Primark nixes online home delivery media reports: this week's biggest retail technology stories
It's Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail tech space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past few days, including Multiverse, Primark, Tesco, B&Q, Asos, Bambuser, Superdrug, Debenhams Group, Pennies, and Wonder.
1. Euan Blair’s AI powered upskilling startup Multiverse bags $70 million in funding at $2.1 billion valuation
Multiverse, an AI powered workforce development platform fronted by Euan Blair (son of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair), has raised $70 million in funding to drive growth across Europe. The round was led by Schroders Capital, with participation from existing investors including General Catalyst, Lightspeed Venture Partners, D1 Capital Partners, Index Ventures, Bond, and StepStone Group.
This bags the company, whose customers include Just Eat, Addison Lee, and Debenhams Group, a $2.1 billion valuation, a $400 million increase on the last funding round.
"There are companies who desperately need the benefits AI can bring. There are AI companies. What has been missing is the layer that bridges the two," says Blair. "This investment marks the moment Multiverse defines that category, and takes it across Europe. Getting outcomes from AI and unlocking productivity is not just a technology problem. It is a people problem. We exist to solve it."
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves says: “We want Britain to achieve the fastest rate of AI adoption of any country in the G7 - the productivity dividend we can get from AI will grow businesses of all shapes and sizes in the UK and ensure they stay competitive. Multiverse is a fantastic example of a British company helping turn that ambition into reality. This investment will support its expansion across Europe, strengthening a UK firm that is competing globally and equipping people with the skills to make AI work in practice.”
2. Primark insists that its position on online home delivery remains unchanged amid Click and Collect push
Primark has responded to media reports that it is working on its first ever venture into the online home delivery space.
And we regret to inform fans of the fast fashion and homeware retailer that such a move ain’t happening any time soon.
The Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that Primark had identified this as a step towards ramping up the digital side of its business.
“They know they need to go online…They wanted this warehouse as it has automation equipment that lets you do delivery directly to peoples’ homes,” a source told the newspaper.
However, a Primark spokesperson has told us: “Our position on home delivery remains unchanged. As part of regular reviews of our distribution network to support future growth, we explored this site as a potential option for our Click & Collect service in Great Britain.”
3. Parcel lockers specialist YEEP! announces Tesco partnership following completion of pilot
YEEP! has announced a partnership with Tesco, following the completion of a trial phase. This will see its solar powered lockers installed at 30 Tesco locations, with further expansion planned subject to performance and customer feedback.
Jamie Dickinson CEO at YEEP!, says: “We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Tesco to roll out YEEP! parcel lockers across their store network. As one of the UK’s most trusted retailers, Tesco shares our commitment to convenience, accessibility, and community presence, making this a significant milestone for us. This partnership marks an important step in our mission to make parcel delivery and returns simpler, smarter, and more accessible. By placing our lockers at Tesco locations, we are meeting customers where they already shop and providing secure, convenient parcel services that fit seamlessly into their daily routines.”
He adds: “Together, we are creating meaningful value for both organisations, supporting Tesco’s already strong customer experience, and driving additional footfall, while accelerating our national expansion. Most importantly, this collaboration makes sending, collecting, and returning parcels easier than ever for customers. We are excited about what this partnership represents today and the opportunities it creates for the future.”
4. Antonio Silveira takes on CTO position at Marc Lore’s food delivery startup Wonder
Antonio Silveira has joined Wonder, Marc Lore's food technology and delivery startup, as CTO.
He replaces James Chen, who departed earlier this year for Blueprint.
In a LinkedIn post, Silveira, whose CV includes stints at Attentive and Nextdoor, said: “Wonder is building a new kind of mealtime platform: great food, broad selection, smart operations, AI powered intelligence, and delivery convenience in one experience. The vision is bold: to become the super app for mealtime. First-party restaurants, chef led menus, third-party marketplace supply, meal kits, and delivery, all coming together into a single platform that makes high quality, delicious food more accessible, consistent, and convenient for customers.”
