Same-day delivery adoption hits and misses: 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 Gophr, GoWish, Snapchat, HyperFinity, VoCoVo, Co-op, Square, Lowe's, Tortilla, Deliveroo, Amazon, EE, Deliverect, Papa John's, Ulta Beauty, Townhouse, Zalando, Nomagic, and Loxa.
45 million...Danish wishlist app and social shopping specialist GoWish, which recently hit nine million registered American users, reports record breaking results with Snapchat and its First Snap ad format in the US.
Through a targeted campaign harnessing First Snap, the company reached more than 45 million unique users in the country during one day and generated some of the best results this placement can deliver, according to a newly published Success Story by Snap.
The breakthrough came through a collaboration with American content creator Kouvr on Snapchat, where GoWish tapped First Snap, where a sponsored video is placed directly in users’ chat feeds, which according to Snap resulted in a 111% increase in profile views and boosted GoWish’s follower count by 21%.
“We are in the process of cracking the code in the US market, and this is happening in part by investing in new advertising formats and innovative collaborations with content creators. By using First Snap in the US, we were able to simultaneously create impact and brand authority among more than 45 million people, and that kind of exposure gives us the momentum to bridge the gap between broad awareness and concrete conversions - which is often what many companies trying to break through ‘over there’ struggle with”, says Casper Ravn-Sørensen, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at GoWish, who adds that on the day of the Snap campaign, well over 130,000 new downloads were recorded in a 24 hour period.
32%...New research from Gophr reveals that same-day delivery adoption across UK hardware and DIY retailers has increased year-on-year, up from 22% to 32%.
The company audited major trade retailers and independent suppliers across the UK, including Toolstation, Travis Perkins and B&Q.
While same-day availability across the sector has improved overall, speed and flexibility remain inconsistent. 46% of retailers offering same-day delivery impose conditions, such as cut-off times, location restrictions or limited product availability, and just 26% of businesses offering same-day delivery can fulfil orders within the hour - a critical window for projects operating on tight schedules.
The study also found a clear divide in delivery capability depending on whether a retailer serves more DIY customers or tradespeople. Only 27% of retailers serving mostly trade customers offer same-day delivery, compared to 50% of DIY-focused retailers, and 44% who serve a mixture of both.
50...Zalando is deploying up to 50 AI driven Nomagic robots across its European fulfilment network. The units, named Richard, specialise in item level picking, scanning, and induction into automated pocket sorters.
Using Nomagic’s AI and computer vision, the robots recognise materials and shapes to adjust their grip in real-time. By continuously learning and adapting to shifting inventory, the technology will play a key role in managing the vast, high rotation assortment of fashion and lifestyle products within Zalando’s fulfilment centres.
“The testing phase with Nomagic proved that their robotics are an excellent fit for Zalando's logistics centres. Following the quick and successful deployment of the first ten units, we have decided to scale our partnership, gradually rolling out more robots as our network evolves,” says Marcus Daute, Vice President Logistics Network at Zalando.
“The sheer scale of our operations demands smart automation that works with our people, not alongside them. By delegating simple processes to AI powered robots, we achieve the operational excellence our customers and business partners expect while supporting employees’ growth.”
69%...As UK football fans gear up for this summer’s World Cup, 69% of them are already planning purchases, from new TVs to outdoor equipment and home furnishings. That’s according to research published by Epsilon.
Based on a survey of 1,000 Brits, its report shines a light on the different motivations, interests and habits of a richly nuanced fanbase. It reveals only 50% of the 34 million strong audience is made up of regular football league fans, many only tune in during big events, driven by excitement, participation and social value.
While a minority (29%) don’t expect to spend any differently in the build up to the event, most will get into the spirit early. For many people, it puts them in a more social/hosting mindset, while others expect to spend more than normal or buy things they hadn’t planned to.
This year’s event will be the largest ever with an extra 16 teams competing in a record 104 matches, 40 more than the 2022 tournament. For the first time, mid‑game water breaks will create built‑in moments, and opportunities for brands and retailers, when viewers step away from the TV and onto their phones.
3,500...Deliverect has announced a partnership with Papa Johns that aims to modernise its delivery operations across the US.
In a LinkedIn post, Zhong Xu, Co-founder and CEO at Deliverect, said: “This is a massive milestone for us as we scale our AI powered Smart Dispatch platform to over +3,500 US restaurants with Papa Johns. This roll-out builds on the fantastic momentum we’ve already established powering Papa Johns in the UK, further solidifying our global partnership.”
