THG goes global, Best Buy goes fast and Tesco goes Whoosh: last week’s biggest retail technology plays

RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Including Tesco Ireland, Uber Eats, Deliverect, StrongPoint, Superdry, Cegid, Sainsbury's, LK Bennett, Asos, TrusTrace, InPost Group, Snappy Shopper, Cracker Barrel, and Radley.

Tesco Ireland

Tesco Ireland is accelerating the roll-out of its rapid delivery service, Whoosh, with expanded coverage in Dublin and the launch of the service in Galway and Cork.

This follows a pilot earlier this year. Whoosh is now offering access to over 3,000 products delivered in as little as 45 minutes, within a 4.5 km radius of participating stores.

The service now includes:

Dublin: Nine additional Tesco Express stores are now live - Cabinteely, City West, Cherrywood, Collins Avenue, Inchicore, Swords, Malahide, Shankill, and Crumlin.

Galway: Service is now available in Doughiska, Ballinfoyle, and Newcastle.

Cork: Launching next week at Dennehy’s Cross Express and St Finbarr’s.

Customers can order through the Tesco app (iOS and Android) or via the grocery giant’s website. Deliveries are powered by Deliveroo.

Exotec and ILS Logistics

Exotec has partnered with Polish logistics company ILS Logistics to install its Skypod robotic systems across sites in Central and Eastern Europe.

The projects are being carried out in collaboration with Polish integrator A1 Sorter, a long standing partner of Exotec. 

ILS‘ headquarters in Zakroczym, Poland, which serves as the company’s distribution network across Poland, the Baltic states and Ukraine, was the first to receive the Skypod system. 

The warehouse in Zakroczym hosts 200 autonomous robots and 60,000 storage containers and completed testing in December 2024. 

During the project’s construction, ILS agreed to implement the Skypod system across its entire portfolio, with work due to be carried out throughout 2026. ILS hosts 12 locations in Eastern Europe, supplying companies across the automotive, food, and chemical industries.

The projects are part of the growth plans of vehicle parts distributor Inter Cars, ILS' parent company, and are designed to boost the firm’s market share and talent acquisition. 

StrongPoint

StrongPoint has been selected by an unnamed but said to be leading UK-based retailer and distributor of household products in the UK and European markets, to design and install its first AutoStore solution and provide warehouse fit out services.  

The latter will be provided by StrongPoint UK’s shopfitting unit. The value of the combined contract is approximately 15 Million NOK and both projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. 

“We are excited to announce another AutoStore project in the UK. This win, which brings together two solutions and services provided by StrongPoint UK, demonstrates the power of offering a broader portfolio and integrated solutions to our customers. It enables us to compete for larger, more complex projects and to be more relevant to our customers, a combination that played a key role in securing this contract,” says Jacob Tveraabak, StrongPoint CEO. 

Uber Eats and Deliverect

Deliverect, which connects delivery apps and PoS systems for restaurants to streamline order management. reports that it is now integrated with Uber Direct in Ireland.

In a LinkedIn post, the company said: “Building on our successful partnership in the UK, this expansion brings the power of Uber Direct to restaurants and retailers across Ireland, enabling them to offer on-demand delivery directly from their Deliverect platform.”

“How people shop and buy food has changed. We’re delighted to be expanding Uber Direct's partnership with Deliverect and bringing our work together to Ireland, so that even more businesses across the country can get their products directly into the hands of their customers seamlessly,” commented Leanne Purcell , General Manager at Uber Eats Ireland.

With this integration, businesses in Ireland can manage direct orders and deliveries in one place, and offer on demand delivery via Uber’s network.

THG

THG, an e-commerce group headquartered in Manchester, UK, operating through two consumer businesses, THG Beauty and THG Nutrition, is this month launching Checkout by THG Fulfil.

According to the company’s website: “At the solution’s core is a frictionless checkout that converts, with the option to layer on trusted courier integrations and world class fulfilment as your brand grows giving you flexibility to choose checkout alone, or checkout with couriers, or the full checkout, couriers and fulfilment solution.”

“With Checkout by THG Fulfil, you can simplify international selling, reduce operational headaches, and deliver the seamless customer experience your brand deserves. Whether it’s reaching new markets, handling payments with ease, or ensuring fast, reliable delivery, we’ve built a platform that makes global growth simple.”

