Co-op bags RTIH Most Innovative UK Retailer award
RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS MOST INNOVATIVE UK RETAILER CATEGORY SPONSORED BY EBI.AI
Co-op has taken first place in the Most Innovative UK Retailer category at the 2020 RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by PMC Retail.
The award highlights stand out tech deployments, pilots etc from the past 12 months and asks: which brand has been the most consistently forward thinking and customer centric in 2020?
Co-op took home the gold for its various last mile delivery and sustainability initiatives.
Our judging panel were also impressed by the launch of an augmented reality experience to celebrate the £15 million its members have helped raise for more than 4,500 local causes across the UK.
The convenience retailer also expanded its relationship with Diebold Nixdorf to include managed services and remote monitoring of self-service and PoS systems throughout the UK.
Chris Conway, Head of E-commerce, Co-op, says: “This year has seen a number of changes in how consumers shop online, with many people in our communities choosing to use the channel for the first time, and seeing the benefits of ease, speed and convenience.”
“We are committed to innovating and expanding access to our products and services, and we have rolled out our online offer at pace with on-demand, same-day convenience through our own online shop and with partners, with our high dtreet stores an integral part of this approach - working as micro-distribution hubs locally.”
He concludes: “We are delighted to be awarded Most Innovative UK Retailer, which I feel is a recognition of the hard work and achievements of the whole Co-op team involved in rolling out our online offer, enhancing the customer experience and helping to keep our communities fed, during this unprecedented year.”
Judging panel and sponsor comments
Gerald Dawson, Finance Director, Forthglade Foods, praised “another legacy business that is moving at pace and innovating to survive.”
Martin Newman, Founder, The Customer First Group, observed: “They have a lot of innovation in play, particularly around order fulfilment, with a strong focus on sustainability, which resonates with consumers.”
Luke Phillips, Program Director, Studio Retail, said: “Co-op continue to lead the way in people centric innovation.”
“They trail cutting edge technologies in applications aimed at making their customers’ and colleagues’ lives easier. Then, adopting the principles of fail fast, pursue the ones that have the most positive effects.”
Finally, Simon Curtis, Sales and Marketing Director, PMC Retail, noted that Most Innovative UK retailer was “a very hard to win category, with so many strong entries”.
“Co-op came out as the winner for me due to the level of investment in new technology across their business, whilst remaining loyal to their core values and customer propositions,” he commented.
“Loyalty as demonstrated by the one million shoppers who downloaded their new membership app, and charitable as expressed by their AR experience to celebrate the £15 million raised for charity. Brilliant work Co-op.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for EBI.AI, sponsor of the Most Innovative UK retailer category, stated: “Community is at the heart of Co-op's values. Therefore it is unsurprising that their customer-centric innovation and technology has resonated so well with their customers.”
“By enhancing digital experiences they have increased loyalty, expanded on sustainability initiatives and managed to raise £15 million for worthy charities. In a year where we all relied on our neighbours and community that bit more it is fantastic to see Co-op being rewarded with RTIH’s Most Innovative UK Retailer 2020 award.”
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