Tracking the retail technology sector during the coronavirus

Retail Technology Innovation Hub rounds up the key Covid-19 developments from last week.

UK footfall decreased by 42.1% in July, an improvement from June’s -62.6%, according to research from the BRC and ShopperTrak.

M&S has emailed its customers, informing them that on 1st September it will for the first time launch its full product range online.

The value of the six biggest tech firms (Facebook, Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix and Amazon) has increased by $1.9 trillion during the coronavirus outbreak, according to research by the Institute for Public Policy Research.

Retail automation startup Pixevia has bagged €1 million in funding from Iron Wolf Capital, Open Circle Capital, Practica Capital and Mantas Mikuckas (Vinted), Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas (Tesonet).

SaaS-based e-commerce marketing platform provider Yotpo has raised $75 million in funding.

Michael Langguth has stepped down from the position of COO at Poq, the mobile app specialist that he co-founded with Øyvind Henriksen almost 10 years ago.

A new report from e.fundamentals highlights a tectonic sized shift in consumer shopping behaviour as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The company surveyed 2,065 Brits and found that 45% shopped for groceries online at least once a week during lockdown.

Online electricals retailer AO is to recruit 250 new roles at its logistics hub in Crewe. It is making the move to “manage the sustained demand created by customers turning to us following the Covid-19 lockdown which has led to a shift from high street retail to online”.