He added: “With this addition, we now proudly power the top seven of the largest pizza chains in the world. By unifying in-house and third-party fulfillment into one intelligent hub, Papa Johns is prioritising a faster, more reliable experience for every customer. Huge thanks to the entire team for their trust in us.”
100...lululemon has opened its 100th store in EMEA and its first ever physical location in Warsaw, Poland.
In a LinkedIn post, Sarah Clark, Senior Vice President EMEA, said: “Nearly 12 years ago, we opened our first EMEA store in London’s Covent Garden. Since then, we have grown thoughtfully across the region, expanding into 20 markets through a mix of company‑operated stores and franchise partnerships.”
She added: “This milestone speaks to the continued demand for lululemon across EMEA, and to the dedicated teams who bring our brand to life every day with care, creativity and a deep belief in what we’re building together.”
“Our stores continue to be about so much more than product. They’re places where community, movement, and wellbeing come together, prioritising a special guest experience. Reaching 100 stores is significant achievement - and as we look ahead to new market entries and continued international growth, it continues to feel like we’re just getting started!”
1 and 3...Amazon is starting one-hour and three-hour deliveries in parts of the US, with Udit Madan, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations commenting this week: “Our customers are busier than ever and are looking for new ways to save time while keeping their households running.”
And the company has no intention of stopping there, observes Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “I like using the analogy of the battle of Dien Bien Phu in March 1954, between French and Vietminh forces, to describe what its like competing against Amazon. The shelling never stops. There is nowhere to hide. Amazon just keeps getting closer and taking market share.”
“Let me break the bad news first: Amazon has no desire to stop at one-hour deliveries. It has every intention of rolling out micro-fulfillment centres, Rivian vans with everyday essentials, and drones that will allow it to offer deliveries in 30 minutes.”
He added: “Yes, Walmart has 4,750 stores in the USA and 90% of the population is within ten miles of a Walmart store. Sounds daunting. It’s not. Amazon knows it can be within two to five miles of the majority of the US. population. Advantage Amazon.
In addition to 30 minute deliveries, Amazon is collecting data from its delivery drivers by having them wear smart glasses. And it is using said data to train humanoid robots that will eventually ride on autonomous Rivian vans making deliveries of groceries and other products. The deliveries will happen 24/7 365 days per year, Ladd claims.
He commented: “The shelling never stops. Kroger is in a tough spot. It wasted billions building Ocado CFCs that can’t make deliveries in one to three hours. Kroger has no legitimate last mile delivery programme that can cost-effectively compete with Amazon today let alone two or three years from now. It could but it has to be willing to hire the right people, and make significant changes to its current operations to make it happen.”
“Walmart generates over 50% of its revenue from selling groceries. Imagine if Amazon takes 10% of Walmart’s market share? Or 20%? The shelling never stops. And Walmart is a big target. Albertsons, Ahold Delhaize USA, and the majority of other grocery retailers have no chance. They will default to using Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. They will quickly lose customers and market share.”
The company best prepared against Amazon is H-E-B, according to Ladd. “I supported the team that made the decision to select and install AutoStore MFCs in locations throughout Texas. Smart. Very smart. HEB has invested in infrastructure and other strategies. Amazon will find that shelling HEB is a losing strategy.”
He concluded: “Every grocery retailer who thinks they know what Amazon is going to do next is wrong. They have failed to understand that Amazon isn’t treating groceries like a category, they’re treating it like a war that needs to be won with tactics and deception. The shelling isn’t going to stop. It’s going to increase.”
The Retail Loyalty Index (RLI), developed by HyperFinity, in partnership with Bloomreach and Eagle Eye, surveyed 2,200 UK customers of 51 major retailers to identify the UK’s top performing retail loyalty schemes and the revenue impact of customer loyalty.
The research covered nine sectors, including grocery, quick service retail (QSR), coffee, health and beauty, and fashion. Customers were asked to rate two loyalty programmes they actively use by answering questions about satisfaction, how likely they are to recommend the scheme and how it influences their decision to shop with the retailer over any other.
They were then asked questions around seven ‘core revenue drivers’ of customer loyalty. These included: how valued the programme makes them feel, personalisation, ease of use, the appeal of rewards and whether the retailer handles their data securely.
The index found there was a clear ‘power trio’ of revenue drivers, accounting for 53% of total influence on customer loyalty. These were: Better value (18.8% influence) - customers want clear financial returns; Feeling valued (18.5% influence ) - recognition matters as much as rewards; Appealing rewards (16.1% influence) - benefits must be desirable and relevant.
The findings were then analysed to generate an all-in-one revenue indicator score for retailers, coined as the ‘RLI score’. The score out of 10 incorporates customer satisfaction, likelihood to recommend, and influence on choice, as well as how highly each retailer scored for the core revenue drivers.
