Corporate
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Hansø Expands Apex Pergola Lineup Following Customer Demand
Direct-to-consumer brand Hansø has introduced four new dimensions to its Apex pergola range, aiming to resolve the common conflict between structural integrity and backyard sizing. The expansion follows persistent requests from homeowners seeking high-specification outdoor installations that fit non-standard plot measurements without sacrificing durability or aerospace-grade material standards.
RTIH Innovation Awards reveal 2026 Startup of the Year contenders
A diverse group of technology ventures, ranging from shelf-stocking robotics to AI-driven recommerce platforms, has been named to the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards shortlist. These startups represent a growing push to automate and digitize the global retail sector, with winners set to be announced during a ceremony in London this November.
Global Technology Vendor Finalists Announced for 2026 RTIH Awards
The RTIH Innovation Awards has unveiled its shortlist for the Global Technology Vendor of the Year, highlighting companies that are reshaping retail operations through digital transformation. The finalists, selected from a record number of entries, will have their work evaluated by an expert panel ahead of the November ceremony in London.
Hockerty, Sticky, and Nūl Vie for RTIH Inclusive Technology Award
Three retail innovators—Hockerty, Sticky, and Nūl—have been named finalists for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards in the Inclusive Technology category. These companies are now competing for the top honor, which will be decided by a panel of industry experts and awarded at a ceremony in London this November.
RTIH Announces Finalists for 2026 UK Technology Vendor of the Year
The Retail Technology Innovation Hub has unveiled the shortlist for its 2026 UK Technology Vendor of the Year award, highlighting eight firms driving transformation through AI, computer vision, and data orchestration. The eventual winner will be revealed during a ceremony at The HAC in London on November 4th.
Foot Locker adds AI-powered closet builder to mobile app
Foot Locker has introduced an AI-driven tool called Fits within its mobile application, allowing customers to curate outfits based on items they already own. Developed alongside styling technology firm Stylitics, the feature generates personalized recommendations and displays them on virtual models to streamline the shopping experience.
Morrisons AI Chief: People Must Come Before Technology
“The best AI opportunities come from understanding real problems, and nobody understands those problems better than the people dealing with them every day,” says Dr. Mohsen Ghasempour, the newly appointed Chief AI Officer at Morrisons, who insists that human insight remains the bedrock of genuine digital transformation.
Retail Tech Briefing: Jysk, Ikea, and Morrisons Lead Weekly Innovation
Retailers are accelerating their digital transformation this week, led by Jysk’s shift to a unified commerce platform across the UK and Ireland. From Ikea’s new digital flagship store on Douyin in China to Morrisons’ milestone in surplus food reduction, companies are doubling down on operational efficiency and customer-centric technology.
Ikea pivots to social commerce with new flagship store on Douyin
Ikea is embedding itself into the digital fabric of the Chinese market by launching an official flagship store on Douyin. The move, spearheaded by Ingka Group, connects the retailer directly to China’s vast short-form video ecosystem, offering over 6,500 products to consumers across 301 cities via the ByteDance platform.
Retail Tech Weekly: AI skepticism, cyber threats, and shifting consumer habits
While retailers accelerate digital transformation, a widening gap between tech adoption and consumer trust is defining the current market. New research indicates that 28% of UK shoppers remain fundamentally wary of artificial intelligence in stores, even as industry leaders push to integrate smart trolleys and automated marketing agents.
B&Q accelerates trade and retail delivery with Gophr and Deliveroo
B&Q is aggressively expanding its on-demand logistics, launching a same-day trade service through Gophr while scaling its Deliveroo partnership nationwide. The move reflects a broader shift toward ultra-fast fulfillment, with the retailer now offering delivery times as short as 35 minutes for over 9,000 home improvement products.
Footasylum scales operations with THG Fulfil’s automated system
Footasylum has launched its first external AutoStore implementation via THG Fulfil, achieving a significant performance surge ahead of the peak retail season. The automated facility now delivers 212% of the output compared to the retailer’s previous operation, while utilizing less than half the total number of picking stations.
Marks & Spencer integrates Klarna for interest-free payments
Marks & Spencer has officially added Klarna as a payment option across its online store and mobile application, allowing customers to spread the cost of fashion, home, and beauty purchases into three equal, interest-free installments without the burden of a revolving balance.
Orange Taps Pricer to Digitize French Retail Network
French telecommunications operator Orange has commissioned Pricer to modernize its retail footprint with electronic shelf labels. The agreement spans 561 stores, marking a significant push to integrate cloud-managed pricing and product information across the operator’s physical locations over the next two years.
Primepick Expands Robotic Hot Food Kiosks to US Hospitals and Care Homes
Primepick is scaling its MealMate robotic kiosk network, deploying units to hospitals and nursing homes across the Tri-State area. The New York-based startup aims to solve the 24/7 dining gap in high-demand environments by serving hot, chef-prepared meals without the need for on-site kitchens or dedicated foodservice staff.
