Tesco continues to stand out as British powerhouse: presenting the retail technology week in numbers
Do you like numbers? Do you like retail systems news? Then this is the article for you. Including Retail Technology Show 2025, PoundFun, Burger King UK, Ryft, dentsu, Vypr, Snappy Shopper, Royal Mail, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Deliveroo, and REWE To Go.
1 and 3...Deliveroo is launching a new white label delivery solution for grocers and retailers, allowing them to leverage its tech and rider network to offer rapid deliveries through their own online channels.
Tesco is the launch partner as it pilots its Whoosh offering in Ireland for the first time.
The three stores in the trial are Donnybrook, Spencer Dock, and Newmarket Yards, with plans to expand over the coming months. Customers in a 4.5 km radius of these stores will have access to more than 3,000 products and with the option to receive their orders in as little as 45 minutes.
£63.6 billion...Tesco’s full-year sales, excluding fuel, rose 4% to £63.6 billion. Retail underlying operating profit climbed 8.1% higher to £3 billion.
Aarin Chiekrie, Equity Analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown, says: “Tesco continues to stand out as a British powerhouse, with further sharpening of its proposition helping the group record its highest market share in nearly a decade. Despite a slight pullback in its share price of late, the underlying story looks good as revenue and profits motor higher."
"Fears of a price war that could squeeze profitability have weighed on sentiment across the sector recently, but it hasn’t materialised yet. Even if it does, Tesco reckons it’s in the most competitive position it's been in for many years, helped by the Aldi price match and Clubcard prices keeping customers loyal."
"And despite recent headlines, Asda doesn’t appear to have the financial firepower to disrupt this dynamic. Looking ahead, guidance for this year looks a little conservative, leaving room for positive surprises. With operations focussed on this side of the Atlantic, President Trump’s tariffs pose little threat to disrupt operations directly."
"Shareholder returns remain a key part of the investment story, with dividends and a new £1.5 billion share buyback programme backed by strong cash flows. With the valuation sitting below the long-term average, this looks like an attractive opportunity for investors looking to avoid some of the US led volatility.”
14,116...Retail Technology Show took place last week at London Excel. And it was a blast.
14,116 retail professionals packed the aisles on 2nd-3rd April, the event’s highest attendance ever. There were 483 exhibitors from across the retail tech landscape, and 125 speakers on the various stages around the showfloor.
£2 million...PoundFun has appointed Glen Richardson, former COO at The Range, as Non-Executive Director.
This coincides with the launch of a £2 million investment round, which aims to fuel expansion, create over 200 jobs in Keighley, and position the business for a projected £60 million valuation by 2027.
The company was created to provide affordable high quality toys from trusted brands amid rising costs. Offering over 800 items at £1 or less, including ranges from LEGO, Barbie, Marvel, and Disney, PoundFun has shipped more than 143,000 orders since launching in July 2023. It has grown to £3.9 million in sales, with no outside capital and a 32.18% repeat customer rate.
“We’re building the go to destination for value toys, where families can say yes more often without breaking the bank,” says Rob Owlett, CEO and Co-Founder at PoundFun. “Saying no all the time sucks, whether it’s to a birthday treat, a surprise gift, or just something fun. We make it possible to say yes to those little moments of joy. Glen coming onboard is massive; he’s scaled the big guys, and now he’s helping us build something really special.”
£5.7 million...Ryft, a PSD2 and FCA approved decentralised payments specialist, reports a £5.7 million Series A round to fund the development of technology that, it says, will enable acquiring banks, like Clearhaus, to compete with Stripe Connect, Adyen, and similar payment providers in the market.
The round was led by EdenBase, with participation from GPOS Investments, British Business Bank, Pembroke VCT, Sidebyside, and Ingenii VC. It was also joined by strategic angel investors, including executives at PayPal.
Ryft was founded by Sadra Hosseini and Alex Mackenzie, whose digital platform, Butlr, was acquired by OrderPay in 2021. While building Butlr, they experienced highly limited options for compliant payment solutions that support marketplace and platform transaction flows.