In a LinkedIn post, John Gallemore, President at THG Ingenuity, said: “For over 20 years, we’ve built and scaled our own checkout technology to power global brands. We had to solve what others couldn’t: Merchant of Record across borders; Complex tax and duty calculations; Localised payments in 200 markets; Compliance at scale.”

He added: “Now, we’re opening that capability to the world. The same technology that’s enabled us to grow internationally is about to become available to every brand. This is more than a checkout. It’s the foundation for global e-commerce at scale.”

Superdry

Superdry reports implementation of Cegid Retail Store Excellence, an AI powered task management platform.

With stores across the UK, Europe and the US, Superdry’s expanding presence had outgrown its previous legacy system, which had become difficult to customise, administer and scale. The retailer says it was after a modern, intuitive solution that could support real-time communication, streamline operational execution and empower store teams, while reducing admin and overhead.

"With an ever growing demand on head office teams’ workload, Cegid Retail Store Excellence has saved countless hours and gives us peace of mind that our retail teams have everything they need to operate efficiently, commercially, and safely to meet brand expectations and objectives" says Liz Packe, Global Corporate Communications Manager at Superdry. 

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's is testing out facial recognition technology in its stores in a bid to tackle an increase in shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and violence.

It has kicked off an eight-week trial in two stores. "The retail sector is at a crossroads, facing rising abuse, anti-social behaviour and violence," says Sainsbury's Chief Executive Simon Roberts. "We must put safety first."

The UK grocery giant is working with Facewatch on the initiative and is now using the technology at a store in London and another in Bath ahead of a potential nationwide roll-out.

Madeleine Stone, Senior Advocacy Officer at BigBrotherWatch, comments: "Sainsbury's decision to trial Orwellian facial recognition technology in its stores is deeply disproportionate and chilling. It should abandon this trial and the government must urgently step in to prevent the unchecked spread of this invasive technology."

Best Buy and Uber Eats

Uber Technologies has announced a partnership with Best Buy that brings consumer electronics from more than 800 stores in the US to the Uber Eats platform.

Best Buy customers can now order various electronics, appliances, and tech essentials on Uber Eats for delivery to their doorsteps.

“Consumers today expect everything from groceries to gadgets to arrive at their doorsteps quickly and reliably,” says Hashim Amin, Head of Grocery & Retail for North America at Uber.

“With this partnership, we are making it easier than ever for customers to access the latest technology, whether it’s a necessity or something fun. We’re thrilled to help bring Best Buy’s trusted assortment into the on-demand economy.”

LK Bennett

Ometria has hooked LK Bennett as a customer.

In a LinkedIn post, it said: “A brand with a uniquely British ethos (yet loved the world over), LK Bennett is renowned for vibrant prints, refined silhouettes, and expert craftsmanship, frequently spotted at glamorous events from Royal Ascot to Wimbledon and beyond.”

“It was seeking a solution that would: Unlock deeper customer understanding; Enable sophisticated personalisation at scale; Empower their team with intuitive tech. Ometria emerged as the clear choice for their needs.”

A spokesperson for the LK Bennett Digital Team said: "Creating exceptional customer experiences begins with having a comprehensive understanding of your data, alongside the ability to easily use it to personalise every touchpoint. Ometria delivers on both fronts.”

“We were particularly impressed by the platform’s intuitive usability and the deep retail expertise of the Ometria team. We know they're the right partner to power our ongoing growth, and we're excited for what's to come as we explore new and innovative ways to engage our customers."

Boots

With Quantcast as its in-house programmatic partner, Boots Online Doctor recently ran a campaign to promote its holistic weight loss support service, which includes one-to-one coaching, a podcast, and app-based tools.

The challenge was to reach a niche, health conscious audience at scale, without relying on third-party cookies or compromising consumer privacy.

The strategy combined intent-based targeting from real-time browsing signals, contextual placements in wellness content, and cookieless activation at scale. Sequenced messaging across formats meant that every touchpoint reinforced the brand’s message with the aim of building deeper engagement.

CTV quickly emerged as the breakout channel. Viewers watched ads through to completion over 97% of the time, with brand lift reaching nearly 70% among 40-49-year-olds. These results were powered by an omnichannel approach spanning display, online video (OLV), and CTV, and the ability to make real-time optimisations.

Asos

TrusTrace has announced a partnership with Asos that aims to enhance the fast fashion online retailer’s supply chain transparency and resilience, strengthen risk management, and support compliance across its global value chain.