Overall, the analysis showed that a one point increase in RLI is associated with a 7-8% increase in the likelihood to shop again, therefore generating increased revenue for retailers.
Tesco Clubcard is the nation’s favourite loyalty programme - scoring highly across each of the ‘power trio’ of revenue drivers. Fans describe Clubcard as a “very generous programme with plenty of options to redeem” and as making shopping “extra affordable and easy.”
Customers scored Tesco Clubcard highly for emotional loyalty and frequency, with the highest ‘continue to shop’ score (9.16/10).
Leon Club ranked second in the UK, scoring highest for providing value to customers (8.03), how valued customers feel (8.28), and the personalisation of loyalty schemes (8.22). Despite a restructure of store estate following administration, Leon's loyalty programme is going from strength to strength.
The quick service restaurant scored highly in the index for personalisation and how valued customers feel. It also scored highly for satisfaction (8.05) and recommendation (8.28), indicating customers are happy to refer the programme to others. One customer surveyed in the poll commented: “It's quicker and cheaper to build up rewards compared to other schemes."
Also making the top ten were Pret Perks, Sainsbury’s Nectar, Itsu Rewards, Wickes Trade Pro, Gregg Rewards, JD Status, Sweaty Betty Insiders, and Hamleys Rewards Points.
$463 million....Israeli retail technology has entered a new growth phase after two years of contraction, according to a new report released by Re:Tech Innovation Hub in partnership with StartUp Nation Central (SNC), Moonshot, and Metrico.
Despite the geopolitical situation, investment jumped from $197 million in 2024 to $463 million in 2025, driven by AI enabled solutions.
The report maps 502 active retail tech companies, some are represented across more than one category, and analyses their impact across eight core categories. E-commerce enablement remains the largest pillar with 230 companies (23.9% of ecosystem category distribution), followed by marketing, digital and media with 204 companies (21.2%).
Other key segments include retail digitalisation and store operations (157 companies, 16.3%), supply chain and logistics (124 companies, 12.9%), security and infrastructure (75 companies, 7.8%), checkout, PoS and payments (70 companies, 7.3%), marketplaces and DTC (69 companies, 7.2%), and industrial innovation (32 companies, 3.3%).
A central feature of the report is the 2025 Top 100 Israeli Retail Tech Companies - a list selected by a global jury of retailers, investors, and industry experts. This emphasises commercial traction and enterprise readiness, serving as a shortlist for global retailers and brands seeking proven technology partners.
$99...Lowe's has introduced a new associate powered annual subscription offering to its MyLowe's Rewards loyalty members called HomeCare+.
For $99 a year, the retailer will offer seven in-home services that aim to make it easier for homeowners to manage essential up-keep tasks on a regular basis. The programme will be available across more than 75% of homes in the US.
"HomeCare+ is all about simplifying home improvement and making it easier for our customers," says Jen Wilson, Lowe's Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.
"Bringing together a simple, affordable subscription with something that truly sets Lowe's apart - the expertise of our red vest associates - is how we will deepen loyalty with our customers. And as AI plays a bigger role in people's lives, and ultimately in their homes, leaning into the power of human connection uniquely positions Lowe's as the most helpful brand in home improvement."
74%...Britain’s local businesses are powered by loyal regulars who generate them up to five times more annual revenue as they typically return to a business 11 times throughout the year, according to new research from Square.
Based on the company’s buyer-seller interactions and a survey of 1,009 Brits, this reveals that over the past year, in restaurants and cafés, 74% of UK consumers have made local purchases a few times a month or more, 70% are shopping locally at least weekly, and 49% are buying from local beauty businesses multiple times a month.
Four in five consumers say their relationship with their favourite local spot is much more than transactional, with 40% describing the relationship as familiar - that feeling of being recognised when you walk through the door - and another 29% feel connected with a personal bond with the staff.
Peter Dore-Smith, Founder of Kaffeine, says: “Having regular customers helps in times of trouble or economic challenges because they will usually support you. It is often a forgotten thing that as a café, we can be a huge part of a person's day. During Covid, when we opened as a hatch at the doorway, customers would walk up to five miles to get to our store. This commitment by our regulars helped us in those times.”
60...Tortilla, a European fast casual Mexican restaurant group, has returned to Deliveroo following time away from the platform. The on demand delivery partnership will span 60 of its restaurants across the UK.
Tortilla is set to collaborate with Deliveroo on its Family Dinneroo initiative, offering shareable meals for between up to four people, with the ability to customise to suit individual needs. These menus are available between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on Monday to Thursday, and are exclusive to the Deliveroo app.
