The five most important retail tech news stories of the week

It’s Friday, the week is nearly done, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail technology space. Here's your briefing on the most important and interesting stories from the past five days.

1. Tesco preps free grocery delivery as it builds Clubcard Plus

Tesco is to add free online grocery delivery to its Clubcard Plus loyalty scheme.

The move closely follows Amazon's announcement that it is offering its Amazon Fresh service to Prime subscribers, giving them free two-hour food delivery slots on orders of more than £40.

2. Amazon announces Stateside hiring spree

Amazon is set to create 3,500 new tech and corporate jobs across six cities in the United States.

It's a notable move amid a coronavirus outbreak that has caused many companies to freeze hiring, while unemployment claims have soared across the country.

3. Morrisons on Amazon launches in Leeds

Morrisons customers can now do their full food shop on Amazon.co.uk and get free same-day delivery on orders over £40 as part of their Prime membership.

Morrisons on Amazon launches in Leeds and will be expanded to millions of Prime members across the UK in the coming weeks.

4. Aeon and Ocado Solutions announce CFC milestone

Aeon and Ocado Solutions have announced the location for their first Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC), following the signing of a partnership last year.

Situated in Honda, Chiba, Japan, this will serve customers in Tokyo, launching in 2023.

5. Grocery shopping goes digital during coronavirus pandemic

A new Waitrose report shines a light on how the coronavirus outbreak has turned the UK into a nation of online shoppers.

James Bailey, Waitrose & Partners Executive Director, says: “Even before the pandemic, there are few retailers that wouldn’t have predicted the continued growth of e-commerce relative to physical shops.”

“But what would have previously been a gradual upward climb in demand has - with the outbreak of Covid-19 - turned into a trajectory more reminiscent of scaling Everest.”