2024 RTIH Innovation Awards finalists announced: the biggest retail technology stories from October

It’s the tail end of October, November is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful month for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past few weeks, including Walmart, Sawhorse Productions, Tony Hoggett, Sensei, Simbe, Dexory, Primark, Aldi, Trigo, Save A Lot, Fabric, and Snapchat.

1. 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards: shortlisted entries announced including Ikea, Currys, Lowe’s, and Tesco

We’re pleased to announce the shortlists for the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards.

We received a record number of entries this year and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.

Congratulations to all those who made it through the initial submission process!

It’s now over to our judging panel who will decide the winners to be announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, taking place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.

The event will be held on Thursday, 21st November and consist of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

To book your place at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, 21st November, click here.

The awards, sponsored by Scala, CADS, 3D Cloud, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, Business France, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

2. Industry veteran Tony Hoggett lands at Marc Lore’s Wonder following SVP of Grocery role at Amazon

Tony Hoggett, Amazon’s former SVP of Grocery, is joining Marc Lore's food delivery startup as its Chief Operating Officer, according to a report by Fortune.

A former Tesco executive, Hoggett started at Amazon in January 2022, and served on the company’s senior leadership team. His last day there will be 1st November.

In a LinkedIn post, Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive, said: “I’m disappointed that Kroger or Ahold Delhaize didn’t hire Tony to be their CEO. I was also hoping that Starbucks would hire him, and have him design and lead a programme similar to what he will be doing at Wonder.”

Wonder operates 27 fast casual restaurants in the northeast that offer around two dozen different cuisines or menus to diners out of a single location.

Although it owns meal kit company Blue Apron, Lore told Fortune that Hoggett’s hiring does not signal a desire to further expand into the grocery space. Instead, Hoggett will be responsible for opening and running tech enabled storefronts and their hourly staff.

He will also head up the fresh food supply chain Wonder depends on. Its meals are partially cooked at a central kitchen, before final touches are completed out of the company’s storefronts.

Lore claims he will IPO within three to five  years.

3. Autonomous retail technology firm Sensei raises €15 million and preps European expansion and new store

Sensei, a Portuguese startup focused on the autonomous retail technology space, has secured €15 million in a Series A funding round.

Taking the total raised to €21 million, this will enable the company to expand across Europe, particularly in central and northern regions, while also opening what is pitched as the world’s largest autonomous store next year. 

Involving existing investors like Metro AG and Techstars Ventures, the round was led by BlueCrow Capital, with the participation of Lince Capital, Explorer Investments, and Kamay Ventures (the investment arm of Coca-Cola and Arcor Group).

Vasco Portugal, CEO and Co-founder at Sensei, says: “We are driven by a relentless obsession to deliver the ultimate store experience. Our technology operates invisibly within the store environment, yet it has a massive impact - enhancing the shopping journey for consumers and driving operational efficiency for retailers."

Using computer vision, AI powered sensors, and real-time algorithms, Sensei creates an environment where customers can shop without waiting in queues or manually scanning items. As they do so, their cart is automatically updated, and at checkout, the system displays a ready-to-pay list of items - allowing customers to pay however they prefer, while their identity and privacy are fully protected.

4. Store intelligence solutions specialist Simbe bags $50 million in Series C round to tackle 'last great data desert'

Simbe has closed a $50 million Series C equity financing round led by Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with participation from Eclipse and Valo Ventures and other existing investors.

Since raising its Series B in July 2023, Simbe has achieved milestones such as introducing multiple capabilities and securing numerous new and expanded partnerships across various retail sectors.

The new capital, which brings the total amount raised to over $100 million, will be used to meet demand across retail verticals, expand into new product areas, and continue scaling its solutions to retailers and brands around the world.

5. Primark notches up a self-service checkouts first in Portugal as retailer opens its 452nd store globally

Primark has opened a new store in Montijo, Portugal, its first in the country to feature self-service checkouts.

In a LinkedIn post, Stephen Regan, Group Board Executive at Primark, dated Friday, 11th October, said: “Wrapping up the week in a very special way by celebrating the opening of our brand new store in Montijo, Portugal. This is a very special moment for the Primark Portugal team as it's the first new store in the Portuguese market in seven years, the 11th store in Portugal, and the 452nd globally.”

“It's also the first Portuguese store to offer self-service checkouts and the first to open as part of our €40 million investment announcement in the market.”

