Corporate
Found 518 articles
Costa Coffee Shuffles Executive Leadership and Expands Drive-Thru Footprint
Costa Coffee has overhauled its global executive team, appointing Matthew Sisk as Chief Financial Officer and Jez Langhorn as Chief People Officer. The leadership changes coincide with the company’s aggressive push into the UK drive-thru market, where it recently celebrated the opening of its 400th roadside location in Norwich.
The high cost of parcel purgatory for UK shoppers
Four full working days a year are vanishing into the void of home delivery windows, as 43% of UK consumers sacrifice their professional productivity to wait for packages. New research from ZigZag highlights a growing crisis in post-purchase logistics, where unreliable timing and poor communication alienate once-loyal customers.
Slim Chickens expands into Heathrow Terminal 3 with new airside location
Travelers at London Heathrow Terminal 3 can now access premium fast-casual dining as Slim Chickens officially opened its latest airside location this past weekend. The launch marks a strategic expansion for the Arkansas-founded brand, which collaborated with Vista Technology Support to manage the site's deployment for the busy summer season.
Autonomous Delivery and AI Reshape Global Retail Operations
From drone-delivered meals in Texas to facial recognition in British supermarkets, the retail sector is undergoing a rapid technological overhaul. As brands race to integrate automation into their physical and digital storefronts, last week’s deployments highlight a shift toward hyper-personalized and data-driven customer experiences.
Why retail's legacy infrastructure is failing the AI era
Retailers are discovering that their digital foundations—built for a web of static homepages—cannot support an age of agentic commerce. When Carrefour integrated its catalog into ChatGPT, it signaled a shift: the storefront is no longer a destination, but a data stream that must be readable by autonomous AI.
The Art of Precision: Why Word Counts Define Reader Engagement
Many authors mistake length for authority, believing that more words equate to deeper expertise. In reality, excessive volume often signals a failure to refine an idea, causing readers to disengage long before they reach the conclusion. Mastering word counts serves as a fundamental self-editing discipline rather than a mere constraint.
Why VPS Infrastructure Is Essential for Modern Omnichannel Retail
A retail website is no longer just a digital storefront; it is a complex ecosystem connecting inventory, CRM, payment gateways, and physical locations. As these platforms grow, high-load Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting has become the critical backbone for maintaining the speed and reliability required to survive peak traffic.
Evri sues BBC for £1.2 million over Panorama delivery investigation
Parcel delivery firm Evri has launched a High Court battle against the BBC, seeking £1.2 million in damages over a Panorama documentary that alleged the company utilized exploitative labor practices. The broadcaster’s investigation, which remains online, sparked the legal claim after Evri cited significant financial losses and lost contracts.
Starship delivery robots pivot to higher education marketing in MK
The familiar sight of autonomous robots navigating Milton Keynes streets is taking on a new purpose as Starship Technologies partners with Milton Keynes College. The six-wheeled delivery units now serve as mobile billboards, sporting custom artwork to promote local university-level courses directly to residents' doorsteps.
Geeta Odedra Exits Asos After Two-Year Compliance Tenure
After two and a half years overseeing regulatory standards at fast fashion giant Asos, Group Compliance Manager Geeta Odedra has stepped down from her position. Her departure comes following a successful tenure that saw her transition from a senior role at Next to navigating the complex compliance landscape of global digital retail.
10Beauty Secures $23.5 Million to Scale Automated Manicure Kiosks
Robotics startup 10Beauty has closed a $23.5 million funding round led by Story Ventures, pushing its total capital raised past the $70 million mark. The company is now leveraging these funds to accelerate the deployment of its automated nail-care systems across major retail chains and specialized salon partners.
AI Savings and New Tech Deployments: A Week in Retail Innovation
From Morrisons hitting a £940 million milestone through AI-driven efficiencies to Lush reclaiming its digital presence on Bluesky, the retail sector is undergoing a profound technological shift. This week’s developments highlight how major chains are balancing aggressive automation with evolving consumer expectations for ethical and seamless shopping.
Sainsbury's and London retailers unite to battle crime with AI
London’s retail heavyweights, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and John Lewis, have joined forces with the Metropolitan Police to curb rising crime across the capital. This collaborative strategy prioritizes rapid incident response and improved evidence sharing, while Sainsbury’s simultaneously accelerates its rollout of AI-powered facial recognition technology to deter repeat offenders.
THG Fulfil and Footasylum Launch First External AutoStore Integration
Footasylum is transforming its logistics through a strategic partnership with THG Fulfil, marking the first time the latter has deployed its proprietary AutoStore system for an external retailer. The project integrates advanced robotics with custom software to modernize the streetwear brand’s fulfillment capabilities ahead of a September launch.
WiFi-connected toys are reshaping the modern nursery
Nearly 70% of children now find their toy boxes dominated by internet-connected devices, marking a sharp pivot from traditional play. New research from EE reveals that a quarter of youngsters engage with digital toys daily, forcing parents to navigate the tension between modern connectivity and legacy playtime habits.