Ryft gives acquiring banks the technology needed to automatically split payments and process payouts at, the company claims, a much lower cost than solutions offered by Stripe Connect or Adyen. It also provides marketplaces and platforms with the ability to hold funds until specific conditions are met through a delayed payments feature, facilitated by an escrow license.
Hosseini says: “Acquiring banks and most businesses were built for the one-to-one transactions of Commerce 1.0. However, in the era of Commerce 2.0, where a single transaction within a marketplace involves numerous parties and processes, businesses are in a position where they have to deliver payment operations that meet the evolving needs of their customers.”
“Currently, the likes of Stripe Connect and Adyen dominate the payments ecosystem despite high fees, complicated integrations, poor support, and prolonged payment wait times. We have the technology that offers a collaborative and efficient alternative.”
52% and 44%...With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to grip the nation, new research from dentsu reveals that British shoppers are redefining their priorities - and savings have taken centre stage.
According to its latest Consumer Navigator Report, based on a sample of 4,800 respondents (aged 18-79) across five EMEA markets (n=2,000 UK, n=700 France, n=700 Spain, n=700 Italy and n=700 Poland), value for money (52%) and loyalty schemes (44%) now hold greater sway in retail purchasing decisions compared to other industries, significantly outpacing factors such as customer experience (21%), brand heritage (16%), and brand values (15%).
The report highlights the seismic impact of ongoing economic struggles on consumer behaviour: 52% of UK shoppers have reduced their spending in the last year, while 80% believe the economy is in a poor state. With 46% of respondents forecasting continued decline over the next 6–12 months, retailers must respond decisively to evolving consumer priorities, dentsu says.
Essentials like groceries (62%) and basic clothing and footwear (35%) are commanding greater wallet share, while bigger discretionary purchases such as designer clothing (70%), new technology (66%), and household appliances (72%) are being avoided.
Amid these cutbacks, brands have a critical opportunity to adapt their approach:
Prioritise value for money: Ensure product positioning highlights affordability without compromising quality.
Strengthen loyalty schemes: Create compelling rewards programmes that resonate across demographics, especially older shoppers.
Refine messaging: Speak to shoppers' need for savings while offering moments of attainable indulgence to preserve engagement.
£5 million...Product intelligence platform, Vypr, has secured new funding to accelerate expansion into international markets and adjacent sectors while continuing to develop its consumer insights technology.
The raise includes £4 million from YFM Equity Partners and £1 million from other investors and management. It brings Vypr’s funding to date to £13.4 million with YFM’s total investment standing at £9.5 million .
Vypr, headquartered in Manchester, has developed a platform that helps global brands to rapidly understand changing consumer behaviour through insight, underpinned by behavioural science. This aids them in bringing new products to market or improving their current ranges. Customers include retailers like Aldi, Asda, and M&S, and food and drink brands and manufacturers including Brewdog, Kraft Heinz, and Red Bull.
Others involved in the investment round include Vypr Chairman and former CEO of UK tech plc GBG, Richard Law. Existing Vypr shareholders include veteran Manchester venture capitalist, Richard Young, and founder of UK food producer 2 Sisters Food Group, Ranjit Singh Boparan.
In the past year, Vypr has announced its expansion to provide consumer insight in international markets including Australia, the United States and major European countries. The investment will also fund new AI driven features.
1,000...Burger King UK will be opening its new flagship restaurant on London’s Strand on 14th April and will be giving away 1,000 free burgers to celebrate.
This is Burger King UK’s first opening in the capital’s city centre for years, with opening hours of 8am – 11pm every day, The former Topshop on the Strand (which closed three years ago) is being taken over by a five-storey location with room for more than 100 customers..
You will have to be quick if you want to get your hands on the free treats. The deal is first come first served on the 14th. To get in on the action, you will need to order a Whopper or Plant Based Whopper at a kiosk to get the burger free of charge.
