Corporate
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JD.com to Open Massive 101HOME Lifestyle Flagship in Shanghai
JD.com will open its first 101HOME store on September 28 in Shanghai’s Jing’an District, launching a 12,000-square-metre retail space that blends high-end lifestyle design with smart home technology. The four-story destination aims to provide a seamless shopping experience for consumers across all stages of life.
RTIH Magazine Launches Eleventh Issue Featuring Retail Technology Hot 100
The eleventh edition of RTIH magazine has arrived, centering on the inaugural Retail Technology Hot 100 list. Featuring a blend of industry deep dives and leadership perspectives, the publication tracks the global shift toward back-office automation and artificial intelligence in the evolving retail landscape.
Flying Tiger Copenhagen CFO departs following Modella Capital buyout
Christian Kofoed Hertz Jakobsen is stepping down as Group CFO of Flying Tiger Copenhagen, marking the end of a seven-year tenure that saw the Danish retailer navigate four distinct ownership changes, most recently the acquisition by British investment firm Modella Capital.
Shopify APAC Managing Director Shaun Broughton Steps Down
Shaun Broughton has announced his departure from Shopify, marking the second high-profile exit from the e-commerce giant’s leadership team in recent weeks. His resignation follows the exit of Deann Evans, who previously served as the company’s Managing Director for the EMEA region.
Karthik Jambulingam joins 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel
Karthik Jambulingam, Senior Director of Enterprise Architecture at Batteries Plus, has been named to the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel. Bringing over two decades of IT experience, Jambulingam oversees technology strategy for a 730-store retail network, focusing on AI adoption and cloud-native infrastructure.
Lowe’s Digital SVP Joe Cano joins advisory board of AI startup Brij
Joe Cano, Senior Vice President of Digital Commerce, Marketplace and Media Network at Lowe’s Companies, has joined the advisory board of Brij, an AI-powered software platform. The appointment follows a direct outreach from the executive, marking a significant step in Brij’s strategy to bridge the gap between online marketing and in-store attribution.
Lester Barry joins The Lego Group after 11 years at John Lewis
Lester Barry, a veteran data analytics expert, has transitioned to The Lego Group to serve as Senior Director for Data - Markets & Channels Tech. His move follows an 11-year tenure at the John Lewis Partnership, where he most recently held the position of Director of Analytics & Data Science.
Adina Iliescu joins Sainsbury’s to lead marketing technology
After a four-year tenure at Diageo, Adina Iliescu has transitioned to Sainsbury’s, where she now serves as Director of Technology for Customer, Marketing, and Nectar. Her appointment marks a strategic move for the retailer as it looks to unify its loyalty and retail media operations under a single technical umbrella.
Digitizing the Dance Recital: How Software Prevents Backstage Chaos
Coordinating a dance recital requires managing hundreds of moving parts, from costume deadlines and music files to venue logistics and family communication. For studio owners, relying on fragmented spreadsheets often leads to errors that compromise both staff efficiency and the student experience during high-pressure performance windows.
YEEP! expands leadership team with Norsk Global hire
Parcel locker specialist YEEP! has appointed Ella Layton as its new Director of Service Delivery, tasking the former Norsk Global executive with scaling the company’s infrastructure and refining its consumer-facing logistics model as the network prepares for a period of rapid expansion.
Afterpay Becomes Preferred BNPL Partner for Fanatics
Digital sports platform Fanatics has tapped Afterpay as its primary buy now, pay later partner, integrating the service across its extensive network of online stores. This move allows customers to utilize Afterpay’s installment and monthly payment options when purchasing merchandise from major league shops including the NBA and NHL.
Airbnb expands Instacart grocery delivery across North America
Guests booking through Airbnb in the United States and Canada can now arrange grocery deliveries directly via the app, marking a significant scale-up of a pilot program designed to integrate essential errands into the travel experience.
InPost expands UK reach with 700-store Asda locker rollout
Asda and InPost have launched a major partnership to install automated parcel lockers at 700 locations across the UK. The rollout, spanning superstores, supermarkets, and Express outlets, aims to integrate parcel drop-offs and collections into the regular shopping trip, marking one of InPost’s most significant retail collaborations to date.
Best Buy Canada overhauls supply chain with RELEX forecasting tech
Best Buy Canada is deploying RELEX Solutions to overhaul its inventory management across more than 300 stores and two distribution centers. The electronics retailer aims to automate planning processes and sharpen inventory visibility for its 2.1 million SKUs to meet shifting consumer demand more effectively.
Kingfisher upgrades profit outlook as AI-driven sales strategy takes hold
Kingfisher Group, the parent company of B&Q and Screwfix, has raised its full-year profit guidance to a range of £595 million to £635 million. Despite a heatwave-induced slump in sales at its B&Q outlets, the retailer is banking on digital transformation and AI-led personalisation to drive revenue growth.
