Ikea thinks small and SmartShop turns ten: presenting the retail technology week in numbers

Do you like numbers? Do you like retail tech news? Then this is the article for you. Including Sainsbury's, TikTok Shop, Royal Mail, Tesco, Quince, VenHub Global, ZyG, Ingka Group, InXpress, Whole Foods Market, Zalando, and the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.

1...TikTok Shop has launched a Fine Art category, marking the first time original art has been sold directly through the platform.

To launch this, it has hosted its first ever LIVE fine art sale featuring artist, Sophie Tea. During the interactive session, Tea debuted a 20-piece collection of original oil paintings priced at £2,800 each, while completing one painting live on the platform.

Marco Spaducci, Head of Home & Living at TikTok Shop UK, says: "TikTok Shop is built on discovery commerce - where community, creativity and purchase come together seamlessly.”

“The launch of our Fine Art category expands the platform into high value, collectable goods, demonstrating how discovery commerce can support premium products and build trust with both creators and audiences. We’re proud to host our first ever LIVE fine art sale with Sophie Tea, whose direct-to-community approach reflects the evolving creator economy and how artists can engage audeinces in new ways.” 

8...The eighth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now open for entries.

The awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world. Our latest winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.

FAQs 👉 here.

Categories and entry forms 👉 here.

Key dates for 2026

Friday, 20th February: Awards open for entries

Friday, 2nd October: Awards entry deadline 

Tuesday, 6th October: 2026 finalists revealed

Wednesday, 7th October - 20th October: Judging days

Wednesday, 4th November: Winners announced at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London

AU$750 million...Amazon Australia has announced plans to invest more than AU$750 million building a new robotics fulfillment centre capable of processing over 125 million packages per year.

Targeted for completion in 2028, the site in Brisbane, Queensland will cover 150,000 square metres across four levels, with a floor size equivalent to 120 Olympic swimming pools.

It will have the capacity to house up to 15 million of the smaller items sold on Amazon.com.au such as pantry staples, beauty products, electronics and toys. When operating at full capacity, the site will have the ability to process over 125 million packages per year.

“People are at the heart of our operations, and by combining innovative robotics technology with skilled local talent in this state-of-the-art site, we’re building a workplace where people and technology work hand in hand to deliver for our customers,” says Wayne Angus, Amazon Australia’s Director of Operations. “This investment demonstrates our commitment to Queensland customers and our confidence in the state’s growing economy.”

£18 billion...Retail spending for Mother’s Day is forecast to reach £18 billion in 2026 (representing 15% growth year on year) according to research from Savvy. This was carried out across a representative sample of 1,000 UK shoppers.

“65% of shoppers expect to celebrate Mother’s Day in 2026, rising sharply to 88% among households with children. This makes the occasion one of the most widely celebrated gifting events in the retail calendar - after Christmas and Easter,” says Savvy’s Insight Director, Alastair Lockhart. 

“A notable trend of recent years has been the continued shift towards celebrating at home. Our research shows seven in 10 shoppers expected to have a meal at home to celebrate Mother’s Day this year - driven by rising prices of eating and drinking out. Continued innovation in Mother’s Day meal deal offers from retailers is also driving the trend.” 

20...Ingka Group, the largest Ikea retailer, has announced the next phase of expansion of its new smaller stores, with the aim of becoming more accessible to people in smaller cities and suburbs. The plans is to open 20 new locations within the coming six months to complement the traditional Ikea locations.

In France, Ikea will open its first 2,000 m² compact store in Limoges by the summer, with additional stores planned in other parts of the country. Coimbra will become the first city in Portugal to welcome the new format, with a location spanning more than 4,000 m², while Poland is set to open its second store by the end of the year in the city of Białystok.

Juvencio Maeztu, CEO at Ingka Group, Ikea, says: “The physical store remains at the centre of our omnichannel business - it plays a key role in our fulfilment network and gives people more reasons to interact with us.”

“New smaller stores are a complement to our traditional stores and part of a broader commitment to optimising store space, advancing digital capabilities, and continuing the development of services. Our ambition is to come closer to customers with an affordable home furnishing range and a selected food offer, and to respond faster to what people want and where they want it.”

$58 million...ZyG has secured $58 million in a seed funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, Viola Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Disruptive AI, Emerge, Access Industries, Stardom Ventures, and Jibe Ventures also participated.