Also, the 100th customer who orders at the restaurant on 14th April will win a year’s supply of Burger King. Limited edition Burger King UK tote bags will also be given out to mark the opening, including a leaflet with exclusive offers available on the company's app – but once again you will have to be quick as there are only 250 available.
Arlene Pallares, Operations Manager at Burger King UK, Strand, says: “It’s no secret that the Strand restaurant is one of our biggest and boldest across the whole country, and it’s an amazing feeling to finally open up in such an iconic part of the city. We really believe that this restaurant will become a go to for hungry customers, whether they work nearby or they’re just visiting for the day. Me and the team can’t wait for burger lovers to set foot in here for the first time.”
14%...Snappy Shopper, a UK local convenience grocery delivery app, reports a 14% uplift in average basket value across participating stores through its partnership with Gander. First launched in 2023, the collaboration enables retailers to offer reduced to clear items through the Snappy Shopper app, making in-store discounts accessible online for the first time.
13% of all orders at participating stores now include Gander products, and baskets featuring Gander items contain an average of 21 products, compared to 14 in non-Gander orders. By making reduced to clear products visible in real-time on the app, Snappy Shopper and Gander are helping stores cut food waste and enabling customers - particularly those on tighter budgets - to access everyday essentials at lower prices.
Real-time synchronisation between the two platforms ensures that customers always see the latest reductions available in-store. THis bridges the gap between physical and online retail, while helping retailers unlock new value from existing stock.
6...Royal Mail lockers are being installed outside Sainsbury's supermarkets across the UK. The first six are ready to go, and plans are afoot to grow this number quickly in the coming weeks and months.
In a LinkedIn post, Jack Clarkson, Group Strategy & Transformation Director at Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS), said: “If you live in Clapham, Desborough, Kempshott, Low Hall, Kidderminster or Chislehurst, go check them out. Thank you to the teams at Sainsbury's, and well done to the Royal Mail lockers team who are working tirelessly to drive forward our business. More partnership announcements very soon.”
The Sainsbury’s deal marks the first such agreement between Royal Mail and a UK supermarket.
Prices start from £1.55 online for a small parcel that fits through the letterbox. The lockers feature label printing. Customers need to pay for postage online and print the label by scanning a QR code at the locker or request a QR code if they are returning a purchase.
Patrick Dunne, Chief Property and Procurement Officer, Sainsbury’s, says: “We’re always looking for innovative ways to deliver the best value, quality and service for our customers. That’s why we're delighted to be partnering with Royal Mail to offer this fantastic new proposition at our stores. The lockers will be available seven days a week, giving customers an easy, convenient way to drop off and collect parcels via Royal Mail as they shop.”
Royal Mail launched its parcel locker network in December. It now has 1,500 lockers, compared with around 8,000 operated by InPost and 5,000 operated by Amazon in the UK.
2...A second REWE To Go Gleisbox has opened its (bright pink) doors at Cologne Central Station, this one on platform six/seven.
In a LinkedIn post, Jenny Ramme, Director National Expansion & Business Operations at REWE To Go, said: "Whether you're on your way to work, planning a trip or just in the mood for something delicious, our new Gleisbox is the perfect stop for fresh snacks, hot and cold drinks and delicious pastries. Everything is fast, uncomplicated and directly on the platform."
"And that's not all: This is only the second of a total of five new track boxes that will make your life at Cologne Central Station easier. In addition to our huge store in the market hall under platform five/six, we are now unbeatably there for you."
She added: "But the special thing about our new track box is not only the colour - it is also a symbol. A symbol of diversity and togetherness that we live and celebrate at REWE To Go. With the pink colour, we are setting an example: for openness, for respect and for the fact that everyone is welcome - no matter where they come from, what they look like or who they love. Especially here, at Cologne Central Station - a place of encounter and exchange - we want to show how important it is to stand together and celebrate diversity."
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