An autonomous micro-stores first in France: RTIH's most read retail technology articles from last week
Check out the articles on this here website that caught your fancy last week, including Attabotics, Tesco, Ocado, AliExpress, Carrefour, Reckon.ai, THG Fulfil, Huddled, Auror, and the RTIH AI in Retail Awards.
Attabotics CEO Scott Gravelle opens up about devastating week that brought bankruptcy and Tesco MFCs deal
Last week, we reported that Attabotics, a Canadian warehouse automation systems specialist, had inked a major agreement with Tesco, and also filed for bankruptcy.
Speaking to Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive, Gravelle, who describes himself as “a recovering visionary, taking a long deserved break” in his LinkedIn bio, said: “The hardest day of my life was having to tell 190 people they were losing their jobs. I am so proud of what the team accomplished. I am devastated at what happened.”
He added: “I am devastated that Attabotics customers, suppliers, integration partners, and many other people are being harmed. I never took money out of the company. I don't have millions of dollars. I worked with a great team of people to build a company and I have nothing to show for it. I lost my job too and I don't know what I will do next."
Ocado taps Oasis comeback as it takes to TikTok and launches limited edition Deliver Forever vans
Online groceries giant Ocado is tapping into the hype surrounding the Oasis Live 25 reunion tour, which kicked off last week.
It has launched limited edition delivery vans and also taken to TikTok and the streets of Manchester to see if Oasis fans really know their stuff.
In a LinkedIn post, Andrew Hendry, Social Media Lead at Ocado, said: “Alright Rkid? Keep an eye out for Ocado’s limited edition ‘Deliver Forever’ vans, now on the roads in the Manchester area.”
“We also took to the streets to find out if Oasis fans know their Champagne Supernova from their Masterflan. Truly incredible work across teams: Olly Wastnage (Social Creative Campaigns Manager), Annette Harada (Consumer PR), Alicia Hardy (PR Executive), Caroline Swaith (Senior Legal Counsel), the legends at Fabric Social and Mischief and our colleagues at Ocado Logistics.”
YOU COULD WAIT FOR A LIFETIME
— Oasis (@oasis) July 12, 2025
TO SPEND YOUR DAYS IN THE SUNSHINE#oasislive25 pic.twitter.com/fi1I6iqO9W
AliExpress launches hourly delivery within London for household essentials, food and drink
AliExpress, the international online retail marketplace of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, is launching an hourly UK delivery service for household products, food, and beverages.
Beginning this month, customers in Greater London can order via the AliExpress app and get same-day delivery. The service is set to expand to other UK cities this year.
Hungry Panda, a grocer and delivery service, is the first to launch its product range on AliExpress. A curated collection of daily essentials, drinks, snacks and cupboard staples is now available for hourly delivery, including Coca-Cola, instant noodles and toilet paper.
AliExpress has also announced that the platform is now open for local suppliers and businesses to join, supported by a streamlined onboarding process, one to one operational support and a discounted commission fee.
For consumers, this means faster delivery on a wider selection of products, including furniture, large lighting, garden accessories, kitchen gadgets, and more. Orders shipped locally can be delivered within three days at the earliest.
Tesco greenlights multi-million pound investment in new DC to meet demands of growing store network
Tesco is investing in a new distribution centre at DP World London Gateway, which it expects to open in 2029.
It will be working with logistics partner Witron on this.
Andrew Woolfenden, Tesco UK Distribution & Fulfilment Director, says: “Our distribution network is vital for ensuring customers receive products at the right place, time and condition.”
“As demand grows across our store network, we're excited to partner with Witron and DP World to develop a distribution centre that leverages the latest technology, enhancing our supply chain and supporting our decarbonisation goals. By locating at London Gateway, we can also take full advantage of the seaport and rail infrastructure."
THG Fulfil follows automation investment with circular economy e-commerce specialist Huddled tie up
THG Fulfil, THG Ingenuity’s fulfilment and courier management solution, has announced a partnership with circular economy e-commerce group, Huddled Group.
THG Fulfil will provide Huddled with fulfilment, courier management, and warehouse storage solutions, enabling it to offer fast and reliable delivery for its customers, including extending UK next-day delivery (NDD) cut-off to 1am, seven days a week.
Huddled can also leverage the use of THG Ingenuity’s THG Studios facility, to assist in building live e-commerce solutions using AI technology combined with live presenters to deliver more frequent live sales broadcasts.
RTIH AI in Retail Awards: don’t delay, enter today!
Time is running out to enter the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, with deadline for submissions being Friday, 25th July.
As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.
With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.
Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.
Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September.
This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room hosted by the rather excellent actress, writer, presenter, and comedian Lucy Porter.
Time is running out to enter the RTIH AI in Retail Awards. Deadline for submissions is Friday, 18th July. Our 2025 winners will be announced at an evening event at @BarbicanCentre in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September #ai https://t.co/YnOwZgTVOc pic.twitter.com/CnEx2ZKQHb
— Retail Technology Innovation Hub (@RTIH_RetailTech) June 23, 2025
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper calls on more retailers to adopt Auror crime prevention technology
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has urged more UK retailers to use the Auror retail crime intelligence platform as she launches a police campaign to target shoplifting.
In a LinkedIn post, Joe Champness, Law Enforcement Success Manager at Auror, said: “Retail crime is organised, tackling it takes a connected network with a shared purpose. That network includes retailers, law enforcement, and government leaders all working together to make meaningful change.”
“Today, the UK Home Secretary called on more retailers to adopt Auror and an emphasis on the police to use the platform to help address retail crime and anti-social behaviour. Devon and Cornwall Police under the leadership of Chris Chaloner have been leading the way. Since launching Auror, they have seen an incredible 8.8% increase in charges for shoplifting crimes reported through the platform compared to shoplifting crimes reported through traditional means.”
He added: “Retailers like Boots, BP, Greggs, Morrisons, and M&S, are seeing results in partnership like never before. These partnerships are revolutionising how retail crime is identified, investigated, and stopped. This is about sharing data, responsibility, building trust, and acting as one network. This is what happens when retailers and police connect through one purpose built platform. The results speak for themselves.”
Carrefour and Accor tap Reckon.ai retail technology for launch of BuyBye microstore in hotel in France
Carrefour Belgium has developed a new autonomous micro-store concept, BuyBye, in association with Reckon.AI, with the aim of tapping into opportunities beyond traditional retail.
And now Carrefour and Accor are launching one of these in France. In an ibis Styles hotel near Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, guests can now visit a BuyBye microstore day and night. This is pitched as the first of its kind in a hotel environment.
In a LinkedIn post, Carrefour Belgium said: “This microstore works completely autonomously thanks to AI and smart refrigerators that automatically recognise, weigh and pay for the chosen products. It’s ideal for travellers arriving late, or departing early and looking for a nice breakfast, quick lunch or snack.”
It added: “Our Belgian expertise paved the way for this first in France. We first launched BuyBye at Belgian locations, including NATO's SHAPE base in Mons. In short, a great example of how we use retail innovation to make consumers' lives easier. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this!”
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