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Wingstop reaches 100-site milestone with Inverness opening
Wingstop has officially hit its 100th location across the UK and Ireland, marking the expansion with a new restaurant in Inverness, Scotland. The milestone comes as the fast-food chain reports a 73% surge in revenue to £216.4 million for 2025, fueled by an aggressive store rollout strategy.
California Pizza Kitchen plans 1,000 automated kiosk rollout
California Pizza Kitchen is deploying up to 1,000 automated pizza-making kiosks across the United States in partnership with T-ROC Global. The initiative targets high-traffic locations such as hospitals, hotels, and sports venues, aiming to provide quality, on-the-go meals where traditional restaurant footprints are not feasible.
Walmart Hits 100-Site Milestone in EV Charging Expansion
Walmart has reached a significant infrastructure goal with the opening of its 100th company-owned electric vehicle fast-charging site in Monument, Colorado. The retailer now operates high-speed charging stations across 20 states, aiming to integrate seamless energy access directly into the routine of its store-bound customers.
Retail Tech Trends: From Autonomous Burgers to AI Policing
Conflict is defining the retail landscape this week, as major chains double down on controversial AI surveillance while others pivot toward autonomous convenience. Asda and Sainsbury’s are pushing ahead with automated security tools despite high-profile errors, even as the industry shifts its focus toward the practical, unglamorous back-end innovations.
Murphy USA Taps White Castle for Autonomous Food Kiosks
Murphy USA is integrating autonomous food preparation technology into its larger retail stores, marking a shift in how the convenience chain serves hot meals. The rollout, powered by Automated Retail Technologies, features White Castle as the primary partner, aiming to streamline service through a fully automated, self-contained system.
Steve Webster joins 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel
E-commerce veteran Steve Webster has joined the judging panel for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards, bringing nearly three decades of digital leadership experience to the competition. Webster, who currently leads the commerce advisory practice Barking Cat, will help evaluate global retail technology entries ahead of the November ceremony.
Justin Breton moves to Gap Inc. to lead Fashiontainment strategy
After six and a half years at Walmart, Justin Breton has joined Gap Inc. as Vice President of Development. He is tasked with spearheading a new focus on "Fashiontainment" across the company’s core brands, including Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta, working under Chief Entertainment Officer Pam Kaufman.
Adyen Taps Former Barclaycard Executive to Lead EMEA Operations
FinTech powerhouse Adyen has appointed industry veteran Nicole Olbe as its new President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Olbe, who brings two decades of experience from leadership roles at Barclaycard and Verifone, steps into the position to oversee the company’s regional commercial strategy and operational expansion.
Ocado Group taps Danish retailer nemlig for automated fulfillment
Ocado Group has identified Danish online grocer nemlig as the mystery European partner first teased in July. The collaboration centers on the construction of a high-tech customer fulfillment center near Copenhagen, designed to scale nemlig’s operations and bolster its position as a price-competitive leader in the Scandinavian market.
Target pivots to AI-driven retail as Q2 profits climb
Target reported a surge in second-quarter profits, bolstered by a $1 billion refund from rescinded federal tariffs. The retail giant is now leveraging this financial momentum to accelerate a massive technological overhaul, centering its turnaround strategy on artificial intelligence to stabilize supply chains and modernize store operations.
Lululemon searches for new tech lead as retail AI shifts accelerate
Ranju Das has departed his role as Chief AI and Technology Officer at lululemon, marking another high-profile exit in a week defined by rapid digital transformation across the retail sector. His departure leaves a vacancy at the top of the brand's innovation strategy just as peers navigate complex automation rollouts.
Ikea Expands Secondhand Marketplace to the UK
Ikea is set to launch a dedicated secondhand marketplace in the UK, allowing Family members to buy and sell pre-owned furniture directly through a new digital platform. The move aims to simplify the circular economy for customers, following successful pilot programs conducted by the retailer in Spain and Norway.
Retail Tech Weekly: From Autonomous Coffee to AI Fraud Detection
A surge in retail innovation this week highlights a shift toward seamless integration, ranging from autonomous delivery fleets and drone-based logistics to AI-powered fraud prevention. As major brands like The Home Depot and Just Eat reshape service delivery, the industry faces ongoing scrutiny regarding the implementation of facial recognition technology.
Gok Wan partners with Pour Moi to launch Designed to Fit campaign
Style expert and television personality Gok Wan has joined forces with British fashion retailer Pour Moi to spearhead the Designed to Fit campaign, an initiative centered on educating consumers about lingerie and swimwear sizing while emphasizing personal confidence and the importance of a proper fit.
Sinclair Oil boosts fuel sales with mobile gaming rewards
Sinclair Oil has successfully integrated game-linked rewards into its DINOPAY mobile application, a move that directly correlates digital interaction with physical retail performance. By partnering with Mistplay, the fuel retailer incentivized customers to play mobile games in exchange for fuel discounts, resulting in a measurable shift in consumer behavior.
