John Lewis & Partners, a move signaling the retailer’s aggressive shift toward modernized store operations. After two decades with the company, Viera will now spearhead the technology squad and oversee a critical overhaul of the brand's payment infrastructure and till systems.
7 Brew launches inaugural mobile app to digitize drive-thru experience
US drive-thru beverage chain 7 Brew will debut its first mobile application on August 12, aiming to integrate digital ordering, custom drink building, and loyalty tracking into its service model. The platform promises access to a secret menu while maintaining the brand's signature speed and handcrafted quality for every order.
BWH Hotels Taps Toast to Overhaul North American Food Service
BWH Hotels is integrating Toast’s point-of-sale platform across its North American properties, covering the Best Western, WorldHotels, and SureStay brands. This partnership provides individual hotels access to a suite of digital tools, including mobile ordering, self-service kiosks, and handheld devices, aimed at streamlining complex food and beverage service operations.
Why E-commerce Brands Are Losing Customers at the Doorstep
A new survey of 1,954 US shoppers reveals that delivery quality now outweighs product loyalty, with three-quarters of consumers stating that a smooth arrival experience is the primary driver for repeat business, effectively turning the final mile into a critical make-or-break moment for modern retail brands.
Roel Willems exits Ahold Delhaize after decade-long tenure
After more than ten years shaping the digital infrastructure of Ahold Delhaize, Roel Willems has stepped down from his role as Director of Data and AI Governance. The veteran executive, who navigated the retailer through major analytics and European data strategy shifts, now plans to transition into independent advisory work.
Heron Foods rolls out live facial recognition to curb retail crime
Heron Foods has integrated Facewatch’s facial recognition technology across its 340-store network, aiming to identify repeat offenders in real-time. The move signals a broader industry shift toward AI-driven security measures, as major retailers increasingly deploy automated surveillance to protect staff and mitigate shoplifting losses across the United Kingdom.
Matthew Lee joins The LEGO Group to lead logistics automation
Matthew Lee has been appointed as the new Technology & Automation Director for Global Logistics & Distribution at The LEGO Group. He transitions into the role after serving as the Head of Supply Chain Technology for Europe at A.S. Watson, bringing extensive experience in retail supply chain operations.
Urban Jungle and Ikea Team Up for UK Home Insurance Launch
Ikea is expanding its UK services beyond furniture by partnering with InsurTech provider Urban Jungle to offer home insurance. The collaboration introduces a range of policy options designed to integrate with the retailer’s existing life-at-home service offerings, marking a new step in the brand’s push into consumer financial protection.
Smart Carts and Robots: July's Retail Tech Shifts
Retailers across the UK and Europe accelerated digital transformation throughout July, deploying everything from AI-powered smart trolleys in Lancashire to facial recognition systems in London. These high-tech rollouts signal a broader shift toward automation aimed at curbing shoplifting, streamlining checkout processes, and managing staffing more efficiently.
Village Super Market automates inventory tracking with computer vision
Village Super Market has implemented a new computer vision module from Focal Systems designed to track inventory stored above retail shelves. The technology, known as Top Stock, eliminates the need for manual audits and ladder climbs by providing store associates with real-time, hourly data on hidden stock levels.
Asda deploys Auror intelligence platform to combat retail crime
Asda has launched a ten-week pilot of the Auror crime reporting platform across 30 London stores, seeking to curb rising retail theft through real-time intelligence. The trial demonstrated a 55% increase in crime prevention rates and significantly accelerated the incident reporting process for frontline staff.
Best Buy Taps Former Nordstrom Executive Anne Bramman as CFO
Best Buy has named Anne Bramman as its new executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective August 19. The appointment marks a strategic move for the electronics retailer, as the incoming CEO Jason Bonfig looks to leverage Bramman’s extensive background in finance and large-scale consumer operations to drive future growth.
Restaurant tech veteran Paul Rubin joins Qu as product chief
Qu has tapped industry veteran Paul Rubin to serve as its new Chief Product & Technology Officer, tasking the former Brink POS founder with steering the company’s engineering roadmap toward more streamlined, AI-integrated restaurant operations.
The Entertainer Returns to Manchester’s Trafford Centre
The Entertainer is set to open a new location at Manchester’s Trafford Centre this September, marking the toy retailer's return to the shopping destination after an eight-year absence. The move fills a significant gap in the centre’s retail mix, providing a dedicated toy specialist for the first time since 2018.
7-Eleven brings performance-based digital offers to convenience retail
Convenience giant 7-Eleven has partnered with Ibotta to integrate performance-based promotions across its 11,500 U.S. locations. The deal allows consumer packaged goods brands to deliver digital offers directly to 7-Eleven, 7NOW, and Speedway app users, ensuring payments only occur when a verified product sale is completed.
UK retail shifts toward automation as robots and smart carts hit shelves
UK grocery chains are accelerating the transition to automated stores, with Tesco and Morrisons leading a wave of new technology deployments. From autonomous cleaning robots in 600 stores to AI-powered smart trolleys and digital shelf labeling, retailers are betting on hardware to solve labor shortages and improve customer efficiency.