Starring Emperia, RTS 2025, EE, and Aptos: RTIH rolls out the 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 L’Occitane en Provence, Amazon, Grubhub, Retail Technology Show 2025, Superdrug, and Roblox.
1. L’Occitane en Provence partners with Emperia to launch new The L’Occitane Greenhouse virtual experience
L’Occitane en Provence is launching a new virtual experience, The L’Occitane Greenhouse, spotlighting the brand’s range of summer fragrances, drawing inspiration from the Provence region.
A collaborative effort with Emperia, this highlights offerings for both men and women, including the scents of Neroli and Orchidée, the 86 Collection and Cedrat.
Placed in a greenhouse, amidst the summer fields of Provence, the virtual world is comprised of three rooms; Main hall which features the brand’s women collections, on its rose, cherry blossom and lavenders scents; a woodsy Men Collection room, in a forest like atmosphere; and a Middle East Oasis, a regional lounge like room, featuring local scents including Ambre and the 86 Scents collection.
“Our new virtual experience is dedicated to L’Occitane’s world of natural fragrance creations, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a sensory journey of Provence through exquisite fragrances and exploration, while learning about the brand’s deep roots in the region” says Mariana Rodrigues, Marketing Director at L’Occitane Middle East.
2. Retail Technology Show 2025 to take place at ExCeL London as exhibitor and visitor numbers rise
Retail Technology Show is moving from London Olympia to ExCeL London, in response, it says, to overwhelming demand from exhibitors and visitors.
The organisers said in a press release: “With several very successful years at London Olympia and an abundance of wonderful memories, the time has come for Retail Technology Show to expand to a larger venue for the 2025 edition.”
“With demand for space increasing each year, and the rising number of retailers coming through the doors, now is the time to transition to a new venue. One that allows for considered growth, giving more value to everyone that makes up the largest retail gathering in the UK.”
“ExCeL will offer more opportunities for prime exhibition locations, greater space for the market leading conference programme, and improved options for networking and customer experiences.”
3. Amazon puts spotlight on 15 innovative startups as retailer launches third edition of its Sustainability Accelerator
This is a partnership with EIT Climate-KIC, a Europeans climate innovation agency, and innovation strategy consultants Founders Intelligence, part of Accenture.
The 15 startups from across Europe will benefit from a four-week programme featuring expert led workshops, specialised mentorship, a tailored curriculum and access to a network of entrepreneurs in the sustainability sector.
This year, for the first time, they also have the opportunity to pitch their technology for a trial in Amazon’s European operations, opening doors to future partnerships and Europe wide implementation, earning them up to £2 million each.
The companies span a range of geographies and demographics, headquartered across 10 countries and together employing more than 600 people.
From tackling issues arising from fast fashion, to reusable packaging and AI, they are focused on scaling their business in one of three categories: circular economy, energy in buildings, and packaging.
4. EE rolls out Aptos cloud-based PoS solution across its UK stores following a six week pilot
EE is introducing a new cloud-based PoS solution from Aptos in its retail stores. The aim is to enhance customer engagement capabilities and reduce the IT infrastructure footprint in each store.
Following a six week pilot across 15 locations, the software is being rolled out to EE’s more than 400 stores across the UK.
As part of the IT refresh across its retail estate, EE has upgraded to a newer version of Aptos’ PoS solution, delivered via SaaS, which will run on mobile devices that its employees can use throughout the store.
They will be able to complete all sales, service and operational processes from a single device, instead of multiple devices for different tasks.
EE has also removed fixed tills from each of its stores, allowing staff to have more personal conversations with shoppers, while also helping to reduce any potential congestion and queues.
5. Grubhub offers its network of US restaurants directly on Amazon.com and in Amazon Shopping app
Amazon customers in the US can now order from hundreds of thousands of restaurants in all 50 states with Grubhub directly on Amazon.com and in the Amazon Shopping app.
Additionally, as long as a customer remains a Prime member, they can enjoy a free ongoing Grubhub+ membership worth $120 a year, without automatically renewing into a paid membership.
Grubhub+ includes $0 delivery fees on eligible orders over $12, lower service fees, 5% credit back on pick-up orders, and exclusive offers.
“Whether it's saving money on your favourite takeout with Grubhub+, exclusive deals on Prime Day, prescription savings with RxPass, entertainment with Prime Video, or free shipping on more than 300 million items including tens of millions of products available with same-day or one-day delivery, Prime keeps getting better for members,” says Jamil Ghani, Vice President at Amazon Prime.
“We know Prime members value savings on food delivery, so we are extending the $0 delivery fees and exclusive savings with Grubhub+ for Prime members, and now customers can enjoy easy access to Grubhub from the Amazon store and app.”
6. Superdrug lays claim to being first health and beauty retailer to launch in Roblox as it celebrates 60th birthday
Superdrug says it has become the first health and beauty retailer to launch in Roblox, with its new Superdrug Obby obstacle game going live this week to celebrate its 60th birthday.
This is available to play for a limited time and will be made up of three games themed around some of Superdrug’s own brand ranges, ProCare, Fruity and Solait.
Exclusive obbies will see players battle spinning electric toothbrushes, bounce across ProCare toothpaste tubes and fly across floss highwire, before moving onto the Fruity game.
The latter will challenge players with fruity shaped obstacles before they go onto vote for their favourite Fruity flavour. The final game is a Solait summer and travel themed obstacle game which quizzes players on their suncare knowledge.
On completing all three games, users will enter a virtual Superdrug store, where the 60th birthday celebrations will begin.
Players can explore the concept store, listen to the in-store DJ and get the chance to win Superdrug branded UGCs to dress their avatar.
Those who complete all games will receive a code to redeem a free Fruity shower gel of their choice in any Superdrug store nationwide.
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