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Retail Tech Investment Surge: 12 Startups Securing Fresh Capital
Autonomous freight, AI-driven marketing, and compliance infrastructure are dominating the latest investment landscape. Twelve retail technology ventures have collectively secured significant capital to scale operations, proving that despite shifting market conditions, investors are doubling down on platforms that solve complex supply chain and digital commerce challenges.
Rob McCormick departs The Very Group after eight years leading data
After an eight-year tenure that saw the overhaul of internal analytics and the integration of artificial intelligence, Rob McCormick has stepped down from his role as Head of Data at The Very Group. His departure marks the end of a transformative period for the online retailer's digital infrastructure.
Fabletics executive Jack Roberts joins 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards panel
Jack Roberts, the Senior Global Director of GMS Technology at Fabletics, has been appointed to the judging panel for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards. He brings over 15 years of expertise in customer engagement, AI, and large-scale digital transformation to the evaluation of this year’s retail technology entries.
Lincolnshire Co-op accelerates self-checkout expansion
Lincolnshire Co-op is deploying 155 self-checkout units across its retail estate, marking a major investment in automated service. The rollout, supported by The Barcode Warehouse, aims to reduce queue times and increase transaction speed for shoppers across 74 food stores, with further installations scheduled for late 2026.
Amy Traves moves from M&S to lead CX transformation at Sainsbury's
Amy Traves has joined Sainsbury's as Customer Experience Transformation Manager, departing Marks & Spencer after a four-year tenure. The appointment marks a strategic shift for the retail veteran, who spent her recent years at M&S spearheading store experience transformation and future-facing customer propositions for the high-street giant.
The Hidden Vulnerability in Modern Retail Infrastructure
A field engineer plugs a USB drive into a self-checkout terminal to run diagnostics, while a warehouse technician uses physical media to bypass a network restriction. These routine maintenance tasks, though essential for operational continuity, create a critical security blind spot that often escapes the scrutiny of cloud-focused cybersecurity teams.
Dike & Son hits 92% sell-through rate using Gander retail tech
Independent grocer Dike & Son Superstore has reported a significant surge in efficiency, achieving a 92% sell-through rate on reduced products. This performance marks a sharp increase from the 73% rate recorded when the retailer first integrated Gander’s management technology into its operations in February 2026.
Warehouse robotics startup Destro AI secures $8 million seed funding
Warehouse robotics startup Destro AI has secured $8 million in seed funding to scale its shared intelligence platform. Co-led by Base10 Partners and Bonfire Ventures, the capital will accelerate the deployment of the company’s software across enterprise warehouses and expand its research and engineering teams.
Pine Labs extends gift card technology partnership with Woolworths Group
Pine Labs has renewed its long-standing technology partnership with Woolworths Group, aiming to bolster the retailer's gift card ecosystem through its Qwikcilver subsidiary. The expansion focuses on enhancing the platform's infrastructure to support increasingly digital, omnichannel gift card experiences and new stored-value use cases for the retail giant.
JB Hi-Fi adopts Vusion digital shelf technology for Australian stores
Australian electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi is deploying Vusion’s digital shelf-edge technology across its domestic store network following a successful pilot phase. The move aims to modernize store operations and enhance staff efficiency, with a parallel rollout also scheduled for the company’s entire New Zealand footprint.
Final Call for 2026 RTIH Retail Technology Innovation Awards
Retailers and technology providers have until Friday, 2nd October, to submit their entries for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards. The competition seeks to recognize the most impactful advancements in the global omnichannel sector, with winners set to be honored at a ceremony in London on 4th November.
Tesco Insight Leader Colin Quinn Steps Down After 16-Year Tenure
After sixteen years navigating the evolving data landscape at Tesco, Colin Quinn has announced his departure from the grocery giant. Formerly the Director of Customer Insight and Foresight at Tesco Bank, Quinn is now transitioning away from the retailer to pursue new leadership opportunities within the analytics and insights sector.
Amazon Dominates Brand Visibility in Generative AI Search
Amazon has emerged as the most visible major marketplace across leading generative AI platforms, according to a new analysis by Onclusive. The study, which evaluated brand presence within ChatGPT and Perplexity, reveals that Amazon holds a significant 19.3% share of voice, outpacing competitors like Walmart and Alibaba in AI-driven discovery.
Disney Store launches Unlocked loyalty program in the UK
Disney Store has introduced Unlocked, a free membership program for UK shoppers designed to deepen brand engagement through exclusive digital perks. The initiative offers a suite of benefits, including early access to limited-edition product drops and seasonal sales, aiming to consolidate the retailer’s online presence for fans of its major franchises.
Iceland Foods deploys AI to curb store food waste
Iceland Foods has integrated WasteInsight, an AI-driven platform developed by Retail Insight, to systematically combat food waste across its store network. The partnership focuses on moving beyond reactive waste reporting, enabling staff to identify and act on surplus inventory risks before products expire.