The company’s agentic operating system validates demand, executes growth, and finances scale for direct-to-consumer brands.

“Today, product innovators are set up to fail. You can build an incredible product and website, but still have no viable path to becoming a brand that reaches $100 million+ in annual sales. Most DTC products stall because founders are forced to master growth marketing, data science, and capital strategy, all at once. That’s unrealistic,” says Omer Kaplan, Co-Founder and CEO at ZyG.

“We exist to change that equation. We’re building a new partnership model that lets founders focus on what they do best - creating amazing products - while our data, technology, AI agents, and financing, power the product to scale.” 

“It is very clear what product innovators and DTC brands don’t need: more software, more agencies, or higher headcount. What ZyG is offering is an operating system that executes every aspect of growth, allowing partners to focus on product innovation while preserving their equity.”  

3...Grubhub and Dexa have announced a three-month pilot involving ​food delivery services via drones to customers in Green Brook, ‌New Jersey.

In a LinkedIn post, Grubhub said: “This marks the first time commercial food delivery by drone will be available in the state and our first time offering drone delivery, thanks to our fully integrated programme with Dexa (Drone Express), launching 18th March at Wonder's Green Brook location.”

Customers within 2.5 miles will have the option to select drone delivery at no additional cost, enabled by Dexa’s DE‑2020 aircraft, one of only a handful of FAA Part 135 Air Carrier certified drone systems operating in the US.

“This initiative represents an important step toward advancing safe, efficient, and scalable last mile logistics,” Grubhub added.

6...Royal Mail has launched a new parcel locker trial at selected Tesco stores across the UK, enabling people to collect, send and return parcels 24/7.

The six-month trial will see lockers installed outside Tesco stores, enabling customers to access them at any time. The first of these are now live at stores in: Ashby-de-la-Zouch; Barrow; Burnham-on-Sea; Bury; Cullompton; Horwich; March; and Preston.

Royal Mail lockers feature label printing, with the aim of making the process convenient for customers who do not have access to a printer. To use them, people need to pay for postage online and get a QR code or request a QR code if they are returning a purchase.

Royal Mail now has 25,000 locations where customers can drop off and collect parcels, including 2,600 lockers, 11,500 Post Office branches, 8,000 Royal Mail Shop outlets, 1,200 Royal Mail Customer Service Points and 1,400 parcel postboxes. The company also delivers to and collects from every address across the UK.

$500 million...Quince has announced a $500 million Series E funding round led by ICONIQ, with participation from Basis Set Ventures, Wellington Management, Wndrco, Marcy Venture Partners, Ballie Gifford, Notable Capital and DST Global.

This gives it a post-money valuation of $10.1 billion and will support the growth and global expansion of Quince's AI powered proprietary premium products manufacturer-to-consumer (M2C) operating system.

"For decades, consumers have been conditioned to equate higher prices with higher quality," says Matt Lippert, Chief Commercial Officer at Quince. "We play in categories where quality is tangible and measurable to disprove that assumption. The model is simple: design a different system that eliminates the waste consumers have traditionally paid for in retail.”

“That starts with real care around quality, from the materials we source all the way through how products are made, while removing excess production, unnecessary intermediaries, and inventory risk. When those inefficiencies come out of the system, people experience the benefits through more consistent quality and more accessible pricing. Over time that creates trust, and increasingly customers come to Quince first when they're looking for something because they know what they're going to get."

10...Sainsbury's SmartShop solution notched up a milestone this week. The in-store shopping handset and mobile app, which lets customers scan as they go, meaning they can skip checkout queues, turned ten.

In a LinkedIn post, Shona McGuire, Head of Product (Connected Store) at Sainsbury’s Digital, Tech and Data, said: “This week our team is celebrating 10 years of SmartShop. I’m taking a moment to reflect and thank everyone who has played a part in this leading scan and go proposition over the past 10+ years. So many talented people have defined the product it is today, and the one we continue to build for tomorrow.

She added: “On a personal note, this milestone means a lot. I was fortunate to work on the initial implementation of SmartShop into 10 stores back in 2016, and it’s amazing how it’s grown to be a core shopping experience for many Sainsbury’s customers today. Here’s to the passion, innovation and teamwork that will continue to shape this in-store shopping companion of the future.”

