Ten more big retail innovations in 2019

Impressive retail tech initiatives have been coming thick and fast since 2019 kicked off. RTIH rounded up the ones that stood out from the crowd during the first few weeks of the year. The article proved to be a big hit with our readers, so here we bring you another 10 innovative players that should be on your radar

1.) Ahold Delhaize kicks off in-store robots initiative

Nearly 500 robots, named Marty, are coming to the stores of Ahold Delhaize brands Stop & Shop and Giant/Martin’s, marking one of the largest robotics deployments in the US grocery industry.

2.) Carrefour brings blockchain tech to Belgium and Italy

Carrefour Belgium is using blockchain to track meat, while Carrefour Italy is tapping the technology for citrus fruit.

3.) Ocado Zoom ready to roll in London

Ocado will launch the a trial of its one-hour delivery service, Ocado Zoom, in March.

4.) WHSmith chooses Aerofoils to reduce carbon footprint

WHSmith is fitting Aerofoil Energy tech to its open-fronted refrigerators in more than 430 of its travel stores.

5.) Wasabi taps Thyngs tech for Japan trip promo

Wasabi is using Thyngs technology to enable smart packaging that gives customers a chance to win a trip to Japan.

6.) PenguinPickUp rolls out omnichannel kiosks

Customers of Canadian venture PenguinPickUp, which operates as a one-stop pickup location for online purchases, can now instantly get wine, groceries and more via its new self-ordering kiosks

7.) Sainsbury's SmartShop heads to the seaside

Sainsbury’s SmartShop offering has landed at the retailer’s Sedlescombe Road, St. Leonards-On-Sea store.

8.) Kroger starts Stateside Kroger Pay roll-out

The Kroger Co. is introducing Kroger Pay, a mobile payment solution that combines shoppers’ payment information with loyalty cards and promotions. Available in the retailer’s app, it generates a QR code that can be scanned at traditional checkouts as well as self-checkout stations.

9.) Spatial& presents How to Train Your Dragon VR experience

Spatial&, part of Walmart’s Store N°8 innovation hub, and DreamWorks Animation have teamed on a virtual reality project offering tied to the upcoming US theatrical release of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

10.) Softbank makes massive bet on Nuro

Softbank’s Vision Fund has invested $940 million into autonomous delivery robot startup Nuro, at a valuation of around $2.7 billion.