Rob Harris, Chief Revenue Office, Deliveroo, says: "We are excited to welcome Tortilla back to Deliveroo and we look forward to helping them achieve their growth ambitions. It’s a partnership that’s about more than delivery, it’s about reaching new customers and building a loyal customer base together through innovative initiatives like Family Dinneroo and offering great value to Deliveroo Plus subscribers."
28%...EE is teaming up with Samsung to offer free bookable AI training sessions for people looking for help to get the most out of their connected technology. The move comes as research shows only 28% of people feel confident in their ability to use AI tools in their daily lives.
The masterclasses, delivered by Samsung specialists at the EE Studio in Westfield White City, will run daily until 5th April, and are open to everyone.
In groups of up to eight people, participants will learn how to use Galaxy AI tools on the new Samsung S26 Ultra for a range of uses, such as photography, note taking, translation, and searching for information online, and gain a deeper understanding of how to stay safe online when doing so.
£130 million...British beauty business, Townhouse, has nabbed itself a valuation of £130 million after securing £48 million investment since inception. The most recent round was led by US growth equity firm Cartesian Capital - the backer behind Burger King China, Tim Hortons and Popeyes - alongside Nordic venture capital firm Big Bets (investor in Huuuge Gaming and Stark Future).
The new capital will accelerate its international franchising roll-out.
Founded in 2018 by Juanita Huber-Millet, Townhouse has grown from a single London flagship location into 44 locations across the UK and US. The business posted £19.4 million in revenue in 2025, up from £2.1 million in 2022.
Under Chief Executive Jonathan Millet, a former Carlyle Group executive who joined the business in 2020, Townhouse has signed 149 new UK franchise locations with multi-unit operators, including partners behind major food and beverage franchises such as Starbucks and Dominos. A further 346 international locations are in advanced negotiation across Europe, the United States and Asia.
When completed, the current pipeline would bring the company’s footprint to around 500 sites internationally, creating an estimated 5,400 new jobs.
21% of the population have seen incidents including racial or sexual abuse, physical assault or threats with weapons while shopping. This was little improvement on last year, when 23% of customers witnessed such incidents.
The survey also found that 23% of people have witnessed shoplifting - this was almost unchanged from 24% last year. Retailers say organised criminal gangs are increasingly targeting high value goods, that can easily be resold.
The findings come amidst persistently high levels of retail crime. Separate BRC data revealed there were 1,600 incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers every day last year. While this was down on the previous year, it remained the second highest on record. This included 118 incidents involving physical violence, and 36 involving a weapon.
Violence and abuse are not limited to those working in stores: delivery drivers are often subjected to abuse, physical violence, and threats with weapons.
Retailers have spent an estimated £5 billion fighting retail crime over the past five years, including CCTV, more security personnel, anti-theft devices and body worn cameras. These costs add to existing financial pressures, limiting investment and contributing to higher prices for customers everywhere.
2,300...VoCoVo, a retail communications specialist, has announced a new five-year partnership with convenience retailer Co-op, which will see its Series 5 (S5) Pro Headsets deployed to more than 2,300 stores nationwide.
Following a pilot across 114 stores, full roll-out commenced in February and is expected to be concluded next year. Co-op has worked with VoCoVo since 2017 and is upgrading its existing headset devices as part of a long-term investment in its in-store technology.
By enabling instant communication within stores and with Co-op’s Support Centre, the retailer says that teams can respond more quickly to customer needs, whether answering enquiries or requests for assistance, checking stock availability, managing parcel collections or handling online orders.
1...Ulta Beauty will this week become the first US specialty beauty retailer to launch on TikTok Shop.
With a go live date of 17th March, this will include a curated assortment of brands that are only available at Ulta.
“The launch enables us to meet guests in the moments that inspire them, reduce friction between content and commerce, and drive incremental growth by welcoming new to Ulta Beauty shoppers into our community,” says Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer Linda Brindley.
It follows UK retailer John Lewis on to the platform. Last week, John Lewis announced a 90-day pilot timed to help with Mother’s Day gifting, with the trial focusing on a curated edit of beauty and gifting items, instantly shoppable through TikTok Shop.
This included a final drop of its Mother’s Day Beauty Box, featuring a collection of beauty products from brands including Jo Malone London, Augustinus Bader and Estee Lauder.
2...NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Europe will return on 15th-17th September for its second edition.
Following NRF Retail’s Big Show in New York City and NRF Retail’s Big Show Asia Pacific in Singapore, the Paris event will explore the theme "The Next Now," examining the transformations reshaping European and global retail today and in the years ahead.