Co-op Links Search Ads to Physical Store Sales via Data Collaboration
A 134% surge in in-store sales has validated a new omnichannel measurement framework for Co-op, marking the first time the retailer has successfully bridged the gap between digital search activity and physical grocery purchases through a strategic data collaboration with Google and LiveRamp.
Datitude appoints David French to steer growth amidst AI data shift
Retail data platform Datitude has appointed David French as a strategic advisor, leveraging his three decades of finance and corporate experience. The move arrives as the company seeks to sharpen its focus on data consistency and accessibility for retailers navigating the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into their operations.
Burgermeister taps Alexander Müller to lead financial scaling
Alexander Müller has stepped into the role of Chief Financial Officer at German fast-food chain Burgermeister, moving from his previous post at Ober Scharrer Gruppe. He arrives as the company prepares to accelerate its international expansion, specifically targeting a high-stakes entry into the United Kingdom market by 2026.
CaratIQ Secures Exclusive Deal with Nationwide Jewellers Group
CaratIQ has finalized a strategic partnership to become the exclusive cloud-based point-of-sale and CRM provider for Nationwide Jewellers, a network representing over 400 stores across Australia and New Zealand. The agreement marks a significant expansion for the AI-driven operating system into the Australasian independent retail market.
Integrating Registered Dietitian Support into Retail Benefits
Retail employers are increasingly incorporating telehealth-based nutrition counseling into their benefits packages to combat absenteeism and boost staff retention. By prioritizing accessible digital platforms, companies aim to provide personalized health guidance that fits the demanding, non-traditional schedules of frontline retail workers.
Lidl GB expands self-scanning trial to 37 new locations
Shoppers across Scotland and the South of England can now bypass traditional queues as Lidl GB rolls out its Lidl & Go self-scanning technology to 37 additional stores. The move follows a successful seven-store pilot, signaling a broader shift toward smartphone-integrated checkout experiences across the discounter's UK footprint.
CeX Malaysia Integrates Adyen for Unified Payments
British electronics retailer CeX has tapped fintech heavyweight Adyen to streamline its Malaysian operations. By deploying a unified commerce solution across its 11 nationwide stores and e-commerce platform, the retailer aims to consolidate transaction reporting and simplify payment management for a diverse range of local and international payment methods.
B&Q launches sustainability-focused store concept in Cheltenham
Cheltenham’s B&Q location is transforming into a testing ground for eco-conscious retail, introducing dedicated 'sustainable house' displays and green-star product labeling. The initiative aims to guide shoppers toward energy-saving home improvements and environmentally friendly gardening practices, serving as a pilot to refine the chain’s national sustainability strategy.
Burberry Global Digital Director Jon-Paul Brett Steps Down
After a decade at the helm of Burberry’s digital transformation, Jon-Paul Brett has announced his departure from the luxury fashion house. The Global Digital Director confirmed his exit via social media, marking the conclusion of a ten-year tenure that saw him navigate nearly every facet of the brand’s technology operations.
Rob Smith joins 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel
Rob Smith, Technology Officer at East of England Co-op, has been appointed to the judging panel for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards. With over two decades of experience across retail, finance, and IT sectors, Smith joins a roster of industry experts tasked with evaluating global advancements in omnichannel technology.
When Giants Collide: Lessons from Europe’s Great Industrial Mergers
During the 1980s and 1990s, Europe’s industrial landscape underwent a radical, uncoordinated transformation as companies raced to achieve global scale. Without central regulatory oversight, boardroom architects and investment bankers pushed through massive cross-border deals that sought to challenge American and Japanese dominance, leaving behind a legacy of both market-defining success and catastrophic failure.
World Cup 2026 Sparks Surge in Football-Inspired Fashion Sales
A 1,827% spike in football-related sales at boohoo signals a shift in consumer behavior as the World Cup 2026 knockout stages intensify. Retail data from Debenhams Group confirms that matchday fashion has evolved from a niche category into a dominant trend, with fans aggressively updating their wardrobes to support England.
Reju Launches First North American R&D Hub in Pennsylvania
Textile regeneration specialist Reju has established its first dedicated research and development facility in North America, choosing Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, as the new base for its core scientific team. The lab, housed within Technip Energy’s existing research site, aims to bridge the gap between laboratory feasibility and industrial-scale production.
Affirm Extends Buy Now, Pay Later Options to Bed Bath & Beyond Sites
Customers shopping across Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, and buybuy BABY can now utilize Affirm’s installment services at online checkout. The integration allows shoppers to split purchases into biweekly or monthly payments, expanding the fintech firm’s reach into the home goods sector alongside its existing network of 515,000 merchant partners.
Ocean Outdoor secures media rights for British Land’s London estates
British Land has tapped Ocean Outdoor UK as its primary media partner to manage digital out-of-home advertising across its major London campuses. The long-term contract encompasses the retail and office hubs of Paddington Central, Regent’s Place, and the high-traffic Broadgate district surrounding Liverpool Street Station.