Steve Rothwell joins Debenhams board to spearhead AI strategy
“I believe boards need technologists at the table as AI changes what's possible,” says Steve Rothwell, who has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Debenhams Group. His arrival marks a strategic push to integrate deep engineering expertise into the retailer's ongoing digital transformation efforts.
Retail Tech Weekly: From AI Assistants to Automated Logistics
The past week saw a surge in retail innovation, with major players embedding artificial intelligence into everything from supply chain management to customer loyalty programs. As retailers scramble to automate operations and refine the digital shopping experience, these deployments highlight a shift toward smarter, data-driven infrastructure across global markets.
AI Retail Startup Thri5 Lands $5.4 Million in Seed Funding
Thri5, an AI-driven retail execution platform, has secured $5.4 million in seed funding to scale its operations globally. The round, co-led by Whitecap Venture Partners and Mistral Venture Partners, follows a successful pilot program with Wild Fork Foods that integrated the startup’s software across its store network in the United States and Canada.
LolaLiza debuts AI fashion avatar in store
Women’s fashion retailer LolaLiza has launched a new store concept featuring a custom AI-driven fashion avatar. Developed by Screenix and integrated with DOBIT, the digital figure appears on a Samsung spatial screen to showcase seasonal collections, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional signage and immersive retail experiences.
Co-op Taps Former McDonald’s Executive to Lead Digital Transformation
Jon Braithwaite has joined Co-op as Interim Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, stepping into the role as the retailer prepares to launch a sophisticated analytics platform. His appointment signals a strategic push to deepen the company's data capabilities across its 2,300-strong convenience store network.
Best Buy veteran Michael Ridgway joins Alo Yoga to lead supply chain
Michael Ridgway has been appointed Vice President of Supply Chain Automation at Alo Yoga, marking a strategic shift for the retailer as it moves to modernize its distribution network. The move follows his eight-year tenure at Best Buy, where he led engineering, innovation, and facility operations.
Loretta Choy Appointed Head of Digital at Banana Republic
Retail industry veteran Loretta Choy has been tapped to lead the digital division at Banana Republic, bringing over 25 years of fashion leadership to the role. Choy, who most recently served at Curated For You, enters the position with a deep background in merchandising and omnichannel client services.
Modernizing Retail: A Blueprint for Long-Term Resilience
Retail executives face a shifting landscape where traditional models no longer guarantee dominance. To remain competitive, businesses must integrate advanced digital infrastructure, commit to sustainable operations, and embrace hybrid commerce, ensuring they can pivot alongside evolving consumer expectations in an increasingly volatile global market.
Refundjacking: Why Retailers Are Losing the War on Policy Abuse
Nearly one in three online shoppers now openly admit to exploiting refund policies, shifting what was once fringe dishonesty into a systemic e-commerce crisis. New data from Ravelin highlights that 27% of consumers participate in "refundjacking," a growing trend where shoppers treat return systems as a source of illicit income.
Searchable acquires Meridian to scale AI visibility platform
Searchable, an AI visibility platform founded in 2025, has acquired New York-based startup Meridian Tech in a deal valued in the seven figures. The acquisition marks a significant move in the company’s push to expand its footprint in the United States, following the launch of a Salt Lake City office.
Lagardère Travel Retail brings AI skin analysis to European airports
Travelers passing through Prague, Rome Fiumicino, and Amsterdam Schiphol can now access personalized beauty consultations via AI. Lagardère Travel Retail has integrated Perfect Corp.’s Skincare Pro technology into its airport operations, with plans to expand the digital diagnostic tool to two additional international hubs by the end of 2026.
Enrique Del Rio joins Reward as President to lead European expansion
Former Lloyds Banking Group executive Enrique Del Rio has been appointed President of customer engagement platform Reward. The move aims to accelerate the company’s commercial growth across the UK and Europe, leveraging his three decades of financial services experience to deepen strategic partnerships with major retail and banking institutions.
UK Retailers Shedding Millions Through Ineffective Loyalty Programs
UK retailers are forfeiting £806.9 million annually in potential gross margin, as loyalty programs fail to convert high member engagement into measurable commercial success. A study of 51 major brands by HyperFinity suggests the problem is not a lack of consumer interest, but a systemic failure in program execution.
Co-op and eStoreBrands to launch quick commerce analytics platform
Co-op is partnering with digital commerce specialist eStoreBrands to roll out Catalyst, an analytics platform designed to provide suppliers with granular insights into the retailer’s quick commerce operations. The tool aims to bridge a long-standing information gap by sharing data from the company's 2,300 convenience stores and delivery aggregators.
Amazon expands checkout-free tech to healthcare sector
A new retail store powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology has opened at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Centre. The launch marks a strategic push for the frictionless shopping system into healthcare environments, aiming to streamline the experience for patients, medical staff, and visitors navigating the facility.