Robots that cook, move crops, and deliver parcels: RTIH presents May's coolest retail technology plays

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his stand out ‘future of retail’ systems deployments and launches from May, including Walmart, Decathlon, Bambuser, Oh Polly, Treet, Deliverect, Lori's Gifts, AiFi, Carrefour Belgium, StrongPoint, AutoStore, Lekkerland, VusionGroup, OnePointOne, and Whole Foods Market.

Walmart

Walmart Unlimited, a gamified mini-series, has returned with a third and final chapter.

This made its debut earlier in the year, brought to you by Walmart, Unity and Spatial in collaboration with animators and producers Martian Blueberry and game development studio PIGIAMA KASAMA.

The first episode introduced characters inspired by Walmart’s real-life suppliers, including A Dozen Cousins founder Ibraheem Basir.

It’s the US retail giant’s latest attempt to tap immersive commerce - a form of online shopping that combines VR with 3D visualisations and gamification - to connect with the next generation of consumers.

Decathlon

Decathlon has partnered with Bambuser to expand Visio Store, a service that allows customers to schedule appointments with sales associates via video conference to receive guidance in choosing their sports equipment.

After a period of testing in its e-bike category, Decathlon has expanded its video service to ten additional product categories, including fitness, mountaineering, and golf, exclusively for the French market. 

Customers can book appointments at decathlon.fr, directly from the product page or the dedicated service page. After email confirmation, the customer is connected with a human sales advisor, trained directly by the sports design teams to present and compare products and guide customers to those that best meet their needs.

Oh Polly

Oh Polly has launched Pre-loved, a fully branded resale marketplace, hosted in partnership with Treet.

In a LinkedIn post, Oh Polly said: "There’s already a thriving resale market for Oh Polly on platforms like Depop and Vinted. By bringing this experience in-house, we’re giving customers a seamless, brand led alternative, while encouraging circular fashion and helping extend the life cycle of our garments. We’re also offering 110% store credit to customers who sell their items through Oh Polly Pre-loved, turning second-hand sales into new Oh Polly moments."

It added: "This initiative supports our wider commitment to reducing waste and promoting conscious consumption. It provides an outlet for customers to re-home items that fall outside of our return policy - giving pieces a second life rather than ending up in landfill."

Lekkerland

Lekkerland, REWE Group’s specialist in convenience solutions, has partnered with VusionGroup for a project involving its network of autonomous 24/7 smart kiosks that leverage self-checkout technology across Germany.

Located in clinics, workplaces, and public spaces, these mini-stores are now equipped with VusionGroup’s solutions, enabling GDPR compliant real-time shelf monitoring, cloud-based pricing, promotions, and stock management - all remotely controlled from Lekkerland’s headquarters in Frechen.

By integrating VusionGroup’s Cloud platform, digital price tags, and AI powered shelf monitoring technology, Lekkerland says that it gains complete visibility into every product on every shelf. The system enables pricing and promotion updates, accurate restocking alerts, and item level performance insights.

ShopAi and Gregg London

ShopAi, a UK-based startup launched by former Jisp MD Ilaan Hepworth, has announced a collaboration combining its conversational Ai technology with supply chain consultant Gregg London's 30-year product database containing over 350,000 food and beverage records.

The pair are launching GREGG, pitched as the first conversational AI platform specifically designed for in-store shopping intelligence. This aims to transform how consumers interact with products.

They start by scanning a QR code with no app download required, ask natural questions about any product using voice or text and get instant, accurate answers about ingredients, allergens, and dietary information.

They can compare products, find alternatives, make informed decisions, and receive personalised recommendations based on dietary needs.

The solution provides retailers with: Zero integration requirements - deploy in days, not months; Reduced staff burden answering product questions; Valuable shopper insight data; New brand partnership revenue streams; Multilingual support for diverse communities.

Deliverect

Food tech SaaS company, Deliverect, has announced the launch of Resolve, an AI powered solution that tackles a pain point for multi-location restaurants.

Developed using Google’s Gemini Models and Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, Resolve taps vision AI technology to improve order accuracy and provide restaurants with the tools to effectively dispute fraudulent refund claims.

The launch is pitched as a significant step in Deliverect's broader strategy to leverage AI for automating manual tasks and driving actionable insights that transform restaurant operations. It says that restaurants who have implemented Resolve have seen a 95% refund capture rate and up to 70% revenue loss protection within the first three months of implementation, driven by process improvements, data insights, and successful dispute resolution.