He added: “I was delighted to visit the store yesterday and it looks amazing. I am sure our customers will love the modern aesthetic and the immersive shopping experience they will have in Montijo, which includes a distinct scent and curated soundtrack.”

“The team has done a fantastic job, so huge congratulations and a big well done to everyone who supported with this opening. An incredible achievement for everyone involved and our business. Best of luck to the Montijo team with their opening weekend!”

6. Snapchat announces launch of immersive augmented reality high street on Brick Lane in East London

Snapchat launched an immersive high street experience, Snap Street, in East London this October.

The Ely’s Yard building in Brick Lane was transformed into an actual indoor high street with shop-fronts showing off the augmented reality (AR) experiences available on Snapchat - curated by brands like Depop, Boots, and Cosmopolitan.

Free to attend, and open for one weekend only (Saturday 19th - Sunday 20th October) Snap Street imagined what a high street might look like in the future.

Depop debuted The Depop Claw Machine, offering visitors the chance to win some circular fashion, including streetwear, designer styles and exclusive Depop merch.

Visitors could also immerse themselves in the world of Depop using the Snapchat x Depop AR Mirror. From 12-2pm on Saturday, shoppers could get creative and make a free personalised phone charm with help from Depop seller @SantexSante.

7. Save A Lot makes first move into on-demand, online grocery delivery warehouses with Fabric and Uber tie up

Save A Lot, a discount grocery chain in the US, and Fabric, an automation solutions specialist, have announced a new partnership to provide on-demand grocery delivery with the opening of a Brooklyn-based micro fulfilment centre.

This is part of a larger expansion, which includes a push into New York to enhance last mile delivery options.

Orders placed from the Brooklyn online storefront on the Uber Eats app will be delivered to doorsteps by Uber couriers.

“We know consumers are looking for fast delivery options for fresh, affordable grocery essentials, so we’re pleased to be partnering with both Save A Lot and Fabric who continue to innovate in the space,” says Nathan Bernheim, Head of Enterprise Sales for Grocery and Retail at Uber.

“Together we can bring essential items to communities that need them in entirely new ways.”

8. Lots of fun but extremely expensive: Aldi shutters Trigo powered Shop & Go store in Dutch city of Utrecht

Aldi is binning its mobile app centric, cashier-free supermarket project in Utrecht, Holland.

“It was a fun experiment and we learned a lot,” Florian Scholbeck, Aldi’s International Head of Communications. “But the investments are very big.”

The retailer will now test the system in Eindhoven in a store selling a full range of products. The ability to pay by traditional means will also be made available.

Utrecht was a 3,982 square feet location where shoppers walked in, selected their items, and walked out without having to queue at the checkout lane or scan any items.

In its largest store format to date, Trigo applied its algorithms to shelf sensors and ceiling mounted cameras which analysed anonymised shoppers' movements and product choices.

Payments and receipts were settled digitally.

9. Dexory announces $80 million Series B funding round and focuses on expanding across the US market

Dexory, a robotics and data intelligence company, has closed an $80 million Series B funding round.

This was led by DTCP, with participation from Latitude Ventures, Wave-X and Bootstrap Europe, along with existing investors Atomico, Lakestar, Capnamic and several angels from the logistics industry. As part of this investment, DTCP’s Michael Rager joins Dexory’s board of directors.

The new funding, made up of a mix of equity and growth debt, will support an expansion of the firm’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered features across the DexoryView platform, grow its global team and accelerate the deployment of its autonomous robots with customers like GXO, Maersk, and DB Schenker.

A significant focus continues to be on expanding across the US market, where Dexory is already live with customers in seven states. The Series B will also enhance development and production facilities at its UK headquarters.

Dexory has now raised $120 million over the past three years.

10. Walmart enlists Sawhorse Productions as it steps into Zepeto metaverse with No Boundaries launch

Walmart’s young adult clothing brand, No Boundaries, has officially launched on Zepeto, an Asian avatar centric social universe.

In a LInkedIn post, Sawhorse Productions said: “Our team is thrilled to build on our work with Walmart to engage younger audiences by activating this rapidly growing UGC platform.”

“The NoBo drop includes ten virtual versions of pieces from the line’s fall collection. And we brought the community in by collaborating with Zepeto creator, Xexi, to design limited edition items. We also created a twisted prep photobooth backdrop, knowing that Zepeto users love the in-game photo booth function.”

It added: “Sawhorse is passionate about helping brands navigate the immersive/gaming space. Is Zepeto new to you? It’s a platform to watch - ultra fast growth, truly global user base and a highly engaged community.”