Shake up at Marks and Spencer: RTIH's most read retail technology articles from last week
Check out our most clicked retail technology articles from last week, including Breezm, NRF 2026, Vista Technology Support, M&S, Tesco, Auror, Iceland Retail Media, STRATACACHE, Pattern Group, SPAR ICS - Information & Communication Services, and the RTIH AI in Retail Awards.
Seoul founded eyewear brand Breezm launches AI powered shopping app across USA
Breezm, a South Korean founded specialist in custom fit eyewear, has launched nationwide in the United States with its iPhone app, Breezm: Eyewear Made for You.
Users can:
Complete a guided facial scan with their phone to capture precise measurements that inform how each frame is designed to fit.
Receive personalised recommendations through Breezm’s AI Fit Finder, which analyses facial structure and proportions to identify frame styles optimised for balance, comfort, and lightweight wearability.
Customise more than 80 frame styles, selecting from a range of colours, such as Concrete Gray, Leather Brown, and Ruby Red, and premium titanium finishes.
Order custom fit eyeglasses, made on demand with Breezm’s in-house 3D printing and laser cutting process, delivered directly to their door.
NRF 2026 review: AI grabs the spotlight as retail technology steps into its next chapter
So says Vista Technology Support's James Pepper.
First Amazon Now quick commerce site goes live in the UK following launches in India and UAE
Amazon reports the launch of QLD1 - the first Amazon Now on demand delivery site in the UK.
Amazon Now lets customers purchase thousands of everyday essentials, such as groceries and personal care items, that will be delivered within minutes. In India, the service last year brought ten-minute delivery to Mumbai following launches in Bengaluru and Delhi, with 100+ micro-fulfilment centres operational.
In a LinkedIn post, Elisa Michelin Salomon, Ops Lead, EU Quick Commerce, said: "What started in May ‘25 as a few people around a table in Bangalore, discussing how we could learn from India and the UAE and bring quick commerce to Europe, has now become a live service for London customers - with fresh groceries and everyday essentials delivered in as fast as 30 minutes in Southwark area."
She added: "Six month ago, when we started this journey, I would never have imagined we could deliver a brand new service at this speed. This wasn’t just a site launch - it meant taking on the huge responsibility of standing up an entirely new network, shaping new operations, and enabling a new last mile delivery model from the ground up."
"From that initial small group, the journey grew into a collaboration across 57 partner teams, all aligned to make this possible. Proud of what we’ve built together - and just getting started."
Josie Smith exits as M&S tech executive shake up continues following cyber attack
Josie Smith is stepping down as Marks and Spencer's Chief Technology Officer nine months after a major cyber attack hit the retailer hard.
The departure of Smith, who only joined M&S 18 months ago, was disclosed internally this week in a memo.
She previously worked at BT Group and Vodafone and will be replaced by Darren Gibson, the fashion, home and beauty Technology Transformation Director. This comes four months after Rachel Higham, M&S's Chief Digital and Technology Officer, also headed for the exit.
Conducted by a group called Scattered Spider, the aforementioned cyber attack brought the retailer’s online operations to a halt and resulted in empty shelves in stores..
A former WPP and BT Group executive, Higham was appointed by M&S in 2014. In an internal memo, it said she was "stepping back from her role…Rachel has been a steady hand and calm head at an extraordinary time for the business, and we wish her well for the future.”
Many e-commerce brands now deploying AI powered shopping agents, Pattern research
The company’s study, which involves a survey of 1,000 senior business leaders across the US, UK, Germany, and the UAE, finds that 76% of e-commerce organisations have reduced customer acquisition costs as consumers increasingly rely on AI driven tools to discover and purchase products. One in three have already deployed AI powered shopping agents.
“AI agents aren’t a future interface - they’re a new operating layer for commerce,” says Ryan Byrd, Chief Technology Officer at Pattern. “Brands that treat agentic AI like just another marketing channel will fall behind. This shift rewards accuracy, availability, and trust, favouring brands built on clean data, real-time operations, and real customer value.”
Presenting the star studded judging panel for the inaugural RTIH AI in Retail Awards
RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, sponsored by VenHub Global, 3D Cloud, EdTech Innovation Hub, and Retail Technology Show 2026.
Check out our 2026 finalists here.
The judging panel for the RTIH AI in Retail Awards includes representatives from the likes of Amazon, C&C Group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, NCC Group, Holland & Barrett, PoundFun, Boots, JD Sports Fashion, and IGD.
We have brought together a broad spectrum of independent experts, who have experience and insight into different aspects of the retail technology industry.
Tesco preps ten week trial of Auror retail crime reporting platform across grocery giant's 40 stores
Tesco will this week start testing out a new crime reporting platform across 40 of its stores.
The ten-week trial will be conducted across Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, with the aim of driving down retail crime, protecting colleagues and increasing collaboration with the police and the wider retail industry.
The Auror platform, which is already used by several retailers and UK police forces, aims to make it easier and quicker for colleagues to report security incidents. By bringing all the data and information into a single source, this simplifies the process for retailers and the police to build, manage, track, and resolve cases faster.
STRATACACHE powers in-store retail media push for Iceland and The Food Warehouse
Iceland Retail Media, a retail media network operated through Iceland and The Food Warehouse, is partnering with STRATACACHE to provide in-store digital signage, CMS and analytic sensor technology across 766 locations.
The tie up makes Iceland and The Food Warehouse the first European retailer to employ STRATACACHE’s Walkbase solution for precise audience attribution. The deployment of the camera free sensor solution means that the Iceland Retail Media Network will be able to accurately confirm real-time in-store advertisements impressions without a biometric indicator and fully aligned to consumer privacy best practices.
“In retail media, it’s not enough to simply run ads in-store, you have to prove impressions and conversions. The ability to measure and validate shopper impressions is what transforms retail media from guesswork into a unique, performance driven channel that delivers real value for brands and retailers,” says Chris Riegel, Founder and CEO at STRATACACHE.
“Our technology means that not only will the Iceland Retail Media team be able to accurately report performance to their brand partners but that they will also be able to gain crucial in-store insights to help serve their advertisers and customers better.”
Georgia Jackson moves on up at Marks and Spencer as retailer increases focus on AI products
Georgia Jackson has been promoted to Head of Product - AI at Marks & Spencer.
In a LinkedIn post, Jackson said: "Proud of the team and excited to deliver AI products that support how M&S operates and serves our customers."
She has been with the UK retail giant for almost four years, and previously served as AI Accelerator Lead. Prior to that, Jackson worked at Accenture.
Nina Dedić opts to leave IT specialist SPAR ICS following focus on GenAI and robotics initiatives
Nina Dedić has left SPAR ICS - Information & Communication Services, a company that is part of the SPAR Austria group and responsible for IT for SPAR, INTERSPAR, Hervis and SES (Spar European Shopping Centers).
In a LinkedIn post, Dedić, who served as Product Lead GenAI and did not reveal her next job, said: "After an incredible journey, I’m excited to share that I’ll be moving on to new career adventures. I’m truly grateful to have had the opportunity to lead the GenAI and robotics initiatives for SPAR Österreich, gain invaluable experience, and learn so much along the way."
"I look forward to carrying these lessons into the next chapter and continuing to explore the exciting world of AI, robotics and digital innovation. Thank you to everyone who made this career journey so fulfilling,"
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