Get physical! 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards bricks and mortar retail finalists announced

We’re pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards Bricks and Mortar Retail category.

We received a record number of entries this year and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.

Congratulations to all those who made it through the initial submission process!

It’s now over to our judging panel who will decide the winners to be announced at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, taking place  at The HAC in Central London.

The event will be held on Thursday, 16th October and consist of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.

Book your place at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, 16th October here.

Our 2025 runners and riders as follows:

Currys, Vestcom and SOLUM

Currys says it has set a new benchmark in UK retail by becoming the first major retailer to roll-out ESELs across its entire estate of 300+ stores.

This nationwide transformation, delivered in partnership with SOLUM and Vestcom, reflects a clear commitment to innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. The project demonstrates how strong collaboration between retailer and technology partners can modernise the store environment at scale, creating simpler, smarter shopping for customers and freeing colleagues to focus on service.

It stands as a landmark example of digital transformation, operational excellence, and partnership in action.

East of England Co-op

On 4th June, East of England Co-op opened its most innovative Food store at Ipswich Station, designed as a frictionless, tech enabled transit hub. The store is entirely self-service, cashless, and officeless, featuring self-checkouts, headset linked assistance buttons, and digital compliance processes.

With no kiosk, counter services, or printed media, operations are radically simplified. A one-way system with security barriers streamlines footfall, while electronic labels and a digitalised compliance processes further reduce manual tasks. This store has been purposefully designed to meet the needs of today’s customers in a fast paced, high footfall location, delivering speed, simplicity, and convenience.

Iceland, Gander and Olio

Iceland has redefined the role of physical retail by integrating Gander’s technology with its inventory system and surfacing reduced-to-clear products live on Olio and Gander’s app. Shoppers no longer need to search shelves for yellow stickers; they can see what’s available before arriving in store.

This bridges the gap between online and offline, creating a seamless omnichannel experience that drives footfall, saves customers money, and reduces surplus food. Implemented across 965 stores in July 2025, this innovation proves that bricks and mortar stores can thrive by combining digital visibility with physical immediacy, delivering value for customers, colleagues, and the environment alike.

Lekkerland SE

The autonomous Lekkerland REWE To Go Smart Store at Frankfurt Airport is a convenience location that is revolutionising bricks and mortar retail. Using innovative ‘grab & go’ technology based on computer vision and IoT, it eliminates waiting times at the checkout.

Customers check in with their payment card, pick up their products and can leave the store in less than 30 seconds - without scanning, queuing or using an app. This seamless shopping experience, which combines the efficiency of online shopping with immediate availability in a physical space, radically optimises the customer journey and is proof that technology can successfully boost bricks and mortar retail.

Oh Polly

Oh Polly has taken its viral internet brand to a bricks and mortar experience on Melrose Avenue, LA.

For its June 2025 launch, a fitting room booking system was created for busy periods or for regular customers who want a fitting room allocated in advance for a seamless shopping experience.

Taking inspiration from private members’ clubs offering VIP services, the software allows customers to plan ahead and avoid queuing, ‘check in’ on arrival, and is also accessed through QR codes around the store, taking the client to the booking system homepage to help plan their next visit.

Retail AI

Retail-AI lays claim to the world's first privacy first anti-theft system combining audio technology with AI to modify behaviour rather than criminalise individuals.

Unlike traditional surveillance that monitors people, its solution tracks products in 3D space, providing real-time audible alerts within three to five seconds when theft is detected. This approach has resulted in reduced criminality through behaviour modification.

Sonae MC and Sensei

Sensei partnered with Sonae MC to launch the world’s largest autonomous supermarket: Continente Bom Dia in Portugal. Spanning 1,200 m² with over 11,000 SKUs and more than 1,500 daily baskets, the store integrates AI, computer vision, and sensor fusion powered by 1,676 cameras, 2,000 shelf sensors, and six autonomous checkouts.

Customers enjoy a seamless experience across all areas, including fresh product counters. The solution enhances operational efficiency, reduces shrinkage, and delivers a faster, smoother customer experience, proving that autonomous retail is no longer a concept but a scalable, high performing reality that sets a new global benchmark at full supermarket scale.

Varner and Sitoo

How do you reduce queues, boost efficiency, and make retail teams feel like superheroes? You put the store in the palm of their hands. That’s exactly what happened when Varner, Scandinavia’s largest fashion retailer with over 1,200 stores, enabled the Sitoo PoS app on Zebra Technologies mobile devices across its stores.

Associates could now serve customers directly on the floor, access real-time stock, and complete transactions anywhere. The app’s capabilities were already familiar, so no extra training was needed, and staff quickly embraced the new flexibility. This simple addition improved efficiency, enhanced the customer experience, and demonstrated how smart in-store technology can transform physical retail at scale.