He added: “That intersection of physical operations, robotics, logistics, cooking technology, software, and AI is what makes this opportunity truly unique. I am looking forward to partnering with Marc Lore and the broader leadership team as we accelerate Wonder’s growth and bring this experience to more and more customers across the country. Most of all, I am excited to work with the technology, engineering, product, data, ML, design, security, and IT teams. There is a lot to build, and I feel lucky to be on this journey with all of you.
5. Debenhams Group claims Stateside first as it delivers AI driven checkout on Meta for US customers
Debenhams Group is claiming to be the first UK retailer to enable AI driven in-app checkout on Meta, with US customers of Karen Millen, boohoo, boohooMAN, and PrettyLittleThing now able to check out directly within Meta apps, including Facebook and Instagram.
The feature - powered by PayPal’s Agentic Commerce Services - is currently being piloted in the US.
The move builds on Debenhams Group’s partnership with Meta, which includes a recent US pilot of personalised ads across Karen Millen and boohooMAN. In February, it partnered with PayPal to launch an AI driven shopping experience, becoming the first UK retailer to enable customers to discover and check out entirely within the PayPal app in the US.
Dan Finley, CEO at Debenhams Group, says: “More and more customers are discovering fashion through social, so bringing together inspiration and purchase in one connected experience is a natural next step for us. Becoming the first UK retailer to partner with Meta in this way - enabling our brands to offer AI-driven checkout to US customers, reflects how we’re rethinking the shopping journey for a social-first world - using technology and partnerships to create faster, more intuitive experiences that better match how our customers want to shop. This is another important step in how we’re scaling that approach across the group and driving the next phase of our growth.”
Mike Edmonds, VP of Agentic Commerce & Commercial Growth at PayPal, says: “Social platforms are one of the most important storefronts for brands today, and our solution helps meet the demand in real-time. We’re making it easier for merchants to turn everyday scrolling into seamless shopping moments. Working with partners like Meta and Debenhams Group, we’re starting to see how these experiences can come together more naturally for both merchants and consumers.”
6. Kingfisher launches Core IQ data sharing platform at B&Q following Castorama and Brico Dépôt go lives
Developed by Kingfisher in partnership with Converteo, Core IQ is a data sharing platform and part of the group's retail media and wider digital strategy. Castorama and Brico Dépôt were the first of its brands to offer this service to vendors. And now B&Q has gone live with the solution.
Core IQ offers first and third-party vendors more autonomous and real-time access to precise data, store by store and product by product, relating to the performance of their products.
In a LinkedIn post, B&Q said: “We’re doubling down on data to build better customer experiences. This month, we’ve launched Core IQ - our new data sharing platform designed to strengthen our brand partnerships by giving them direct access to real-time insights. Developed with Converteo, CoreIQ brings together B&Q’s sales, stock, and supply chain data into a single, secure, self-service platform with the aim of transforming how we collaborate with our brand partners, by supporting forecasting, ranging, and operational planning.”
It added: “Our CoreIQ data sharing platform will enable: Faster, smarter decision-making; Real-time visibility into performance and customer behaviour; Fewer manual processes and better conversations with brand partners; Better experiences for customers, both online and in-store.”
“CoreIQ will also enable stronger, more effective retail media campaigns, ensuring every campaign is powered by insight. By bringing data and retail media closer together, we’re enabling our brand partners to stay agile, respond to customer needs, and drive growth. CoreIQ is the foundation of a broader data and insight roadmap. Our ambition is to make it a central tool for collaboration and over the coming months we’ll be adding more enhancements.”
7. AI powered retail intelligence specialist RADAR lands $170 million in funding and hits $1 billion valuation
RADAR, an AI powered retail intelligence platform, has raised $170 million in Series B funding, co-led by Gideon Strategic Partners and Nimble Partners, and with participation from Align Ventures, bringing the company’s valuation to $1 billion.
It plans to use this round to accelerate deployments across retailers, advance next-generation sensor hardware, expand AI analytics capabilities, accelerate autonomous checkout development, and grow across Canada, EMEA, and Latin America.
