Comeback kids and dairy farmer CEOs: 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 Topshop, Target, American Eagle, Blue Yonder, Checkers, M&S, Just Eat Takeaway, Lidl GB, Pennies, Gopuff, Disco, and Power International.
1. Topshop is back, baby! Retailer's big return sees takeover of Trafalgar Square in London
The retailer, whose long gone London Oxford Street store is the stuff of legend among 80s and 90s kids, is launching a major comeback.
Standalone stores are returning to the UK high street. And the aforementioned catwalk show was its first in seven years. Long time brand representative Cara Delevingne was among those in attendance.
In a LinkedIn post, Victoria Kent, Corporate Communications Manager at Asos, which acquired Topshop in 2021 after the collapse of Arcadia Group, said: “What. A. Day. Today Topshop took over Trafalgar Square with a showstopping catwalk to unveil its A/W collection, and it was nothing short of incredible.”
She added: “On the front row? Cara Delevingne, Adwoa Aboah, Alva Claire, Tolu Coker, and even Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. I couldn’t be prouder to have been behind the comms for this iconic relaunch. The response from press has been phenomenal, but it’s no surprise.”
“Topshop is a brand woven into so many of our stories. Who doesn’t have a memory of 214 Oxford Street For all the fans who loved it then - you won’t be disappointed now. Today’s catwalk was just the start. Topshop is back. And there’s so much more coming.”
2. American Eagle Sydney Sweeney jeans campaign controversy powered by AI driven social media manipulation
Most recently, Dr. Phil McCraw weighed in with his take.
The TV personality appeared on an episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, which saw the titular host say: "Sydney Sweeney came out as - not came out - she was exposed as a Republican. And she has the big jeans ad that was controversial. And they reported this like it was a scandal, [that] she's a Republican. I just got to say this is not where I want America to go. It is not a slur that someone is a Republican."
"For people to go crazy over that ad [that says] 'she's got good genes,' and for them to say that's the equivalent of the Holocaust, is an absolute insult," McCraw added. "Six million people were killed. Six million Jews were massacred and murdered, and they equate that to a blue jeans ad for a Hollywood actress? What an insult."
He continued, "That is ridiculous. I'm gonna go out and buy those jeans for every woman in my family, everybody I know just to show support."
The backlash has been amplified by fake TikTok profiles, according to Cyabra research.
"What we found out about American Eagle Outfitters' Sydney Sweeney campaign is wild - 15% fake profiles, 77,000 engagements, 4,000% spike in negative sentiment in just seven days. The shift from positive buzz to full blown crisis happened in only 36 hours," says Dan Brahmy, Co-founder and CEO at Cyabra.
"The coordination, linguistic patterns, and posting velocity all point to one thing: this was powered by LLMs. This is what modern, AI driven manipulation looks like - fast, targeted, and devastating for brand reputation."
3. Just Eat Takeaway teams with RIVR to pilot robot food delivery dogs in Europe, kicks off in Zurich
Just Eat Takeaway.com is partnering with Swiss company RIVR to pilot doorstep delivery of food products with autonomous ground robots.
It lays claim to being the first on-demand delivery service to test out wheeled legged hybrid robotics equipped with physical AI in Europe. The robot combines wheels for travel with legs for climbing stairs and curbs.
It operates at approximately 15 km per hour. The design allows it to operate reliably in diverse weather conditions, including rain, snow, high heat, and wind. With a 40-litre capacity and an internal wall to prevent spillage, the robot can handle large orders.
The handover process is similar to a courier delivery. A secure locking mechanism enables the safe delivery of the order for both the partner and the user. The partner secures the order inside the robot, and the customer unlocks the cargo bin after being notified of its arrival.
The robot has been manufactured to cover long distances safely, and every delivery is monitored real-time from a monitoring centre. It is programmed to instantly stop in emergencies, either automatically or via remote command, and is equipped with lights and a flag to stay noticeable during day and night.
4. Power International goes live with Flow Retail omnichannel technology at first pilot store in Norway
Power International, a consumer electronics retailer which operates stores across Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, has deployed Flow Retail’s PoS/store data system at a first pilot location in Norway following a trial in Finland.
In a LinkedIn post, Even Rognan Lutnæs, Group CTO at Power International, said: “It's alive! Great day today! This morning, we went live in our first pilot store in Power Norge with the new PoS/store data system from Flow Retail at Power Strømmen in Strømmen Storsenter.”
“Until now, the solution has been running in six franchisee pilot stores in Finland, but today the new system was launched in our first fully owned store, with a full omnichannel stack behind it - connected to Omnium OMS as the hub between PoS, e-commerce, and SAP.”
5. Blue Yonder announces acquisition of US-based retail technology and consumer returns firm Optoro
Blue Yonder has acquired Optoro in a move that, the supply chain specialist says, enhance its returns management capabilities.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“With e-commerce sales continuing to grow, retailers need to be prepared when it comes to returns, which were projected to hit $890 billion last year, representing 16.9% of annual retail sales and is more than double the return rate from 2019,” says Tim Robinson, Corporate Vice President, Returns, Blue Yonder.
