Corporate
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Vikram Badhwar Appointed to Lead Starbucks Global Technology Operations
Vikram Badhwar, formerly the Director of Restaurant Technology at KFC UK & Ireland, has been appointed to oversee global technology operations at Starbucks. The move comes as the coffee giant undergoes a significant leadership shift, with Badhwar preparing to relocate to Nashville to manage regional tech teams across Asia-Pacific, EMEA, and Latin America.
Marks & Spencer Deploys Lily AI to Automate Product Data Management
Marks & Spencer has integrated the Lily AI Product Intelligence Platform to automate its digital catalog, seeking to sharpen visibility across Google shopping and organic search. The retailer aims to replace manual data entry with AI-driven attribution, ensuring that new inventory is fully optimized for discovery from the moment of launch.
XY Retail taps Vivek Veeramani to lead ecosystem expansion
Vivek Veeramani, a veteran of ThoughtWorks and GoTo Group with over 25 years in enterprise technology, has been named Vice President of Ecosystem and Delivery at XY Retail. The appointment marks a strategic push to scale the operating system specialist’s global partner network as it eyes further international growth.
The quiet expansion of Kusto Group: Building a regional industrial hub
In the sprawling industrial landscape of Kazakhstan, Yerkin Tatishev and Kusto Group are executing an expansion that eschews headlines for structural permanence. By weaving together logistics, agriculture, and manufacturing, the firm is moving beyond simple diversification to build an interconnected, self-sustaining economic system across Central Asia.
Pizza Ranch selects NCR Voyix for chain-wide POS overhaul
Midwestern restaurant chain Pizza Ranch has tapped NCR Voyix as its exclusive point-of-sale technology partner, initiating a strategic move to standardize operations across its corporate and franchisee locations. The transition centers on the deployment of Aloha Next, a microservices-based platform designed to integrate payments and in-store management tools.
Bookshop.org challenges Audible with ethical audiobook subscription
Bookshop.org is launching an audiobook subscription service to compete directly with Amazon’s Audible, offering an alternative for readers who want their digital purchases to support local high street retailers. The platform will charge £12.99 per credit, providing independent shops with a new, consistent revenue stream from the growing audio market.
Taco Bell expands voice AI to 890 drive-thrus with Omilia
Taco Bell is deepening its reliance on automation, bringing Omilia’s voice AI technology to more than 890 drive-thru locations across 38 states. The expansion signals a shift in operational strategy, moving beyond pilot programs to full-scale deployment in one of the most high-pressure environments in the quick-service restaurant industry.
EG On The Move Taps AI to Standardize UK Forecourt Experience
UK forecourt operator EG On The Move is deploying an AI-driven customer experience platform from Serve First to manage its 187 sites. The partnership aims to replace manual oversight with data-backed insights, leveraging 1,200 annual mystery shopping visits to drive service consistency across the retailer's complex multi-brand estate.
Quadient Expands Parcel Locker Rollout Across Morrisons Supermarkets
Shoppers at hundreds of Morrisons supermarkets across the UK will soon gain access to automated parcel collection and return services, as the retailer expands its partnership with Quadient. This rollout, building on a prior pilot in Morrisons Daily stores, aims to integrate logistics hubs directly into the grocery shopping journey.
Ingrid recruits Shopify’s Fraser Trivett as Chief Revenue Officer
Delivery and returns platform Ingrid has appointed former Shopify executive Fraser Trivett as its new Chief Revenue Officer. Trivett, who previously served as Head of Revenue for Northern Europe at Shopify, joins the company as it scales its efforts to transform logistics from a passive cost center into a proactive customer experience driver.
Walmart Integrates Virtual Shopping Realm into Main E-commerce Site
Walmart has transitioned its immersive virtual shopping platform, Realm, from an isolated pilot project to a fully integrated feature on its primary website. The move aims to streamline the shopping journey by blending social media-inspired aesthetic trends with direct product purchasing, starting with a curated back-to-school dorm room campaign.
REWE To Go Opens Automated Store at Berlin Central Station
With 350,000 daily commuters passing through, Berlin’s main railway station has become the latest site for a fully automated retail experiment. Lekkerland, a subsidiary of the REWE Group, has launched a 24/7 REWE To Go outlet equipped with nine self-checkout terminals to serve the city’s high-traffic transit hub.
Vinted Joins Coalition to Launch European Media Marketplace
A coalition of major European media owners, retailers, and tech firms has unveiled the European Media Marketplace, an initiative designed to unify fragmented digital advertising across the continent. By creating a single interoperable framework, the group intends to bypass closed ecosystems and streamline campaign activation across the premium open web.
Entries open for 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
The eighth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now accepting entries, inviting retailers and technology providers to showcase breakthroughs that define today's omnichannel landscape. The competition, which recognizes global innovation, will culminate in a ceremony held at The HAC in Central London on November 4th.
