Including Dunelm, Toolstation, Bodycare: 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards physical retail finalists announced
We’re pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Bricks and Mortar Retail category. We received a record number of entries this year and many fantastic examples of technology excellence driving transformative change across the global retail sector.
Check out a rundown of our 2026 shortlists and finalists here.
Congratulations to all those who made it through the initial submission process! It’s now over to our star studded judging panel who will decide the winners to be announced at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London.
The event will be held on Wednesday, 4th November and consist of a drinks reception, three course meal, awards ceremony presided over by award winning stand-up comedian, presenter, actor and broadcaster, Aurie Styla, and after party until 1am.
Click here to book your place at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 4th November.
Our 2026 Bricks and Mortar Retail finalists as follows:
Shortlist:
Bodycare and PMC
Bought out of administration in 2025, Bodycare has worked with PMC on an innovation driven store opening programme to bring its affordable health and beauty offering back to the high street, aiming to open 25 UK stores in 2026 and 200 by 2031.
Dunelm and Enactor
Dunelm has turned self-checkout from a small idea in 2023 into a core part of its stores, with assisted self-service now 85% rolled out across the estate. Instead of an off the shelf SCO, Dunelm built its own on the Enactor platform, running the same software as its tills.
Dunelm's own teams use the Enactor Toolkit to design and change the journey, adding real-time colleague headset alerts, a pin audio prompt and layouts that flex by store size.
Paul Smith and Sitoo
Paul Smith has transformed the role of technology in its physical stores with Sitoo’s Unified Commerce Platform, anchored by PoS. Rolled out across 30+ stores in eight countries in three months, the platform gives associates greater freedom to serve customers anywhere in the store using mPoS.
Pharma&Go and Sensei
Pharma&GO turns a 70 m² store in Lisbon into a health shop that never closes. Opposite Hospital CUF Descobertas, it is 100% autonomous and open 24/7: customers check in with a bank card, pick up what they need and walk out, with payment charged automatically. There are no checkouts, no queues and no staff on site.
Toolstation and eLocker
Toolstation has reimagined Click and Collect at its Toolstation GO Battersea store through a new 24/7 smart locker service developed with eLocker.
Waitrose and SOLUM
Waitrose and SOLUM are delivering a UK wide digital shelf transformation using Newton Pro electronic shelf labels. Following pilots, the programme has expanded to more than 200 stores and over three million labels.
