Zalando differentiates itself from rivals via innovative technology: the retail tech week in numbers

Do you like numbers? Do you like retail systems news? Then this is the article for you. Including Zalando, Uber Eats, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, StrongPoint, EE, Nintendo, and AutoStore.

€10.6 billion...Zalando has released figures for the year ending 31st December 2024.

Its revenue growth continued to accelerate in the last quarter of FY2024, allowing its full year revenue to rise 4.2% to almost €10.6 billion, as its superior product assortment of highly desirable premium, sportswear and beauty brands allowed it to appeal to more consumers.

The retailer also delivered strong profits, with its adjusted EBIT reaching €511.1 million, far exceeding its October guidance of €440-480 million. Zalando expects these positive results to continue and potentially accelerate in 2025, with the retailer providing full year revenue growth guidance between 4% and 9% and forecasting its adjusted EBIT to reach between €530 million and €590 million. This guidance does not include the acquisition of fellow German online retailer ABOUT YOU, which should be completed by the summer, and will further strengthen its position in the European online fashion landscape.

Louise Deglise-Favre, Senior Apparel Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Business-to-consumer FY2024 sales rose 3.8%, as Zalando continued to improve its product offering by adding desirable premium and luxury brands such as On, Versace menswear and Marine Serre, allowing it to operate in a more elevated landscape than other online fashion players such as Shein and Asos and target an older and more financially secure consumer base."

"The retailer will continue this strategy in 2025, already becoming the exclusive European retail partner for luxury brand Diane Von Furstenberg in February. Zalando also plans to expand its lifestyle proposition, including categories such as beauty, home and sportswear, enhancing its destination appeal.”

“As such, Zalando will expand its beauty proposition to Spain and Finland in 2025, and its outlet shopping site Lounge by Zalando will be rolled out to five additional markets, catering to price-conscious consumers looking for bargains. Zalando will also enter Portugal, Greece and Bulgaria for the first time in 2025."

She adds: “It also continued to differentiate itself from rivals through technology, launching and expanding innovative features throughout the year, such as its AI driven shopping assistant and its Trend Spotter tool to help shoppers identify emerging trends. In 2025, Zalando plans to release the pilot for an outfit builder tool named StyleIt, which will allow shoppers to build complete outfits on a virtual avatar of their choice. It will also continue rolling out its updated loyalty programme Zalando Plus, which now operates with a points-based system rather than annual membership fees."

“Zalando also made great strides within its business-to-business segment, which rose 11.5%, as its comprehensive logistics and fulfilment offering through its ZEOS platform continued to expand, now servicing clients in 12 markets across ten different channels including their own websites and nine marketplaces. It plans to continue expanding this offering, already announcing in November 2024 that it will launch as Next’s fulfilment partner in continental Europe from Q4 2025, allowing it to enter ten new markets.”

£12.6 million...XSite Braehead has announced a combined £12.6 million investment in the site. The money is drawn from a partnership of tenant and owner contributions and includes the opening of the world's longest indoor e-karting track and e-sports venue, K1 Speed, within the centre later this year.

TENPIN, meanwhile, has undergone a transformation with the addition of four new bowling lanes, two private karaoke rooms, and a makeover of the bar. The refurbishment will be closely followed this year by Paradise Island Golf which is undertaking a significant overhaul, including the addition of a high ropes course. This is coupled with the expansion of family entertainment centre Funstation and alongside the offering from other tenants including Odeon IMAX.

Further investment includes a marketing campaign across multiple channels including broadcast, out of home and social media and the centre is also working to finalise other leasing deals.

1 billion...Uber Eats reports a milestone, having made one billion UK deliveries in less than a decade (it launched in 2016).

The landmark delivery was made by a seasoned Uber Eats courier in Birmingham. Meanwhile, the customer unknowingly made history with their Friday night order of cod and chips with a battered sausage from College Fish Bar. 

To mark the occasion, Uber Eats will be offering the customer a prize - £5,344 in Uber Eats credit, equivalent to a year’s worth of takeaways and groceries based on the average UK household spending. The courier is also being offered a free year of Zenion rental for an e-scooter or e-bike which includes insurance and maintenance for 12 months.

Coinciding with the billionth delivery taking place, Uber Eats is also revealing order insights from the past nine years, including insights into the UK’s evolving takeaway habits and top trends.

MNOK 35...StrongPoint reports its selection by an unnamed (but described as a leading) UK cosmetics retailer to design and install its first AutoStore solution. The value of the contract is approximately MNOK 35, estimated to be delivered over the next 12 months.

“Following the achievements of the world’s first AutoStore Multi-Temperature Solution with a frozen zone designed and installed by StrongPoint, we are very happy to be announcing our first AutoStore installation in the UK. Our focus is now to deliver the best possible solution for the customer, leveraging our extensive experience in the retail e-commerce and automation sectors,” says Jacob Tveraabak, StrongPoint CEO.  

$8 million...UrbanFox, which taps AI to stop online payment fraud, has closed an $8 million Series A round led by IAG Capital Partners.

“This milestone marks a major step forward in our journey to help make buying and selling online safer for consumers and businesses,” says Daniel Loftus, Founder and CEO at UrbanFox.

“Thanks to our investors and advisors, but most importantly thank you to the UrbanFox team for the incredible work over the last year. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey - this is just the beginning.”

21...Flying Tiger Copenhagen is launching a new app and customer club across 21 stores in Ireland. 

This is part of a global roll-out aimed at gaining deeper shopper insights and enhanced customer experiences.

It went live on Wednesday and customers who sign up via the app will instantly receive discounts ranging from 10% to 20%, applicable to in-store purchases

Andre Filomeno, Senior Vice President for "Customer & Digital" at Flying Tiger Copenhagen, comments: "We have seen a successful launch of the app across the Nordics, Germany and England in 2024. The roll-out to Irish customers is the first market expansion of 2025, and we're delighted to introduce the app here, as Ireland holds significant importance for our business. This launch will enable shoppers in Ireland to access exclusive discounts and offers." 

3…EE is teaming up with Nintendo to bring the Mushroom Kingdom to Westfield White City for an exclusive three-day celebration from Saturday 8th March to Monday 10th March, in honour of National Mario Day. 

Over the three days, Mario and Luigi will be on hand to take photos with shoppers, while visitors will also have the chance to play a range of games on Nintendo Switches and in a Mario themed go kart, situated within EE's Gaming Zone. Those who can’t make it to the EE Studio can also experience gaming on a Nintendo Switch in one of 280 EE stores across the country.  

People purchasing any Nintendo product, including Nintendo Switch and all Nintendo games and accessories, via the EE Studio or the EE website between 7th – 31st March, will be automatically entered into a prize draw for a family of four to win: 

• A seven-night stay at Universal Terra Luna Resort 

• Universal Orlando 3-Park Explorer passes plus 1-Day Universal Epic Universe tickets (for admission to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay, and the new Universal Epic Universe theme park featuring Super Nintendo World, opening 22nd May) 

• Round trip flights from the UK to Orlando 

• Ground transportation to and from the airport and hotel in Orlando