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RTIH Innovation Awards Name 2026 Emerging Retail Technology Finalists
A diverse group of innovators transforming the global retail landscape has been named to the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards shortlist. The selected companies, ranging from AI-driven inventory managers to holographic customer engagement platforms, will compete for the Emerging Retail Technology Innovation of the Year title this November.
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards: Payments Technology Finalists Announced
The 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards have unveiled their shortlist for the Payments Technology category, highlighting a diverse group of companies transforming the global retail landscape. From automated parking solutions to AI-driven chargeback recovery, these finalists represent a significant leap in how merchants and consumers interact at the point of sale.
Waitrose, Toolstation and Morrisons Lead 2026 RTIH Innovation Finalists
Waitrose, Toolstation, and Morrisons have emerged as top contenders for the Most Innovative UK Retailer title at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards. The shortlist highlights a diverse array of technological integration, ranging from autonomous checkout systems and digital shelf labeling to advanced smart locker services and AI-driven product discovery.
Silicon Valley Shifts Gear as AI Giants Call for Development Pause
Following a frantic cycle of fifteen major updates since early 2023, the artificial intelligence sector is hitting the brakes. Leaders from OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX have publicly labeled the current pace of development reckless, marking a sharp departure from the traditional tech mantra of rapid, relentless innovation.
Epoch Biodesign Taps Industry Veteran Jamie Scott as COO
Biotech firm Epoch Biodesign has appointed Jamie Scott as Chief Operating Officer to spearhead its transition from technology demonstration to full-scale commercial production. Scott, a veteran with three decades of experience in chemical manufacturing and industrial operations, will oversee the company's expanding supply chain and production footprint.
THG Commerce integrates Criteo to monetize AI-driven shopping searches
THG Commerce has become the first European technology provider to embed Criteo Sponsored Products directly into an AI-powered conversational shopping assistant. Built on Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise, the integration allows retailers to monetize natural language search queries by serving sponsored product recommendations alongside organic results during customer interactions.
French retailer JULES secures digital operations with Ekinops
Menswear retailer JULES, which operates over 350 stores, has overhauled its web security architecture by partnering with French technology provider Ekinops. The move aims to enhance visibility over internet traffic and strengthen employee protection against cyber risks while ensuring strict compliance with European data management standards.
Morrisons Joins Just Eat and Starship for Autonomous Robot Deliveries
Morrisons has launched an autonomous delivery trial in Cambourne, marking a significant expansion of the partnership between Just Eat and Starship Technologies. The initiative introduces robot-led logistics to an area previously without grocery delivery services, aiming to bolster capacity ahead of the upcoming festive shopping season.
Comedian Druski joins Gopuff as equity partner in quick commerce push
Comedian and entrepreneur Druski has secured an undisclosed equity stake in rapid delivery firm Gopuff, marking the start of a multi-year strategic partnership. The collaboration aims to merge the delivery platform’s logistics infrastructure with the entertainer's creative projects, bringing exclusive products and specialized consumer experiences directly to his audience.
Morrisons Appoints Chief AI Officer as Retail Tech Trends Accelerate
A surge in artificial intelligence adoption across the UK retail sector has culminated in Morrisons appointing Mohsen Ghasempour as its first Chief AI Officer. The move signals a broader industry shift, as major grocery chains and fashion brands scramble to integrate automated decision-making and real-time personalisation into their customer journeys.
Why Beauty Retailers Struggle With Phantom Inventory
For online beauty retailers, a warehouse full of products can be deceptive. Even when stock sits on the shelf, it often remains impossible to sell due to missing product data, strict shelf-life requirements, or rigid case-pack constraints that dashboards fail to capture in real-time inventory reports.
Sur La Table partners with Uber Eats for nationwide kitchenware delivery
Kitchenware retailer Sur La Table is expanding its reach by joining the Uber Eats marketplace, allowing customers across the United States to order cooking essentials for on-demand or scheduled delivery. The move signals a broader shift in the platform's strategy to capture non-food retail segments before the holiday season.
Tesco appoints Kingfisher’s Chris Blatchford as new CTO
Tesco has tapped Kingfisher’s group technology chief Chris Blatchford to serve as its next Chief Technology Officer, marking a significant leadership shift for the UK grocery giant. Blatchford is set to join the executive committee in March 2027, taking the reins from the outgoing Guus Dekkers.
VenHub brings autonomous retail to Oregon residential development
Residents at the newly constructed Penn Lofts in Bend, Oregon, will soon have an autonomous retail store inside their building. The deployment at the 59-unit multifamily site marks a strategic shift for VenHub Global, as the tech firm pivots to integrate automated shopping experiences directly into residential living spaces.
Shortlist revealed for 2026 RTIH Supply Chain Innovation Awards
The Retail Technology Innovation Hub has unveiled its finalists for the 2026 Supply Chain Innovation category, highlighting a diverse group of firms pushing the boundaries of retail logistics. The selected companies now advance to a final judging round ahead of the ceremony scheduled for November 4 at The HAC in London.