Shortlist revealed for 2026 RTIH Best Data Analytics Retail Initiative
Ten companies have secured spots on the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards shortlist for their work in data analytics. From shelf-level inventory tracking to predictive demand forecasting, these finalists represent a significant shift toward automated, data-driven decision-making across the global retail landscape ahead of the November 4 ceremony at The HAC.
Retail Automation Finalists Announced for 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
The 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards has unveiled its shortlist for the Best Use of Automation in the Retail Sector, highlighting companies that have successfully integrated transformative technology into their global operations. The winners will be revealed on November 4th at a ceremony held at The HAC in Central London.
Shortlist Revealed for 2026 RTIH Global AI Innovation Awards
A diverse group of technology providers, including Logile, TCS, and Sitoo, have secured spots on the shortlist for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards. The finalists were selected from a record-breaking pool of entries, highlighting how artificial intelligence is reshaping operations, customer experience, and merchandising across the global retail sector.
British shoppers wary of AI as Morrisons trials smart trolleys
Conflict persists between retail innovation and consumer trust, as recent data reveals that 28% of UK shoppers reject artificial intelligence in stores entirely. This skepticism emerges just as Morrisons becomes the first retailer in the country to deploy Instacart’s Caper smart trolleys at its Preston location, sparking fresh privacy debates.
Ingka Group Appoints Erika Intiso as Chief Sustainability Officer
Erika Intiso will take over as Chief Sustainability Officer at Ingka Group, the world’s largest Ikea franchisee, beginning November 15. She replaces Karen Pflug, who has led the company's green initiatives since 2021 and will remain with the organization through the end of the year to assist in the transition.
Morrisons overhauls store operations with Logile software rollout
Morrisons is replacing manual spreadsheets with Logile’s automated planning software to streamline operations across its UK supermarkets, convenience stores, and logistics network. The retailer aims to replace time-consuming administrative tasks with data-driven insights, allowing store managers to dedicate more time to supporting colleagues and serving customers.
GMB Union Challenges Deliveroo Over Autonomous Robot Rollout
The GMB union has launched a sharp critique of Deliveroo’s decision to deploy autonomous delivery robots in Nottingham, arguing that the company is prioritizing expensive automation over the welfare of its human workforce amid ongoing struggles with pay and poor working conditions.
RTIH Innovation Awards Shortlist Highlights Sustainable Retail Tech
The Retail Technology Innovation Hub has unveiled its 2026 Sustainable Retail category finalists, showcasing four initiatives that blend commercial viability with environmental impact. The winners will be announced during a ceremony at The HAC in London on November 4, marking a high point for retail innovation in the UK sector.
Marketing platform Marklo secures $5 million in seed funding
Marklo has closed a $5 million seed round led by Forerunner to scale its agentic marketing platform. The company, which counts brands like Away and Clare V. among its early users, simultaneously launched a public beta designed to automate complex promotional workflows for Shopify-based retailers.
Why Black Friday logistics now demand a five-week strategy
Retailers treating Black Friday as a single-week event are misreading modern shipping data. Analysis of two years of platform activity shows that 60% of peak season volume occurs outside the traditional seven-day window, forcing warehouses and carriers to stretch their operational planning across a full five-week surge.
Bluffworks Moves US Fulfillment to Cart.com
Travel apparel brand Bluffworks has shifted its entire US fulfillment operation to Cart.com, consolidating inventory at the provider's facility in Terrell, Texas. The company anticipates the transition will reduce overall logistics costs by at least 20 percent, citing improved technology and service responsiveness as primary drivers for the switch.
Testing Cult Beauty’s AI: A Shopping Assistant That Actually Delivers
Cult Beauty recently integrated a conversational AI, Cult Concierge, into its digital storefront to provide personalized product and routine recommendations. To determine if this tool serves as a genuine beauty advisor or merely a sophisticated sales funnel, I put it to the test with a completely fresh beauty haul.
Former Kount CEO Brad Wiskirchen joins Chargebacks911 leadership
Brad Wiskirchen, the former CEO of Kount, has been appointed as the new Chief Commercial Officer of Chargebacks911. He will also serve as CEO of Fi911, the company’s sister brand dedicated to financial institutions, as the firm looks to accelerate its global expansion and strategic growth initiatives.
Tomáš Čupr secures $32 million to scale AI automation platform Duvo
After navigating the operational complexities of building the online grocer Rohlik, entrepreneur Tomáš Čupr has raised $32 million in Series A funding for Duvo. The startup, which provides an AI-driven workforce for enterprise tasks, aims to use the capital to expand its reach across the retail and consumer goods sectors.
Marketing platform Miracly secures $2 million in pre-seed funding
Miracly, a new AI-driven marketing operating system, has officially launched following a $2 million pre-seed funding round. The investment, led by Beenext Ventures and Lotus, aims to help agencies and brands automate complex marketing workflows as organic search traffic becomes increasingly volatile for companies worldwide.