As part of its Fashion with Integrity strategy, Asos says it is investing in robust traceability infrastructure to gain real-time visibility into its supply chain, down to farm level (Tier 5).

By integrating TrusTrace’s AI enhanced platform, it is looking to streamline operations across risk, compliance, and impact management, ensuring timely access to trusted data that enables proactive decision-making, due diligence and compliance.

“Our partnership with TrusTrace is a key milestone in our updated Fashion with Integrity programme,” says Elena Martínez Ortiz, EVP of Product at Asos. “TrusTrace enables us to improve product traceability, helping us meet compliance standards, understand and address risks, and boost resilience in our supply chain by supporting our suppliers to implement improvements.”

InPost Group

Bloq.it, a provider of smart locker networks technology in Europe, has announced a partnership with InPost Group, a logistics provider for the e-commerce industry.

The tie up involves a multi-year commitment to deploy more than 20,000 Bloq.it locker units across Europe, which includes a small minority investment from InPost.

At the centre of the agreement is NEXT, Bloq.it’s flagship off-grid locker unit. Powered by batteries, this operates fully independent of the power grid or solar panels, with the company claiming that this makes it possible to install lockers in thousands of previously inaccessible locations.

The first NEXT lockers for InPost were installed in France and the UK in July, with expansion to Italy, Portugal, and Spain planned before the end of 2025. Over the next five years, the roll-out will accelerate across InPost’s key European markets.

Snappy Shopper

Snappy Shopper says it has become the first UK-based quick commerce platform to fully integrate with Google Shopping via the Google Merchant Center.

Its retailers now have the opportunity to appear in top Google results, showcasing live product listings, real-time pricing and delivery within the hour.

“This is a game-changer for local retail,” says Snappy Shopper CEO Mike Callachan. “Integrating with Google means we’re helping local stores stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the biggest online players, capturing customers at the exact moment they are ready to buy.”

The new integration with Google allows retailers to showcase their stores and stock across Google platforms including Search and Maps. This aims to enhance visibility through free listing, richer store profiles and drive real-time customers in the purchasing mindset straight to Snappy Shopper stores.

Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel has chosen TruRating as its customer insights partner.

In a LinkedIn post, TruRating said: "We’re proud to be working with Cracker Barrel - both through their exciting new “All the More” campaign and in their ongoing commitment to keep the guest voice at the centre of every decision."

"As their customer insights partner, we help Cracker Barrel gather real-time feedback across stores and food orders, giving them a deeper understanding of how guests feel and ensuring every update reflects what matters most. It’s inspiring to see such an iconic brand embrace both tradition and innovation - and we’re delighted to support their journey in bringing even more meaningful experiences to life."

Kenneth Cole Productions

Fashion brand Kenneth Cole Productions has deployed Selectika AI technology across its online store.

In a LinkedIn post, Selectika AI said: "We are proud to team up with the one and only Kenneth Cole Productions - a brand with a rich history of pushing boundaries in both fashion and social advocacy. Kenneth Cole’s journey began with a bold move: selling shoes from a trailer parked on the streets of New York City."

It added: "With our visual AI recommendation technology, we’re bringing that same spirit of innovation to their online store. It will help customers navigate vast catalogues by offering personal and relevant recommendations, boosting engagement and making it easier to discover what they love.”

“A sincere thank you to the talented people who led this initiative: on Kenneth Cole’s side, Mashbir and Girit Interactive on our side, Moshe Harush and Nuphar Gabrieli and the Selectika AI team for their dedicated efforts."

Radley

Radley is rolling out Ometria's customer data and experience platform.

"For over 25 years, Radley has been setting the standard for luxurious British handbags and accessories, combining timeless design with exceptional craftsmanship. Now, as they continue to grow, Radley has chosen Ometria to power their next chapter: unifying customer data, unlocking richer insights, and delivering even more personalised experiences," says Rebecca Taylor, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Ometria.

James Fernie, Global DTC Director at Radley, says: "With Ometria's CDP, we can finally bring all our customer data into one place, giving us a unified view of every individual whether they shop online, in-store, or at one of our outlets.”

“This clarity will help us uncover rich insights into customer preferences, behaviours, and journeys. Armed with this knowledge, alongside Ometria's AI powered predictive capabilities, we can deliver more personalised experiences, deepen relationships, and better serve our loyal customers."