100,000...InXpress, an international logistics solutions firm, reports a milestone after completing over 100,000 specialist delivery loads through its partnership with TEG, a FinTech enabled platform serving transport and logistics.

InXpress observes that rapid global e-commerce growth is fundamentally changing customer expectations - driving demand for same-day delivery, white glove services, and bespoke urgent shipments that traditional franchise networks can’t provide.

"We were at risk of losing customers who needed same-day delivery, white glove handling, or urgent shipments that our network couldn't provide," says Jon White, Chief Commercial Officer EMEA at InXpress.

“This partnership combines our customer relationships and local presence with TEG’s carrier network and technology. Together, we’re enabling same-day, white-glove and urgent services”

Through TEG's end-to-end platform, InXpress franchisees across 450 offices in 14 countries gained access to specialist carrier networks without building new infrastructure, enabling them to compete for business previously beyond their reach.

According to those involved, through the platform InXpress franchisees have won contracts with e-commerce businesses and retailers demanding premium services.

6...VenHub Global reports that it has agreements with multiple independent operators for the deployment of six new Smart Store locations across the Las Vegas metropolitan area. These will be installed throughout the year.

The stores operate 24 hours a day without on-site staff and combine robotics, AI driven inventory management, and mobile first checkout. The upcoming Las Vegas deployments will be located in high traffic, easily accessible environments and will feature a curated mix of everyday essentials, snacks, beverages, and travel friendly products tailored to local demand.

“Retail is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history,” says Shahan Ohanessian, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at VenHub. “Consumers expect convenience, speed, and access at all hours. Unlike traditional retail infrastructure which has never been able to address this demand, our stores are built to solve this problem.”

“Our Smart Stores deliver a new kind of retail platform that operates continuously, adapts to demand, and removes many of the operational constraints that have limited traditional retail for decades.”

Ohanessian adds: “Las Vegas is the perfect environment to showcase the benefits autonomous retail can deliver to operators and consumers. It is a city that operates around the clock and serves millions of travelers every year. Expanding in Las Vegas will allow us to continue demonstrating how our Smart Stores are meeting real-world demand while providing operators with a reliable, modern retail platform.”

6...Whole Foods Market is gearing up to open six new stores in the UK over the next few months. In March 2025, the Amazon owned natural and organic foods retailer went live with its first UK location in more than a decade with its 21,000 square foot store on King’s Road in London.

The newest ones will open across Angel, Liverpool Street, Notting Hill Gate, Wood Wharf (Canary Wharf), Monument and St. James’s neighbourhoods, doubling Whole Foods Market's UK store portfolio to 12.

Opening dates for each location are as follows:

·       Angel, The Mall, 359 Upper Street, The Angel, London N1 0PD, 2nd April

·       Liverpool Street, Unit 4b-5, Blomfield Street, London EC2M 7BD, 23rd April

·       Notting Hill Gate, 66-74 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3HT, 14th May

·       Wood Wharf, 4 Water Street, Wood Wharf, London, E14 5GX, 28th May

·       Monument, Unit 1, 20 Gracechurch Street London EC3V 0BG, 4th June

·       St. James, 57 Victoria Street, London SW1P 2HX, 11th June

€11.3 billion...Zalando's revenue growth accelerated strongly in FY2025, with full-year revenue rising 16.8% to €11.3 billion, driven by the acquisition of fellow German online fashion retailer ABOUT YOU, which was completed in July, as well as robust underlying performance across its lifestyle categories.

The business also delivered strong profits, with its adjusted EBIT reaching €590.7 million, landing at the upper end of its previous €550–600 million guidance range. Investors responded positively to the results, with Zalando's share price rising c.7% in early Thursday morning trade.

Zalando has issued FY2026 guidance of 12-17% in revenue growth and €660-740 million in adjusted EBIT, reflecting confidence in the group's financial trajectory. Looking further ahead, the group expects the ABOUT YOU deal to add about €100 million of extra profit each year thanks to operational efficiencies, with that result now targeted to be reached by 2027, a year earlier than originally planned.

Business-to-consumer (B2C) revenue rose 16.8%, as Zalando continued to broaden and elevate its lifestyle proposition across sports, kids and family, beauty and designer categories, supported by rich assortments and more personalised customer experiences. The addition of H&M Group brands & Other Stories and Arket via its marketplace model enhanced its premium credentials, reinforcing Zalando's differentiated positioning and its appeal to a more affluent, fashion conscious consumer.

