Starring PervasID, Topshop, Currys, Walmart: RTIH brings you this week's biggest retail technology stories
It's Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past few days, including Polytag, M&S, B&Q, Royal Mail, Motor Fuel Group, American Eagle Outfitters, Amazon Just Walk Out, and Allianz Stadium Twickenham.
1. RFID firm PervasID brings in former Liberty and C&A executive Guy Hipwell as Non-Executive Director
RFID specialist PervasID has announced the appointment of Guy Hipwell as Non-Executive Director.
Hipwell has held senior roles with retailers including Harrods, Liberty, Arcadia Group, BHS, and C&A.
He built the first transactional websites for Arcadia Group in the UK during the 1990s. He went on to lead major digital initiatives at Harrods and was part of the leadership team that supported the transformation of Liberty before its sale in 2010. His international experience includes building digital operations for fashion retailers in Germany and Austria and running C&A’s pan-European omnichannel business.
Hipwell has also served as an advisor to several high growth SMEs, particularly in the tech, cybersecurity, and defence sectors.
2. M&S four-pint milk bottles feature invisible UV tags to track packaging through recycling process
Polytag reports that Marks & Spencer has become the first retailer to bring invisible UV tags to shelf, applying them to labels on its four-pint milk products, now available in stores across the UK.
Once recycled by households, the bottles will enter recycling facilities where they will be scanned by Polytag’s Plastic Detection Units, with the retailer able to view live recycling data.
Alice Rackley, CEO at Polytag, says: "Retailers and brands can no longer afford to lose sight of packaging the moment it leaves their supply chain. With EPR now in effect, we’re entering a new era where real data is not just helpful, it’s essential.”
“By tagging products and tracking their journey through the recycling system, we’re creating a clear line of sight from shelf to sorting facility. M&S taking this first to shelf step signals not only a commitment to transparency, but a real shift in how the industry approaches responsibility. It’s a major milestone for the Ecotrace Programme and for the wider UK recycling industry.”
3. RTIH retail technology innovation awards return for 2025, deadline for entries 19th September
The seventh edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, 3D Cloud, EdTech Innovation Hub, and Retail Technology Show, is now open for entries.
The awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories 👉 here.
Our latest winners will be revealed at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 16th October.
We're hugely pleased to announce @VistaTechSup as Headline and Drinks Reception Sponsor at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards. Welcome onboard, guys! #RTIHAwards25 https://t.co/8GCmjjn4nQ pic.twitter.com/2LplgXg5jo
— RTIH Innovation Awards (@AwardsRtih) June 13, 2025
4. Amazon Just Walk Out tech goes live at Allianz Stadium Twickenham for frictionless bar launch
A deployment of Amazon's Just Walk Out technology has wrapped at Allianz Stadium.
A Guinness Patch Just Walk Out frictionless bar made its debut during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final on 14th June, serving over 7,000 products. In a direct comparison, it surpassed its neighbouring traditional bar by 20% and sales were 15% higher than what the location averaged prior to Just Walk Out implementation.
Customers experienced average transaction times of less than six seconds from entry to exit. As with traditional queuing methods, the bar allowed for multiple lanes for entry and exit, to improve customer flow and eliminate congestion.
5. Currys claims a retail first as it rolls out AI video technology in partnership with Vyntelligence
Vyntelligence, an agentic video intelligence work platform, reports what is pitched as a retail first partnership with omnichannel technology and electricals retailer Currys.
The tie up will allow integration of Vyn’s Video Intelligence Platform into Currys’ service delivery operations.
Based out of one of Europe’s largest tech repair centres, Currys engineers can now spot issues in advance, as each Vyn SmartVideoNote aims to improve first time fix rates, streamline workflows and reduce carbon footprint generated by unnecessary callout visits.
Customers can use video to show and describe any issues with their tech products. After initially speaking with the contact centre, they will receive a text linking to a report where they are prompted to record the issue and take a photo of the product serial number. As people submit their report, Vyn’s agentic AI tool will automatically summarise the key issues and share them with specialist repair technicians.