Voice AI Specialist Presto Secures $10 Million to Scale Restaurant Tech
Presto, a developer specializing in voice-based artificial intelligence for quick-service restaurants, has closed a $10 million funding round. Backed by Remus Capital and existing investors, the company intends to use the capital to broaden the deployment of its automation technology across high-demand drive-thru environments.
Musgrave scales Northern Ireland rapid delivery via Snappy platform
Musgrave Northern Ireland is accelerating its quick commerce strategy by integrating Snappy Technologies’ Order Aggregation platform across its retail network. The move allows the grocery giant to unify order management from platforms like Just Eat and Uber Eats into a single, streamlined workflow for its SuperValu and Centra stores.
Modernizing the Point of Sale to Empower Retail Frontlines
Retailers have long prioritized digital storefronts and supply chain logistics, often leaving physical store employees to struggle with outdated, siloed legacy systems. This technological gap creates a disconnect between brand promise and customer experience, turning what should be a seamless interaction into a moment of frustration for both staff and shoppers.
JD Sports hits major RFID milestone as German market goes live
With Germany officially joining its RFID network this week, JD Sports has reached a significant operational milestone: 1,000 stores launched in just 14 months. The rollout marks the completion of the first phase of the retailer’s global digital transformation, shifting inventory management across its direct operations.
Carlos Yeung moves to 7-Eleven Australia to spearhead e-commerce
Carlos Yeung has joined 7-Eleven Australia as Head of E-commerce, marking a significant shift for the convenience retailer. Yeung, who previously served as Head of WMP Commercial at Woolworths Group, brings a background in digital retail strategy to help the company expand its footprint in the digital space.
Selecting a CBD-Compliant Point of Sale System
Selling CBD products remains a high-stakes retail challenge where compliance and payment processing often collide. Because mainstream providers frequently flag hemp-based businesses as high-risk, choosing the right point-of-sale system is less about feature sets and more about ensuring your merchant account remains active while meeting stringent regulatory tracking requirements.
Why billing infrastructure beats marketing in subscription retention
When subscription brands hunt for ways to curb churn, they often look toward discounts or marketing campaigns. Yet, data from 100 DTC accounts indicates the most effective retention tool is not a creative strategy, but the mundane, invisible mechanics of a payment system that clears cards on the first attempt.
Choosing the Right Point-of-Sale System for Tattoo Studios
Running a modern tattoo studio requires balancing complex workflows, from managing artist commissions and digital consent forms to tracking aftercare inventory. With studio owners moving away from disjointed apps, selecting the right point-of-sale platform depends on whether the business functions primarily as a creative workspace or a retail-heavy storefront.
H&M overhauls global search with Voyado intent-driven engine
H&M has revamped its onsite search functionality across more than 60 international markets by pivoting from rigid keyword matching to an intent-based model. The transition, powered by technology partner Voyado, aims to capture nuanced shopper behavior and real-time signals to curb customer drop-off during the digital discovery process.
Drone Drops and Virtual Fitting: Retail's Latest Tech Pivot
From drone delivery in North Carolina to facial recognition in London cafes, the retail sector is undergoing a rapid technological overhaul. Major players like Lowe’s, Tesco, and Revolut are aggressively deploying new tools to bridge the gap between digital convenience and the physical shopping experience.
Why Data Quality Is the New Front Line for Retail Security
Collecting vast amounts of customer information is no longer a competitive advantage if the foundation is flawed. As businesses grapple with synthetic identities and sophisticated fraud, the integrity of names, addresses, and phone numbers has shifted from a marketing concern to a critical pillar of corporate security infrastructure.
AI and Black Friday Trends Define eCommerce Expo 2026
At the Technology for Marketing and eCommerce Expo held last week at ExCeL London, industry leaders grappled with the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in retail. The two-day event centered on balancing predictive personalization with consumer trust, while preparing for a Black Friday season that starts earlier than ever.
Amazon veteran Suhas Grama departs after Just Walk Out tenure
After a twelve-and-a-half-year career at Amazon, software engineer Suhas Grama has announced his departure. Grama, who served as a judge for the 2026 RTIH AI in Retail Awards, spent nearly a decade of his tenure specifically focused on the development and scaling of the company’s signature Just Walk Out checkout-free technology.
Healthy Options Expands AI-Driven Supply Chain Tech in Philippines
Healthy Options is scaling its partnership with RELEX Solutions to integrate price and fresh produce optimization across its Philippine retail network. The expansion, supported by implementation partner Genie X, moves the natural products retailer beyond basic forecasting into automated, data-driven decision-making for its stores and distribution centers.
Cinema Weekend highlights potential for mixed-use retail destinations
The recent UK-wide National Cinema Weekend proved that film screenings act as a powerful catalyst for footfall in mixed-use developments, even without the lure of major blockbuster releases. At Scotland’s GRID Braehead, the initiative sparked a significant surge in visitor numbers, underscoring how cultural events draw crowds into wider retail ecosystems.