East of England Co-op's Rob Smith talks future of retail and strong tech partnerships at AWS event

We've entered a transformative moment for the retail industry. So says Rob Smith, Technology Officer at East of England Co-op.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: "This week, I had the fantastic opportunity to take part in a fireside chat at the AWS Retail Symposium. It was an inspiring day filled with forward thinking conversations about the future of retail, and I was honoured to contribute to the dialogue alongside such passionate and innovative peers."

He added: “I was especially pleased to be on stage with Mike Dotson from our hugely valued retail systems partner, Trust Retail, and Stuart Gibbon from Waitrose & Partners. Hearing Stuart share insights from their journey - and recognising how closely their challenges mirror our own - was both validating and energising. A big thank you as well to Justin M. Swagler (Worldwide Head of Physical Retail at AWS) for expertly facilitating the conversation and bringing out the key themes that matter most to retailers right now."

"We explored the importance of strong partnerships in technology to help us reshape customer experiences, drive operational efficiency, and unlock new possibilities for retailers of all sizes. The energy in the room made it clear: this is a transformative moment for the industry."

"Thank you to the AWS team for the invitation and for putting together such a well curated event. And to everyone who attended and engaged - your thoughtful questions made the discussion even richer. Looking forward to continuing these conversations. Let’s keep building the future of retail together."

Trust Retail

Trust Retail recently collaborated with East of England Co-op on its new Ipswich train station store.

This opened earlier this month and represents a cashless first for the retailer.

“Hugely significant new store opening this week for East of England Co-op - cutting edge technology and a great location in perfect harmony,” said Smith.

Ashley Hollingsworth, Operating Model Manager, added: “Extremely excited about the launch of our concept store - a huge step forward in efficiency. From eSELs and headsets to self-service only tills, cashless and officeless operations, and not forgetting our new digital processes, we’re proudly advancing on our paperless journey.”

“This milestone has involved cross-functional collaboration across multiple departments. Thank you all for your incredible support in delivering what will soon be our most efficient food store to date.”

In a LinkedIn post, Trust Retail said: “We've installed five state-of-the-art self-checkout terminals at the East of England Co-op’s first fully cashless location, transforming the shopping experience for busy commuters on the Great Eastern Main Line. With over three million passengers passing through annually, this 1,500 sq ft store delivers convenience without compromise.”

“Our software first, hardware agnostic solution has eliminated the need for traditional cashier desks while maintaining full functionality - including refunds - creating significant operational efficiencies for the East of England Co-op team. We're proud to support the future of frictionless retail.”

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Cashless stores will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards, which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.