Starring Shopify, Amazon Fresh, and S Group: RTIH’s biggest retail technology news stories of the week
It’s Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, 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 Amazon UK, Iceland, SES-imagotag, HowGood, Pricer, and Albertsons Companies.
1. Finnish co-operative retailer S Group inks five year electronic shelf labels deal with Pricer
S Group has chosen Pricer as its electronic shelf labels (ESL) supplier and signed a framework agreement for five years.
S Group is a customer owned network of companies in the retail and service sectors, with more than 1,000 retail outlets in Finland.
The biggest business area is supermarket trade, which is covered by five chains. The largest chains are the supermarket chain S-market (440+ stores) and hypermarket Prisma (70+ outlets).
Although there are no minimum commitments for volumes or values under the agreement that cover all brands, S Group will make pilot installations in 17 stores (nine Prisma and eight S-market) during 2023, with the intention of doing installations in 300 stores during the coming years.
The solution is based on the platform Pricer Plaza, which provides a cloud-based software offering that enables the chains to centrally manage and control pricing, product information, and promotions across all ESLs in all connected stores.
2. Amazon UK expands grocery offering with Iceland as online partner, opens new Amazon Fresh store
Amazon UK is partnering with Iceland to make its groceries available to Prime members, with same day delivery options available, and opening a new Amazon Fresh store in London.
The service will initially be available in selected postcodes within Greater Manchester, before being rolled out in more locations in the coming months.
The supermarket follows Morrisons and Co-op in making their grocery offerings available through Amazon. All items will be sourced directly from a local Iceland store.
The new Amazon Fresh store opens this week in London’s Liverpool Street.
3. Calling all retailers and tech suppliers: the entry deadline for 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards is fast approaching
There are just over six weeks left to submit your entries for the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards, which takes place on Wednesday, 29th November at the Barbican Arts Centre in central London.
The event, sponsored by PMC, CADS, 3D Cloud by Marxent, and Goodays, celebrates global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Spread over 19 different categories, submissions are judged on the extent of innovation and transformation demonstrated, as well as the sustainability of the results.
Previous year’s winners have included B&Q, Pets at Home, Walmart, Sook, AiFi, Compass Group, Obsess, and Ribble Cycles.
The awards culminate in a fantastic ceremony, complete with a drinks reception and Christmas themed three-course meal at the Barbican Arts Centre on Wednesday 29th November.
A key event highlight is an exclusive pre-awards roundtable discussion, enabling retailers, tech suppliers and advisors to come together and talk about current retail challenges and opportunities.
Key dates
Friday, 27th October: Award entry deadline
Tuesday, 31st October: 2023 shortlist revealed
6th-10th November: Judging days
Wednesday, 29th November: The 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony
Categories, along with entry forms, can be found here.
4. Shopify gets physical as it launches PoS hardware for bricks and mortar retailers in UK and Ireland
E-commerce big hitter Shopify is launching PoS Go in the UK and Ireland.
Pitched as an all in one PoS mobile selling device, this builds on the firm’s Shopify PoS offering.
Deann Evans, Managing Director, EMEA at Shopify, comments: “Commerce is happening all around us - online, offline, and everywhere in between - so it's vital to continue powering growth in all areas. The most innovative brands in the world, like Gymshark, Huel and Ooni, build their businesses on Shopify.”
“We’re choosing to launch PoS Go in the UK to help all our merchants, big or small, meet consumers wherever they are and however they want to shop - from counter to kerb.”
5. SES-imagotag and HowGood deliver sustainability metrics at shelf-edge for food and beverage products
SES-imagotag and HowGood have announced a partnership to provide consumers with transparent product information, delivered in stores, at the shelf-edge.
This will give shoppers access to data on over two million products directly on smart digital displays in stores, thanks to SES-imagotag’s VUSION IoT Cloud platform, which connects retailers, brands and consumers.
The data comes from HowGood and ranges from greenhouse gas emissions to water usage to labour risk. The digital displays will be available globally this autumn
Through HowGood, consumers can select products that use less water than average in their production (Water Smart), have lower greenhouse gas emissions than average (Climate Friendly), have a simple formula with seven or fewer ingredients (Clean Label), made with ingredients that are not dependent on commercial or industrial processing (Minimally Processed), contain ingredients that minimise the use of petroleum-based herbicides, fertilisers and other chemicals (Low Synthetic Inputs), or respect workers’ rights and dignity (Fair Labour).
These labels, among others, will be displayed in stores on electronic shelf labels, TVs, shelf-edge video displays, etc. along with product price and other key information.
6. There in a Flash: Albertsons Companies launches 30-minute grocery pickup and delivery service
Albertsons Companies has launched a Flash grocery service, allowing customers to receive their DriveUp & Go and delivery orders in as little as 30 minutes.
This is available at more than 2,000 locations, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, ACME and Tom Thumb banner stores.
“Shoppers today want fast pickup and delivery, and Albertsons is meeting this expectation with our new Flash service,” says Stephen Menaquale, SVP, eCommerce and Fulfillment at Albertsons Cos.
"Whether you’re missing a key ingredient for tonight’s dinner, or need a healthy snack for your kid’s lunchbox, families can turn to us to quickly replenish their food and household staples.”
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