JD Group CEO: Physical Stores Remain Vital for Consumer Connection
Physical retail remains a cornerstone of consumer engagement, according to JD Group CEO Régis Schultz, who argued at the FT Live Future of Retail event in London that the tactile experience of a brick-and-mortar store offers a level of instant gratification that online platforms simply cannot replicate.
Retail Tech Weekly: AI, Robotics, and the 2026 Innovation Awards
A surge of automation and digital integration defined the retail landscape this week, as major chains from Lidl to Asda deployed new AI tools and robotics to streamline operations. The industry also turned its attention to the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards, which unveiled a competitive shortlist of global retail leaders.
Retail Tech Weekly: Drone Expansion, TikTok Sales, and Rising Costs
From drone delivery expansion in the United States to a surge in retail electricity costs, the latest industry figures highlight a volatile landscape. While brands like Fenty Beauty embrace live social commerce, UK retailers grapple with a £440 million increase in energy bills that threatens to impact consumer pricing.
Retail Innovators Named Finalists for 2026 RTIH Awards
From automated health shops in Lisbon to high-street revivals in the UK, the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards have unveiled their Bricks and Mortar Retail shortlist. The finalists showcase a global shift toward autonomous, data-driven store environments, with winners set to be crowned at a ceremony in London this November.
SIMKHAI Adopts Croissant Pay for Integrated Online and In-Store Shopping
Luxury fashion house SIMKHAI has integrated Croissant Pay into its Shopify Checkout and physical retail locations, marking a significant expansion for the rewards-based payment platform. The partnership aims to boost customer loyalty by allowing shoppers to leverage credit earned from previous sales and brand rewards directly at the point of purchase.
GMB Accuses Amazon of Using AI to Surveil UK Union Activity
The GMB union has accused Amazon of deploying sophisticated artificial intelligence to track and suppress worker organization at its UK sites. The union alleges that the retail giant is utilizing a tool known as Atlas to identify employees at risk of unionizing by analyzing vast arrays of data points.
The Brutal Economics of the TikTok and Instagram Retail Era
Social media commerce has evolved into a ravenous machine, forcing brands to churn out hundreds of pieces of content monthly just to maintain relevance. At the FT Live 2026 Future of Retail summit in London, industry leaders warned that the era of easy direct-to-consumer growth has been replaced by algorithmic volatility.
Panda Retail partners with GoWit and Spike to scale Saudi media push
Saudi grocery giant Panda Retail is overhauling its digital advertising strategy through a new alliance with retail media tech firm GoWit and local agency Spike Media. The collaboration aims to leverage Panda’s massive reach—spanning 200 physical stores and millions of digital touchpoints—to create a more automated, data-driven e-commerce media ecosystem.
Asda integrates AI-driven checkout offers to boost retail media revenue
Asda has expanded its partnership with Rokt to deploy AI-powered offers across its online grocery and George apparel platforms. By embedding Rokt Pay+ and Rokt Thanks into the checkout flow, the retailer is attempting to monetize the point of purchase without disrupting customer conversion rates or the broader shopping experience.
MAAP adopts Bamboo Rose AI platform to streamline global operations
Cycling apparel brand MAAP is overhauling its product development infrastructure by implementing the Bamboo Rose TotalPLM platform. The move aims to replace fragmented workflows and manual spreadsheet tracking with a unified, AI-native system designed to support the company’s ongoing international expansion and accelerate time-to-market.
UK Retailers Face £440 Million Electricity Bill Surge
British retailers are bracing for a £440 million spike in annual electricity costs, a hike driven largely by government levies and network charges rather than energy consumption. Industry leaders warn this mounting financial burden threatens to push prices higher for households already struggling with the cost of living.
Alex Avisse-Williams joins Tesco to lead Home and Clothing digital strategy
Tesco has tapped former Marks and Spencer executive Alex Avisse-Williams to serve as its new Digital Director for Home & Clothing. The appointment follows his nine-year tenure at M&S, where he oversaw online experience and performance marketing, marking a significant leadership shift for the retailer's digital division.
VoCoVo Expands S5 Headset With New Accessibility and Comfort Tools
Retail communications provider VoCoVo has launched a suite of accessibility and ergonomic enhancements for its S5 Headset, aiming to better integrate personal hearing technology for frontline shop floor workers. The new toolkit seeks to reduce physical strain and improve inclusivity for staff operating in high-noise environments.
Currys pivots to social commerce with TikTok Shop launch
Currys has officially entered the social commerce fray, launching a storefront on TikTok Shop to reach consumers where they scroll. The UK electronics retailer is pairing its new digital channel with influencer-led content and live shopping events, aiming to transform traditional transactional browsing into an interactive, community-driven experience.
John Lewis, Asda and Morrisons Lead 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Finalists
Retail giants including John Lewis, Asda, Morrisons, H&M, and Waitrose have secured spots on the official 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards shortlist. The selection highlights companies successfully deploying advanced technologies to reshape omnichannel shopping, customer experience, and supply chain efficiency following a record number of entries this year.