Corporate
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Primark faces visibility gap as AI transforms retail search
Primark’s push into online retail faces a significant hurdle: the fashion giant is nearly invisible when shoppers use artificial intelligence to navigate purchase decisions. Despite a £90 million investment in automated logistics, new data indicates the retailer lacks the digital footprint required to appear in AI-driven search results.
Manchester FinTech Ryft secures £20m Series B to fuel global expansion
Manchester-based payment processor Ryft has secured £20 million in a Series B funding round led by Gresham House Ventures, marking the largest such deal for a UK payments company in 2026. The capital will accelerate the firm's expansion into the US and European markets, building on its existing multi-party payment infrastructure.
The Hidden Cost of Inefficiency in Quick Commerce Dark Stores
Inside a dark store, the margin for error is measured in seconds. When a picker struggles to locate expired inventory or a system fails to account for real-time stock levels, the financial damage often eclipses the value of the order itself, creating a quiet erosion of profitability that scales with the business.
Azoma Secures dunnhumby Funding to Tackle AI Shopping Visibility
Azoma, a startup specializing in Agentic Commerce Optimisation, has secured an undisclosed investment from dunnhumby ventures. The capital will accelerate the development of its platform, which helps brands like L'Oréal and Unilever track how AI shopping agents discover and recommend their products to consumers.
The Beatles Story adopts retail-grade tech to streamline operations
The Beatles Story at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock has swapped outdated radio systems for hands-free wireless headsets. By deploying Quail Digital’s Pro12 technology, the attraction aims to unify its admissions, retail, and guest services teams, ensuring that the operational mechanics of the venue remain invisible to visitors immersed in the exhibits.
The Entertainer Overhauls Digital Strategy With THG Commerce
UK toy retailer The Entertainer has tapped THG Commerce to spearhead a multi-year digital transformation, aiming to replace legacy web infrastructure with a personalized, AI-driven experience by spring 2027.
Tapestry integrates Coach and Kate Spade into Google AI shopping
Shoppers can now purchase Coach and Kate Spade products directly within Google Search and the Gemini app, bypassing traditional website redirects. Tapestry has integrated its brands into Google’s AI ecosystem, allowing users to complete transactions via Google Pay the moment they encounter an item during an AI-powered search session.
Ikea's Meriel Neighbour joins 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards jury
Meriel Neighbour, the programme director driving global technology transformation at Ingka Group/Ikea, has joined the judging panel for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards. Her appointment brings over two decades of retail digital experience to the competition as the organization prepares for its November ceremony in London.
TRG Expands European Footprint with Acquisition of Vista Technology Support
Managed services provider TRG has acquired Vista Technology Support, a specialist in retail field services operating across the UK and Ireland. The deal, which aims to bolster TRG’s help desk and endpoint support capabilities, brings a workforce of over 400 specialists into the Gemspring Capital portfolio company.
Ireland’s AI paradox: High adoption meets deep consumer hesitation
Ireland has surged to the forefront of European AI adoption, with 45% of the population utilizing generative tools. Yet, this rapid integration into daily life—from streaming algorithms to banking fraud detection—masks a growing friction between the convenience consumers demand and the persistent anxiety regarding data privacy and algorithmic transparency.
Flipdish AI Phone Agent hits 10,000 orders for UK and Irish eateries
Independent restaurants across the UK and Ireland are offloading their busiest phone lines to automation, with a new AI agent facilitating over 10,000 orders. The technology, designed to capture revenue lost during peak service hours, has already generated more than £230,000 in sales for local hospitality businesses.
Why one in five Brits would rather have AI pick their Christmas gifts
More than a fifth of British consumers now trust artificial intelligence more than their own partners to select the perfect Christmas gift. A survey of 2,000 people suggests that for many, the machine’s ability to analyze preferences objectively outweighs the personal touch of a significant other.
Gen Z shoppers are ditching brands over opaque AI use
Generation Z is driving the retail shift toward artificial intelligence, yet their rapid adoption comes with a volatile catch. New research from SAP Engagement Cloud reveals that while this demographic frequently relies on AI for purchasing, 43% of them have already abandoned brands due to concerns over how the technology is deployed.
Christophe Parcot takes charge at European Media Marketplace
The European Media Marketplace has appointed industry veteran Christophe Parcot as Non-Executive Chairman, tasking the former Yahoo and Teads executive with steering the coalition toward broader market adoption as it transitions from its 2026 launch phase into full-scale operational execution.
Nadya Maffei leaves Shopify to lead retail strategy at Adyen
After three years at e-commerce giant Shopify, Nadya Maffei is transitioning to the payments sector. Maffei, who previously served as Senior Sales Leadership for North America, has been appointed Global Head of Retail at Adyen, where she plans to leverage her extensive experience to scale the company’s financial technology platform.