“In 2026, operating without real-time intelligence in physical retail means choosing to leave billions of dollars on the table. RADAR is changing that,” says Spencer Hewett, Founder and CEO at RADAR.
“Today, we’re empowering retailers to run stores with the same precision as e-commerce. This round signals market conviction in the scale of the opportunity and accelerates our ability to extend that advantage across retail and beyond.”
“The physical world has long been a blind spot in an otherwise data driven economy,” Erik Oros, Chief Investment Officer of Gideon Capital. “RADAR is closing that gap. Starting with retail, the company is delivering clear, measurable ROI today while building a proprietary data advantage that strengthens with every deployment. We believe that combination positions RADAR to define the category and become a foundational layer of real-time intelligence across physical industries.”
8. Asos announces launch of Stylist app in ChatGBT powered by Bambuser video commerce technology
Asos has launched Stylist, an app in ChatGPT that brings fashion discovery through products and video content to customers in the UK and US.
This helps customers discover Asos products directly in ChatGPT and shop them on the fast fashion giant’s website. It has been built using video commerce platform Bambuser.
Stylist uses Bambuser’s new Intelligence Layer capability and video player widget to turn Asos’ product catalogue and video library into structured, machine readable data that can be processed, retrieved, and returned, by large language models (LLMs) in real-time as shoppable videos. Shoppers can browse individual products or complete looks by category, occasion, or trend, receive styling guidance, and explore pieces from hundreds of brands.
For example, when Stylist responds to a prompt such as “show me pastel floral A-line dresses for spring” it instantly searches across Asos’ brand portfolio and returns a curated edit tailored to the context of the conversation. Customers can see products in motion through video, click through for more details, and continue their journey on Asos.com to explore and purchase.
The experience is designed to be highly visual, bringing immersive product imagery and video, including livestream content, directly into the chat. When customers click on a product this expands to show more details, including pricing, and customers can tap through to “Shop on Asos” to complete their purchase.
9. Electricals and technology retailer Currys announces new AI charity skills programme
UK omnichannel retailer Currys is launching a new programme that aims to help charities build the confidence, skills and practical know‑how to use AI as adoption across the sector accelerates.
The programme will roll-out across a number of select Currys stores, offering free, in‑depth and bespoke AI training sessions for charities. Sessions will be delivered by its specially trained colleagues, alongside Microsoft representatives.
The tech retailer’s initiative is delivered in partnership with Neighbourly. The platform is free to use and connects thousands of vetted local charities with businesses across the UK & Ireland. It is supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Digital Skills Minister, Liz Lloyd, says: "AI has the power to transform how charities deliver for the people and communities they serve, but only if they possess the skills and confidence to use it. By bringing free, practical AI training directly into local communities, Currys is helping ensure that charities can fully grasp this technology safely and responsibly to improve how they serve communities. This is exactly the kind of grassroots action that will help us meet our ambitions to upskill 10 million workers with AI skills by 2030 and build an AI ready nation."
10. Pennies powers Superdrug summer fundraising campaign in support of LGBTQIA+ community
Health and beauty retailer Superdrug has announced the return of its fundraising initiative with Switchboard, a national LGBTQIA+ support line, via Pennies, the digital micro-donation charity.
Launching on 20th May and running until 14th July, the campaign will invite customers to donate 20p at tillpoint with each purchase across Superdrug stores.
This marks the second year Superdrug has worked with Switchboard through Pennies, as part of its eight-year partnership with the charity, which has supported the LGBTQIA+ community for over 50 years. Switchboard provides a safe, anonymous and confidential space for members of the community, allies and anyone questioning their gender identity or sexuality to talk openly about topics that can often feel difficult or taboo.
To help raise awareness of the campaign in-store, Superdrug is partnering with Tia Kofi and Ella Morgan, who will front the retailer’s Summer of Fun activity, encouraging customers to support Switchboard through small donations. Alongside Pennies, selected products available at Superdrug will also help support Switchboard when purchased, including products from brands such as Lynx, Britney Spears Fragrances, Eylure, Kylie Minogue Fragrances, Acnecide, Marc Jacobs and Garnier.
