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. Mirakl bags major funding and unicorn status
Paris-based e-commerce startup Mirakl has closed a $300 million funding round led by Permira, with participation from long-term investors 83North (Laurel Bowden), Bain Capital Ventures (Scott Friend), Elaia Partners (Xavier Lazarus), and Felix Capital (Frederic Court).
This brings total capital raised to $400 million and places the company's valuation over $1.5 billion, making it a newly minted unicorn.
2. Amazon Prime Day 2020 set to start on 13th October
Huzzah! After months of uncertainty, it looks like we finally have a date for Amazon Prime Day 2020.
Various publications went live with stories earlier this week, flagging up Tuesday, 13th October, although we should stress that Amazon has not confirmed these reports.
3. Iceland boss Richard Walker calls for calm as panic buying stories spread
The UK is at a “perilous turning point” during the coronavirus outbreak and must act, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs this week, announcing new restrictions for England including a return to home working and 10pm closing for pubs.
Certain sections of our mainstream media have been quick to run ‘a second wave of panic buying’ scare stories, often based on social media accounts suggesting fresh signs of empty supermarket shelves. Sadly, some of our rivals in the retail space have followed suit (for shame, guys!)
Enter Iceland Foods boss Richard Walker, the voice of reason amidst a sea of stupidity. See what he had to say here.
4. Donald Trump approves Oracle and Walmart TikTok deal
US President Donald Trump has given his blessing for a deal between TikTok and a coalition of Oracle and Walmart, after threatening to ban the Chinese owned app.
Oracle will take a 12.5% share in the new company, TikTok Global, while Walmart will take 7.5%. Chinese firm ByteDance will retain roughly 80% of the venture. But because the latter is 40% owned by US investors, the new TikTok Global will technically have a majority American ownership.
5. Aldi UK launches Click and Collect at Loughborough store
Aldi UK has launched its first Click and Collect service.
Following a trial with staff, customers can order from a full range of products online, then collect them from the discounter’s Allendale Road store in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