Against a backdrop of technological acceleration, the rise of artificial intelligence, constantly evolving consumer expectations, and sustainability imperatives, NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Europe will bring together retail decision-makers to share practical insights, case studies, and operational solutions.
Over three days, it will focus on the industry’s key growth areas including intelligent supply chains, personalised customer journeys, circular design, and cross-border collaborations.
The event will bring together more than 12,000 attendees representing 4,200 innovative brands, 525 exhibitors, and 200 speakers from more than 60 countries, along with more than 100 exclusive sessions. It will showcase the latest advancements in retail digitalisation, customer experience, and operational performance across its exhibition space.
Experiential formats, such as guided tours and visits to Parisian concept stores, aim to enhance the attendee experience. There will also be keynote presentations from leading global executives and breakout sessions to explore practical case studies from around the globe.
1,000...Royal Mail has unveiled its 1,000th red parcel locker. This is now live outside a Sainsbury's store in Weymouth.
This brings the total number of lockers available to its customers to 3,000, as they can also use 2,000 Parcel Pending by Quadient lockers across the UK. Royal Mail unveiled the first locker in its network in December 2024, outside its Mount Pleasant Mail Centre in London.
Since then, it has announced partnerships that have seen its lockers rolled out at: NewRiver REIT shopping centres and retail parks; Sainsbury's stores; Co-op stores; Motor Fuel Group petrol stations; UPP student accommodation; and Post Office branches (on a trial basis).
The lockers feature label printing, helping out customers who do not have access to a printer. To use them, customers can download a QR code for a return or for postage paid for online.
5 and 7...Amazon has expanded Amazon Air, its air cargo service, to Northeast India, launching new routes connecting Kolkata and Guwahati. It says that the move will improve delivery speeds by up to five times across all seven sister states - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura - through an integrated air and surface multimodal network.
Amazon Air launched in Indian in 2023 and is the only dedicated air cargo network operated by an e-commerce company in the country. Operating two narrow body freighters, the service moves tens of thousands of packages daily.
Its overnight routes connect major metros including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Guwahati and Pune. Amazon also operates air-rail multimodal connections, with onward reach to cities such as Delhi, Guwahati and other parts of the country. Including belly cargo partnerships, Amazon’s air network now serves over 100 origin destination pairs across India.
£2.7 million....Loxa, an insurtech enabling retailers to offer product protection at the Point of Sale, has announced the close of its £2.7 million seed round, completed across three tranches.
This was backed primarily by angels and family offices, including the Lazaroo-Hood Group, with introductions facilitated by Angel Investment Network, FundMyPitch, and the Entrepreneur's Collective.
The cash will be used to drive EU expansion, scale Loxa's retail network to 150+ live partners, and broaden the platform to support every insurable product category.
“We started Loxa because we believed embedded product protection should be as universal as the checkout itself, available to every retailer, for every customer, everywhere,” says Jamie Hamer, Co-Founder and CEO.
“We made a deliberate choice to build this round with angels and operators who shared our mission and backed our vision from the start, and that alignment builds better businesses. Closing this round means we can now deliver on that promise at scale, with the right people and resources to execute successfully."
Since launching in 2023, Loxa has grown to more than 45 live retail partners across furniture, eyewear, power tools, electronics, catering appliances and other categories, embedding with retailers like eCatering, Toolden, Hyundai Tools, Rowen Homes, Maker & Son, and JCB Pro Tools.
$26 million...BackOps, an AI native operating system for supply chain operations, has raised $26 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Theory Ventures, with participation from Gradient, Construct Capital, and 10VC. BackOps will use the cash to scale its team and accelerate the product roadmap.
“Supply chains are incredibly complex systems with dozens of vendors, tools, and workflows involved in every shipment,” says Sean McCarthy, Co-founder and CEO at BackOps. “Companies need systems that go beyond tracking the problems, they need help solving them.”
“We built BackOps to connect those pieces together and automate the work logistics teams have historically had to do manually. The result is clear: teams gain the time and headspace to focus on delivering excellent customer service. This is just the beginning of how we’re raising the bar for what companies can expect across their entire supply chain.”
“Supply chains are the backbone of the global economy, but most of the work that keeps them running is painfully manual. BackOps is building the intelligent operating layer for logistics,” says Tomasz Tunguz, General Partner at Theory Ventures.
“By applying AI directly to the operational fabric of supply chains, BackOps has the potential to unlock massive efficiency gains for companies moving goods around the world. We’re excited to support a team that understands these problems from the inside out and is turning AI into a real force multiplier for logistics operations.”
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