The six biggest 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 systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past five days, including Tesco, Gorillas and Walmart.
1. Tesco opens Trigo powered GetGo checkout-free store
Tesco has launched its first high street checkout-free store.
As we reported in July, named GetGo, this can be found in High Holborn, on the edge of the City of London.
Kevin Tindall, Managing Director at Tesco Convenience, says: "We are constantly looking for ways to improve the shopping experience and our latest innovation offers a seamless checkout for customers on the go, helping them to save a bit more time.”
"This is currently just a one store trial, but we're looking forward to seeing how our customers respond.”
2. Delivery Hero heads up mega Gorillas Series C funding round
Rapid grocery delivery venture, Gorillas, has raised close to $1 billion in a Series C funding round.
This was led by Delivery Hero, and included further investments by existing investors Coatue Management, DST Global, Tencent, Atlantic Food Labs, Fifth Wall, Greenoaks, A*, and new backers G Squared, Alanda Capital, Macquarie Capital, MSA Capital and Thrive Capital.
It comes seven months after Gorillas bagged $290 million in Series B funding, taking its valuation past the $1 billion mark.
it also closely follows protests over its treatment of delivery riders and warehouse workers, as well as the departure of senior executives, fuelling criticism of Chief Executive Kağan Sümer.
3. Walmart+ added to Walmart Black Friday Deals for Days event
Walmart is enabling Walmart+ members to gain early access to its Black Friday shopping experience.
This is the first time the service, which is pitched as an alternative to Amazon Prime, has been bundled in Walmart’s month long Black Friday Deals for Days event.
4. Alibaba's 13th annual 11.11 Global Shopping Festival is up and running
The event began in 2009 with participation from just 27 merchants as an event for merchants and consumers to raise awareness about the value of online shopping. It is now the largest shopping festival globally.
5. Amazon and Starbucks eye Just Walk Out retail technology tie up
Amazon and Starbucks have discussed the creation of co-branded coffee shops featuring the former’s Just Walk Out technology.
According to a report by Business Insider: “The initial layout of the store shows Amazon Go’s food section within a cafe that has a lounge seating area.”
“Customers would have to use separate apps for pay - Starbucks’s app for drinks and Amazon’s app for food - though the companies eventually want to build an integrated solution. The store was expected to have a newly created brand.”
The tie up might not happen, however, with the aforementioned report noting that it includes roll-out milestones that thus far haven’t been met.
6. Former Sainsbury’s boss David Tyler joins Imagr
New Zealand-based autonomous checkout startup, Imagr, has appointed former Sainsbury’s Chair, David Tyler, as Chair of its board.
“David brings a depth of experience and knowledge of the retail industry that is invaluable to Imagr at this important stage of rapid growth” says Imagr CEO, William Chomley.
“We’re thrilled to welcome David to the team. His confidence in and commitment to Imagr is a real testament to the work of our teams, our customer pipeline and the technology we have built.”
“He sees the huge opportunity we have ahead of us and he's committed to helping take us to the next level.”
Tyler was at the helm of Sainsbury’s from 2009 to 2019.