AutoStore, OnePointOne and Whole Foods Market

AutoStore and OnePointOne have unveiled what is pitched as the world’s first robotic vertical farm. Utilising automated cubic storage, this is supplying select Whole Foods Market stores with leafy greens and herbs.

At Opollo Farm, robots move crops through a precision controlled environment, adjusting their position to deliver a balance of water and nutrients. The result is harvest ready greens in 15 days - about half the time of traditional farming - and grown just miles from where they're consumed.

Opollo Farm is designed to tackle some of the biggest challenges in agriculture today: labour shortages, supply chain disruptions, water scarcity, and the demand for fresher, locally grown food.

“We’re constantly exploring new ways to bring fresh, sustainable food to our customers,” says Chris Petroulakis, Category Merchant for Produce at Whole Foods Market. “Opollo Farm is a perfect example of how advanced technology can revolutionise local agriculture, helping to deliver high quality, locally grown produce right to our stores faster and fresher than ever before.”

Veho and RIVR

Veho, which ships for the likes of Sephora and Warby Parker, and automation and AI firm RIVR have announced a US-based initiative that aims to improve e-commerce delivery experience and efficiency through the use of parcel robots.

The deployment begins this week in Austin, with plans to expand to additional markets later this year based upon learnings during the initial trial.

The robots are not intended to replace human delivery drivers. But rather enable humans to deliver more parcels, faster, with less physical strain. The ability for humans to work with and manage robots performing deliveries may be particularly valuable in dense areas with many deliveries but limited parking, it is claimed.

Lori's Gifts

US retailer Lori's Gifts has introduced GO Market by Lori’s, its first ever AI powered hospital gift shop, created in partnership with AiFi.

These will open 24/7 in small hospitals where a staffed store is not financially feasible.

They range from 500 to about 700 square feet - about half the size of a staffed location - and stock everything from flowers and sundries to snacks and apparel. Half of the customers will be hospital staff, so a store open 24/7 can accommodate the night crew.

In a LinkedIn post, Lori's Gifts, which operates more than 250 stores in 34 states, said: "We are paving the way for the future of hospital retail - blending innovation and empathy to better support caregivers, patients, and guests across the country.”

“GO Market delivers a completely checkout-free shopping experience using computer vision. No lines, no registers - just grab what you need and go. With 24/7 access, the store is always open. Whether it’s a late night snack, a last minute gift, or a much needed moment of comfort, GO Market is there - on their time."

The first store is now open at Medical City Decatur in Texas, with a second coming soon to Mount Carmel Dublin in Ohio and more locations on the horizon.

Carrefour Belgium

Carrefour Belgium has picked StrongPoint’s Order Picking solution for in-store fulfilment. Deployment is expected to begin and be completed in 2025.

“We chose StrongPoint’s solution to fulfill our scheduled home delivery orders because their order picking system is responding very well to our needs when it comes to in-store grocery order picking. It’s purpose built for handling grocery orders with exceptional speed and accuracy,” says Jan Pollier, Carrefour Belgium Digital & E-Commerce Director. 

“The solution enables us to improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and deliver a more reliable service to our customers. StrongPoint’s deep expertise in grocery operations was clear throughout the process and gave us confidence in their ability to support our ambitions.”

“That such an esteemed and globally recognised brand has chosen StrongPoint’s Order Picking solution is a clear testament to the world class nature of our technology. Its deployment outside our core markets further demonstrates the solution’s scalability and adaptability, and highlights our ability to support leading grocery retailers no matter where they operate,” says Jacob Tveraabak, StrongPoint CEO. 

Circus SE and REWE Region West

Circus SE, a specialist in AI software and robotics for the food service industry, has announced an exclusive pilot partnership with REWE Markt, West Regional Branch.

This will see the autonomous cooking robot CA-1 being  deployed in several REWE supermarkets in Germany, together with the cloud-based Circus Software Suite. The pilot will begin during the autumn and is pitched as the world’s first integration of autonomous food production in grocery retail.

Under the agreement, REWE Region West will receive three CA-1 units along with a software package that includes ordering systems, kitchen control, and AI driven production management. The eight-month pilot phase includes joint operations, training, marketing activities, and a performance evaluation based on customer satisfaction, technical performance, and operational feasibility.