“We are excited to acquire Optoro, to enrich the capabilities available to our customers, allowing them to enhance their ability to manage returns with increased efficiency and effectiveness to meet the needs of consumers. This strategic acquisition affirms our commitment to leading the industry, providing customers with unparalleled opportunities to refine their operations and driving transformative business success through a comprehensive returns solution.”
6. Lidl GB bags over £500,000 for NSPCC Childhood Day 2025 as part of Pennies microdonations push
The move followed a regional trial and allows customers to donate up to 30p per transaction at the card reader.
And now the discount retailer reports that more than £545,000 was raised over a six week period. Between 12th May and 30th June, it activated Pennies in stores to support the NSPCC Childhood Day 2025 campaign.
With each store live for one month during the campaign window, customers were invited to round up their purchases and donate up to 30p via the card reader at checkout. The £545,000 raised was the highest amount the NSPCC has ever received from an activation of this kind.
In a LinkedIn post, Lidl GB said: “These microdonations may seem small individually, but together, they’re creating real impact – and bringing us closer to our goal of raising and additional £5 million by 2030, building on the £10 million already raised since our partnership began with the NSPCC in 2017.”
It added: “They also complement our long running in-store NSPCC cash donation tins, giving customers more ways to support in the way that suits them. A huge thank you to every customer who chose to donate. Your small acts are changing lives.”
7. M&S stumps up £340 million for automated Northamptonshire food DC with go live in 2029
Marks & Spencer has announced a £340 million investment in its food supply chain - the largest in its history. This will fund the development of an automated national distribution centre (NDC) in Northamptonshire - a key part of plans to double the size of the M&S Food business.
Alex Freudmann, MD at M&S Food, comments: “We’re transforming M&S into a destination for the weekly shop and modernising our supply chain is central to that ambition. This investment will boost capacity for future growth, lower our cost to serve over the long-term, and improve product availability - ensuring customers find the right products in the right place at the right time.”
“Our new site will strengthen our network and help us get ahead of the volume curve as we build a bigger, better Food business. By using the latest, proven automation, we are future-proofing both our business and UK retail logistics, as well as creating 1,000 jobs permanently on site and 2,000 during the construction phase.”
Spanning 1.3 million square feet, the new facility will be based at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, and is expected to open in 2029. The move follows an announcement earlier in the year to open a new 390k square foot distribution centre at Avonmouth in Bristol, serving stores in the Midlands, South-west England and South Wales.
8. South Africa's Checkers tests out Xpress Trolley with built in scanner and automated checkout
South Africa's Checkers tests out Xpress Trolley with built in scanner and automated checkout
Checkers is laying claim to South Africa’s first smart shopping trolley.
Called the Xpress Trolley, this allows shoppers to scan and bag items as they go, track a live running total, and pay directly on the trolley without needing to stand in a queue or bag products at a traditional till point.
Built by the ShopriteX innovation team, the Xpress Trolley features a screen that guides shoppers through their journey, displaying real-time product details, personalised promotions, and a running total that helps them keep tabs on their spending as they go.
The screen also assists with in-store navigation by indicating where products are located within the store.
9. AI powered Gopuff and Disco status quo challenging tie up looks to push boundaries of retail media
Gopuff’s order status page is now exclusively powered by Disco’s AI powered real-time, personalised offers.
As part of the partnership, Disco will also handle ad decisioning for Gopuff’s own advertisers post-purchase.
"Integrating Disco's AI powered recommendations into our platform unlocks additional value for our customers with highly relevant, personalised offers," says Michael Peroutka, Gopuff's Head of Ads & Agency Partnerships. "It's a win win that enhances our advertiser offerings while delivering a post-purchase experience that delights."
Teddy Kolva, Head of BD & Partnerships at Disco, says: “Gopuff’d some champagne to celebrate this one…Our advertisers unlock premium scale, Gopuff users get bespoke deals from 1,000+ DTC brands - and monetisation comes without sacrificing user relevance.”
He adds: “Together we’re pushing the boundaries of retail media, and this partnership has been a perfect cultural match. Both teams share a restlessness with the status quo. Big thanks to Gopuff’s JR Crosby, Michael Peroutka, and Nathaniel Bertram and team for being great collaborators and even better people. It’s just day one.”
10. Here's why new Target CEO Michael Fiddelke must hire Colin Yankee as CSCO and tap Palantir technology
The CEO of Target is stepping down, as the retailer grapples with weak sales and an ongoing customer boycott over its scaling back of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Brian Cornell will be replaced next year by Michael Fiddelke, Chief Operating Officer.
“During my time at Target, I’ve had the chance to learn from incredible leaders, work alongside amazingly talented teams and develop a fierce love for this company and the special role it holds in our guests’ lives. That’s why I am honored and excited to be named the next CEO,” says Fiddelke.
“Getting Target back to growth is my top priority. We’ll need to operate differently, move with urgency and focus, and make bold choices to get there. We have the foundation to build new momentum, and I’m eager to accelerate work already underway and find new ways to deliver the incredible products and experiences our guests expect from us.”
He adds: “Thank you to the many mentors, peers, friends, and family - and especially Brian Cornell, for his steady leadership, support, and laying the groundwork for our future success. I’m excited for what’s ahead and proud to be taking this step forward with the best team in retail.”
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