6. Royal Mail partners with Motor Fuel Group to introduce parcel lockers at UK petrol station locations
Royal Mail and Motor Fuel Group are teaming up to introduce parcel lockers at over 500 petrol stations across the UK. The first are now open at Motor Fuel Group forecourts in Shepton Mallet and Canterbury.
Motor Fuel Group is the UK’s largest independent forecourt operator.
Operating nationwide, it is also the largest open ultra-rapid EV charging network in the UK, the biggest car valeting operator with 900+ sites and a food to go retailer. Royal Mail launched its locker network in December on top of its doorstep services.
These offer a parcel drop off service, and soon they will include collection options. The lockers also 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.
7. Topshop taps Cara Delevingne to front relaunch of Topshop.com with go live as standalone site set for next month
Topshop is gearing up to relaunch online, and for its big return it has partnered with model and actress Cara Delevingne, who previously featured in one of the retailer’s campaigns back in 2010.
The partnership kicks off with a curated 30-piece edit which will be available exclusively on Topshop.com from 16th August. The long awaited return of Topshop as a standalone online destination follows its acquisition by Asos in 2021 after the collapse of Arcadia Group.
Delevingne says: "As a London girl, Topshop was the place where fashion felt fun, fearless, and full of possibilities. Coming back to Topshop now is more than a return - it’s about starting something new. This collection is about owning your style, your story, and feeling empowered to express that every day."
Topshop taps Cara Delevingne to front relaunch of standalone site set for go live next month #topshop #CaraDelevingne #asos https://t.co/zQFFlbxzHk
— Retail Technology Innovation Hub (@RTIH_RetailTech) July 22, 2025
8. B&Q claims UK first as home improvement retailer launches Click and Collect marketplace service
B&Q is now offering a Click & Collect service for items sold by third-party sellers on the retailer’s B&Q Marketplace offering.
In what is claimed to be a UK first, a pilot has just kicked off and will be followed by a wider, phased roll-out across 300 B&Q stores by October.
In a LinkedIn post, Aimé Matondo Fundani, Marketplace Director at B&Q, said: “Our customers can now order an even broader range of products online and choose to collect them at their local B&Q store, making shopping on our marketplace more flexible and convenient.”
9. Walmart makes new hires for window of opportunity to apply AI and become more tech powered
Walmart has announced the creation of two new leadership roles with the goal of accelerating AI driven innovation across the business.
According to Doug McMillon, President and CEO at Walmart, the aim here is to “move smarter and faster, putting AI and world class product management and design at the centre of everything we do”.
“I’m excited to welcome Daniel Danker as EVP, AI Acceleration, Product and Design. In this new global role Daniel will accelerate our AI transformation and lead all product management and design across the enterprise,” he says.
“In addition, we’re also creating a new EVP, AI Platforms role reporting to Suresh Kumar (Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief Development Officer). This visionary role will help us build the future with AI, increase productivity, speed and innovation, own the AI platforms, and architect our intelligent systems stack to power our future.”
He concludes: “Artificial intelligence is changing how we work. I look forward to working with Daniel and seeing how these changes strengthen our business and improve experiences for our customers, members and fellow associates.”
10. Sydney Sweeney headlines 3D and AI technology powered American Eagle Outfitters Fall ‘25 campaign
American Eagle Outfitters has launched its Fall ‘25 campaign, headlined by actress Sydney Sweeney. The campaign, Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans, is pitched as “a return to essential denim dressing and a celebration of what the beloved brand does best: making customers look and feel good in AE jeans”.
The roll-out will be supported by 3D billboards where Sweeney will interact directly with passersby, a Snapchat lens where she speaks with Snapchatters and AI enabled try-on technology.
“This fall season, American Eagle is celebrating what makes our brand iconic - trendsetting denim that leads, never follows,” says Jennifer Foyle, President and Executive Creative Director - AE & Aerie.
“Innovative fits and endless versatility reflect how our community wears their denim: mixed, matched, layered and lived in. With Sydney Sweeney front and centre, she brings the allure, and we add the flawless wardrobe for the winning combo of ease, attitude and a little mischief.”
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