Cristina Holm on the AI Hype and Why Magic Mirrors Miss the Mark
Cristina Holm, co-founder of My Secret Stylist, argues that the retail sector is currently obsessed with generic AI buzzwords while ignoring practical, customer-centric solutions. She contends that many modern digital innovations in physical stores, specifically virtual try-on mirrors, create operational bottlenecks rather than solving consumer problems.
WorkJam expands AI-driven frontline platform across Catalyst Brands
Catalyst Brands is rolling out the WorkJam frontline operations platform to approximately 70,000 North American associates, spanning its entire portfolio including JCPenney, Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand, and Nautica to unify digital employee management and introduce conversational AI support.
Costco expands Uber Eats delivery to 47 US states
Costco and Uber Technologies have scaled their partnership across the United States, extending on-demand delivery services to 47 states. The expansion integrates nearly 600 warehouse locations into the Uber Eats platform, significantly broadening access to the retailer’s inventory for members nationwide.
The Entertainer taps THG Commerce for digital overhaul
UK toy retailer The Entertainer has appointed THG Commerce as its long-term partner to rebuild its digital storefront. The multi-year collaboration aims to transform the brand’s online presence by integrating advanced AI tools, with a full platform launch scheduled for spring 2027.
Marketing AI startup Profound secures $180m to scale brand intelligence
Profound, an AI platform designed to help brands navigate the shift from traditional search to generative AI, has raised $180 million in a Series D funding round. Co-led by Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins, the investment values the company at $1.8 billion as it expands its reach into enterprise marketing.
Westfield Rise Deploys AI to Track Physical Store Traffic
Shoppers exposed to advertising at Westfield’s London and Stratford City malls are 27% more likely to visit a brand’s physical store, according to new data from the company's in-house media agency, Westfield Rise. The group is now rolling out AI-driven measurement tools to quantify the impact of offline campaigns.
Shopify President Harley Finkelstein joins StackAdapt as advisor
Harley Finkelstein, the long-standing President of Shopify, has joined the board of advisors at StackAdapt, a Canadian artificial intelligence advertising platform. The move marks a significant addition for the Toronto-based tech firm as it looks to scale its global operations and refine its automated marketing technology.
Hanshow positions Store Digital Twin as retail's future operating system
At NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show Europe, Hanshow is shifting the conversation from simple AI deployment to building a unified operational foundation. By creating a Store Digital Twin, the company aims to provide the necessary framework for retailers to harmonize real-time physical sensing, intelligent decision-making, and automated execution.
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Waitrose extends Trust Retail partnership through 2031
Waitrose has formally extended its strategic partnership with Trust Retail for an additional five years, securing the inventory management provider’s role through November 2031. This commitment arrives as the supermarket chain prepares to accelerate the deployment of real-time stock tracking technology across its entire store network.
Complir Secures $11 Million to Automate Retail Compliance
Copenhagen-based startup Complir has raised $11 million in a seed funding round led by General Catalyst. The company provides an AI-driven infrastructure platform designed to help global retailers and consumer brands navigate the increasingly complex web of international product compliance regulations and safety standards.
Sean Morris joins AO as Transformation Programme Manager
Sean Morris has stepped into the role of Transformation Programme Manager at online retailer AO, following his departure from Footasylum. The move marks a new chapter for the executive, who previously led transformation initiatives and project management at Footasylum, with prior experience at THG and Marks and Spencer.
GXO and Exotec deploy Skypod automation for Guess in the Netherlands
GXO Logistics has integrated Exotec’s Skypod system into its Venlo facility to streamline fashion fulfilment for Guess. The installation marks a significant shift toward high-precision automated logistics, capable of processing up to 70,000 items daily to meet the complex demands of seasonal retail spikes across EMEA and Asia markets.
Quadient Expands UK Parcel Locker Network Through James Hall & Co. Deal
Quadient has partnered with James Hall & Co., the primary retailer and distributor for SPAR in Northern England, to integrate its automated parcel lockers into the convenience store network. The collaboration aims to streamline last-mile logistics by providing 24/7 access for deliveries, returns, and various customer services across the company’s retail estate.
Affirm Brings Buy Now, Pay Later Payments to Costco UK
Costco Wholesale has expanded its partnership with fintech firm Affirm into the United Kingdom, allowing members to split online purchase costs into monthly payments. This move follows the successful launch of the collaboration in the United States last year, marking a shift in how the retailer handles high-value transactions.
David’s Bridal launches AI platform to bridge gap with wedding vendors
David’s Bridal is leveraging its vast repository of first-party wedding data to launch Pearl Connect, an AI-powered B2B platform designed to streamline how wedding professionals connect with prospective clients. The tool aims to replace fragmented communication channels with a centralized hub that provides vendors with actionable context on every lead.