Eyebot and QUAY Partner for In-Store Vision Testing in California
Shoppers in Southern California can now update their eyeglass prescriptions in under 15 minutes without leaving the store. Eyewear brand QUAY has integrated Eyebot’s automated vision testing kiosks into select retail locations, aiming to remove the traditional barriers between eye exams and purchasing new frames.
Simba Sleep boosts checkout conversions with Snap Finance integration
Sleep technology brand Simba has reported a 50% increase in average order value and a tenfold rise in secondary finance approvals since integrating Snap Finance UK into its checkout process. The partnership allows the retailer to capture customers previously declined by mainstream lenders through a bespoke Shopify plugin.
Yankee Candle Expands Into UK Social Commerce via TikTok Shop
Yankee Candle has officially entered the UK social commerce market, launching a dedicated storefront on TikTok Shop. The home fragrance brand is leveraging a strategic partnership with THG Commerce to manage the digital retail experience, aiming to capture consumers who increasingly prefer browsing and purchasing directly through social media platforms.
HMV doubles down on physical retail with new Bluewater flagship
Entertainment retailer HMV is scaling up its presence at the Bluewater Shopping Centre, moving into a 7,000 sq ft unit vacated by Gravity Arcade. The new two-storey location, set to open later this year, doubles the footprint of the brand's previous site within the Kent-based shopping destination.
Max Factory Group pivots from paper flyers to digital customer engagement
Italian retail chain Max Factory Group has moved away from traditional printed promotional materials, opting instead for a digital communication strategy. By integrating Vonage’s Messages API and Conversational Connect platform, the 48-store network now reaches customers through WhatsApp, RCS, and SMS, replacing static flyers with personalized, data-driven outreach.
Why the Consulting Industry’s Legacy Model is Failing Retailers
Large retail technology consultancies are struggling with their own version of a legacy estate: rigid governance, bloated hierarchies, and outdated billing models that mirror the very problems they are hired to solve. As AI reshapes the landscape, these structural inefficiencies have become increasingly difficult to justify to clients.
Authentic Brands Group expands digital reach with Luzern partnership
Authentic Brands Group has tapped Luzern eCommerce to manage its digital presence across Europe, integrating the provider into its global network. The move aims to scale marketplace operations and retail media efforts for Authentic’s portfolio, building on a successful collaboration that previously bolstered the Reebok brand across multiple regional platforms.
Tilt pivots to short-form video with new shoppable Clips feed
Live shopping app Tilt has introduced Clips, a scrollable feed of short-form videos designed to facilitate instant transactions. The launch marks the company’s most significant product expansion since securing $26 million in funding from investors including TQ Ventures, Vinted Ventures, and Balderton.
eCommerce Expo 2026 Reveals London Line-up Focused on AI Growth
More than 10,000 retail professionals will converge at ExCeL London on September 23rd and 24th for the 2026 eCommerce Expo, an event centered on navigating the integration of artificial intelligence and intelligent growth strategies within an increasingly complex digital marketplace.
Retail Tech Funding Surge: 20 Startups Securing Capital
A wave of venture capital is reshaping the retail landscape, with twenty companies across logistics, AI-driven commerce, and robotics securing significant funding rounds. From food-tech giants like Wonder to niche AI logistics platforms, these investments signal a shift toward autonomous, data-heavy infrastructure designed to optimize everything from warehouse sorting to in-store fraud detection.
Metrocentre expands independent retail hub The Crescent
Metrocentre has bolstered its 10,000 sq ft independent shopping hub, The Crescent, by welcoming three new local retailers. The expansion adds a modern apothecary, a specialist trading card shop, and a boutique jeweler to the dedicated retail space, which aims to support small businesses alongside major commercial brands.
NECOA deploys AI-driven retail platform across new Texas locations
Korean residential water care brand NECOA has launched its ELEVATE retail experience platform in seven new Texas stores, marking a strategic expansion into the US market that prioritizes interactive, AI-guided customer engagement over the traditional showroom model.
WHSmith veteran Carl Cowling named CEO of cross-border firm ESW
Cross-border commerce specialist ESW has appointed former WHSmith Group CEO Carl Cowling to lead the firm starting in early September. Cowling steps into the role following an 11-year tenure at the travel retail group, succeeding Eric Eichmann, who departs after three years at the helm of the commerce platform.
Burger King UK centralizes menu and pricing across 300 sites
Burger King UK has integrated Openr technology across its 300 company-owned restaurants to streamline product and pricing management. By positioning the platform between existing systems like Oracle Simphony and Fourth RME, the chain has unified its digital infrastructure to support complex, multi-channel pricing strategies in a single, cohesive dashboard.
e.l.f. Cosmetics brings back viral pickle-inspired lip balm
Following a lightning-fast sell-out earlier this year, e.l.f. Cosmetics is reviving its pickle-flavored Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm. The brand is betting on a multi-channel rollout that leans heavily into social commerce, bringing the quirky, limited-edition collection back to fans starting August 20th across the US and UK.