The retailer also expanded its geographic footprint by launching in Portugal and Greece in 2025 Q4. Zalando also secured a five-year strategic partnership with the German Football Association, making it a main partner of the men’s, women's and youth national teams, providing a significant boost to its sports category ambitions.

Sharon Iles, Senior Apparel Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "Technology continued to differentiate the retailer, as Zalando's multi-app strategy which spans Zalando, ABOUT YOU and Lounge by Zalando has become a significant growth driver, enabling the group to serve distinct consumer segments from premium brand experiences to deal-focused bargain hunting. Zalando has also rolled out an AI driven discovery feed designed to improve product discovery and deliver more personalised customer experiences, supporting higher engagement and conversion."

Business-to-business (B2B) revenue grew 14.6% to €1.1 billion, driven by a strong momentum in ZEOS Fulfilment, where its multi-channel fulfilment offering served 24markets across 18 channels. Zalando also significantly expanded its B2B reach through major new partnerships.

Its ZEOS collaboration with Marks & Spencer was extended to cover the brand's entire continental European e-commerce business. SCAYLE, the enterprise shop system brought into the group via the ABOUT YOU acquisition, signed a landmark partnership with US brand Levi’s to fulfil online orders in the US, Canada and Europe, demonstrating its ability to serve brands at scale.

64%...Love Food Hate Waste research shows that 64% of people in the UK agree that some food waste at home is inevitable and that there’s little they can do to avoid it.

When asked why, the key reasons for most relate to food spoilage and expiration dates, the complexity and unpredictability of daily life, and issues with cooking and portion control. The survey also showed that 80% of people believe they waste less food than the national average.

Love Food Hate Waste's Food Waste Action Week is setting the nation a five-day challenge to enjoy the unexpected benefits that making the most of the food you buy can bring.

This year, the campaign will coincide with the roll out of Simpler Recycling in England. From 31st March, approximately four in five homes in England will be able to have food waste collected on a weekly basis and recycled into organic material, to help produce electricity and biomethane gas.

By the end of Food Waste Action Week, an average household of four will have already thrown away £200 worth of food they could have eaten. Every year, 4.4 million tonnes of edible food is thrown away from UK homes, generating 16 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

On average, a person in the UK wastes food equivalent to three meals per week. What we waste as a nation per year would fill Wembley Stadiums eight times over and the Royal Albert Hall 88 times.

70% and 73%...Opportunities for young people in retail risk being narrowed if poor implementation of reforms aimed at strengthening worker security end up reducing the availability of flexible, entry level roles, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned.

The Employment Rights Act introduces a right for workers on zero hours and low hours contracts to request guaranteed working hours.

But according to BRC research, 70% of Gen Z workers (18-29) say flexibility at work is important to them, rising to 73% among those working part-time. Far from being a loophole or poor practice, flexible retail roles are actively chosen by people balancing study and other commitments, caring responsibilities or wanting to gain early work experience, the BRC argues.

The warning comes as the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts unemployment to reach 5.3% this year. With youth unemployment an ‘existential crisis’, according to Alan Milburn, Chair of the Independent Review into Youth and Work, at 16.1% among 16-24 year olds - its highest level in more than a decade - entry routes into work matter more than ever, particularly for young people.

Around 780,000 retail jobs are held by 16-25-year-olds, accounting for 28% of the industry’s workforce and making retail the UK’s largest gateway into work. The Employment Rights Act, which received royal assent last December, aims to improve job security and living standards. At the same time, however, the retail industry’s concern lies in how the legislation will be implemented.

14% of Brits are now using AI agents to interact with their favourite brands and buy products. That figure is expected to almost triple to 37% by year-end. But consumers aren’t turning to AI to replace brands. Instead, they’re embracing it to make brand experiences faster, smarter, and more personal and marketers are a core part of that. 

Research from Braze, a customer engagement platform, shows AI agents are rapidly becoming a key part of shoppers' everyday lives. UK consumers (2,000 people were surveyed for this) say they are making the jump to improve their experience as follows:

• Access to better deals: 40%

• Easier to discover new brands and products: 31%

• Enhanced privacy and data protection: 26%

• More personalised experiences: 24%

• Less decision-making: 20%