Morrisons data chief Peter Laflin steps down after seven-year tenure
After six and a half years overseeing the data and analytics division at Morrisons, Peter Laflin has announced his departure from the UK grocery retailer. The veteran executive confirmed the move via social media, citing the development of AI foundations and the MoreViu platform as key milestones during his leadership.
Retail's invisible workforce gap
Retailers have spent years instrumenting store floors with sensors, RFID, and automated shelf labels, yet they remain blind to their most vital asset: employee skills. While managers often rely on outdated spreadsheets or memory to track staff capabilities, the industry faces a growing, expensive disconnect between required competencies and verifiable talent.
Why Retail Innovation Depends on Smarter Office Design
Retailers are pouring billions into AI, automation, and frictionless checkout, yet the headquarters driving these shifts often remain stuck in the past. As digital transformation accelerates, the physical environment where teams collaborate has become the silent partner in determining whether new technology actually delivers a competitive advantage.
South African Fintech Float Enters UK Market with Credit Card Installments
South African installment platform Float has officially launched in the UK, introducing a payment model that allows consumers to split purchases into monthly installments using existing Visa or Mastercard credit limits. By bypassing new credit applications, the company aims to capture a segment of shoppers ignored by traditional point-of-sale financing.
AsReader Brings Japanese RFID Basket Scanning to North America
Retailers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico can now deploy advanced RFID basket reading technology, following a strategic North American expansion by AsReader. The move, bolstered by a newly secured patent, introduces the company’s point-of-sale TUB device to a market previously dominated by localized, smaller-scale inventory systems.
Generative AI startup geoSurge secures $12 million seed round
London-based geoSurge has raised $12 million in seed funding to shift the focus of brand visibility from traditional search engine optimization to the underlying representation layers of generative AI models. The investment round was led by AlbionVC, drawing participation from multiple venture firms and prominent angel investors.
Circus SE keeps new leadership appointment under wraps until July
A mystery executive is set to join German autonomous meal supply firm Circus SE as Co-CEO and CFO, though the company has invoked a strict confidentiality agreement to keep his identity hidden until a scheduled Q2 operational update on July 16.
UK Retailers Struggle to Turn AI Investment Into Operational Agility
Nearly 70% of UK retailers wait for operational failures to hit their bottom line before taking action, according to new data from UiPath. Despite 97% of firms integrating artificial intelligence into their workflows, nearly half still struggle to see a measurable commercial return from these expensive technology investments.
Dorit Posdorf to Drive AI Strategy at Maniko
“I have always been drawn to companies that sit at interesting inflection points,” says Dorit Posdorf, who joins Berlin-based nail beauty startup Maniko as its new Chief Digital Officer. Her appointment signals a shift toward aggressive, AI-enabled commercial growth for the brand’s expanding direct-to-consumer and retail footprint.
Retail Tech Trends: The Major Disruptions of H1 2026
The first half of 2026 has reset the retail landscape as giants abandoned failed physical store experiments while pivoting aggressively toward AI-driven efficiency and digital connectivity. From the retreat of Amazon’s cashierless concepts to the rise of QR-coded product transparency, the industry is trading experimental gimmicks for scalable, data-backed utility.
Starbucks technology executive John Elliott announces departure
John Elliott has stepped down from his dual role as EMEA Vice President for Technology and Supply Chain and Global Vice President for Licensed Technology at Starbucks. His departure, effective July 3, concludes a two-year tenure focused on digital transformation and supply chain optimization across international markets.
Morrisons hits 100-store milestone with Vusion digital labels
Morrisons has reached a significant operational milestone, completing the rollout of digital shelf edge labels across 100 stores. This transition replaces thousands of manual paper price updates with an automated system, allowing staff to shift their focus from routine maintenance to direct customer interaction and improved service delivery.
SJ Grabiec leaves AllSaints for Customer Director role at River Island
After a 15-year tenure at AllSaints, SJ Grabiec has transitioned to River Island to serve as its new Customer Director. Her appointment marks a significant shift in leadership for the retailer, as she assumes responsibility for a broad portfolio spanning paid media, CRM, customer operations, and user experience.
Hollister and Timberland expand retail footprint at Metrocentre
The Metrocentre Partnership has secured two major fashion arrivals, with Hollister opening its largest regional store and Timberland debuting its first North East location. These additions mark a strategic shift for the shopping destination, which plans to further expand its fashion hub with upcoming launches from Bershka, Lefties, and New Look.
Morrisons AI strategy and the week in retail technology
Morrisons CEO Rami Baitiéh has credited a dual-pronged AI strategy for delivering £940 million in savings over the last three years, marking a significant shift in how the grocer manages its operational costs while maintaining service quality.
Dunelm Pivots Toward AI in Retail Strategy Refresh
Building bots to navigate a shifting market, Dunelm’s leadership team gathered last week to align on a new financial year under the banner of 'Winning Hearts & Homes.' The event, which included virtual store tours and AI workshops, signaled a significant push to modernize the retailer's digital and physical customer experience.