Kingfisher enlists Google Cloud for AI tech powered shopping push across UK and Europe

Kingfisher and Google Cloud have announced a multi-year partnership that aims to improve the online shopping experience for the former’s customers using agentic AI.

Kingfisher says it is looking to move beyond traditional keyword search on its sites, including B&Q, Castorama France and Poland, and Brico Dépôt France, and toward enabling proactive, AI driven shopping assistants.

The deal focuses on two key areas: Kingfisher is upgrading to Vertex AI Search for Commerce; the partnership with Google Cloud will help it unlock its extensive product and data catalogues to build Al shopping agents.

Thierry Garnier, CEO at Kingfisher, says: “Through this partnership with Google Cloud, we are enabling our customers to search for and buy home improvement products with AI, delivering a fully personalised and easy shopping experience.”

“These investments put Kingfisher at the forefront of AI powered shopping, delivering meaningful innovation as part of our expanding digital ecosystem, and helping us to meet rapidly evolving customer needs.”

Matt Renner, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Google Cloud, says: “Kingfisher is setting a new standard for how retailers can use innovative cloud solutions to solve complex customer problems. By integrating Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and preparing its data for an agentic future, they are creating truly helpful, conversational shopping experiences. We are proud to be a part of Kingfisher’s digital transformation across the UK and Europe.”

2026 RTIH Innovation Awards

AI will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.

Check out our 2025 winners here.

Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”

“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”

He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”

Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.