Fynd Create launches in UK and VenHub Global hits Florida: last week’s biggest retail technology plays
RTIH rounds up the stand out retail technology deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Including Amazon, JoJo Maman Bébé, Tesco, WHSmith, East of England Co-op, Ikea, Pinterest, Wing, Walmart, Denner, Bodycare, Nobody's Child, Depop, and Popeyes.
Amazon
Amazon has launched its first ever Summer of Football storefront, pitched as a one stop destination for the items/products that fans need to enjoy 2026 World Cup matches this summer.
This includes official merchandise from Nike and Puma including England, France, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as tournament favourites like official mascot plushies, the LEGO Official Trophy Building Set, and the Panini World FIFA Sticker Collection Box.
Same-day and next-day delivery is available on all products for Prime members nationwide. With Amazon Now also available in select London postcodes, shoppers can get delivery of thousands of groceries and household essentials in as little as 30 minutes. London customers in eligible postcodes can shop from a selection of essentials including crisps, ice cream, easy meals, fruit, veg and dips, drinks, ice, BBQ food, hay fever relief, suncream, power banks, washing detergent and kitchen roll.
Limited Space and Hello! magazine
Digital out of home (DOOH) advertising company Limited Space has announced a new collaboration with Hello! magazine, a lifestyle and celebrity title, to broadcast editorially led content across UK shopping centres via its digital network.
The partnership will deliver Hello!’s celebrity, fashion, health, culture and entrepreneurial stories directly to mall visitors, with the aim of transforming high dwell moments into engaging touchpoints that align with wider cultural interests.
“Shopping destinations have become spaces to discover, experience and connect,” says Toby Fairlamb, Sales Director at Limited Space. “This partnership is transforming our screens into live editorial moments - adding entertainment, style and energy that strengthens the relevance of our media platforms to the environment around them. Partnering with an editorial leader like Hello! allows us to fuse premium storytelling with powerful digital visibility.”
“This partnership lets us extend the Hello! experience into the real world - engaging audiences when they’re at their most receptive,” says Andrea Caamano, Digital Content Director at Hello!. “Our editorial has always been about bringing readers closer to the stories, trends, and personalities that inspire them. Now, for the first time, we can bring that same sense of excitement, style, and cultural insight directly into the spaces people are visiting every day. Shoppers will be able to engage with Hello! content in a way that feels immediate, immersive, and part of their everyday journey. It’s Hello! brought to life, in the moment.”
Fynd
Fynd, an AI native retail technology company backed by Reliance Retail Ventures, has launched Fynd Create in the UK, pitched as a platform that combines AI powered trend intelligence, sourcing, production, cataloguing and logistics within a single ecosystem.
Designed for an industry increasingly driven by real-time demand, Fynd Create helps fashion brands accelerate the journey from concept to market by connecting every stage of product creation and fulfillment on one platform. Early deployments across fashion brands in India and international markets have demonstrated up to 60% improvements in design productivity, those involved claim.
“Fashion brands today are operating in a market where trends emerge and evolve in a matter of days, yet many supply chains remain constrained by long planning cycles and fragmented processes,” says Sreeraman MG, Founder at Fynd.
Fynd Create addresses this challenge by bringing trend intelligence, design, sourcing, cataloging and logistics together on a single AI powered platform. By analysing social trends, runway influences, competitor activity and brand data, the platform helps teams identify emerging opportunities, create collections faster and streamline the journey from concept to production.
“Fynd Create is the world’s first AI native platform to unify trend intelligence, design, sourcing, cataloging and logistics within a single ecosystem. By connecting demand signals directly with sourcing and production, it enables brands to make faster decisions, improve visibility across the value chain and respond more effectively to changing consumer demand,” says MG.
JoJo Maman Bébé
Earlier this year, we reported that JoJo Maman Bébé, an omnichannel maternity wear and baby clothing retailer, had signed on to deploy Retail247’s Origin product information management solution. And it has now added the company’s Archean offering to the mix.
Heather Stringer-Wood, CFO at JoJo Maman Bébé, commented: "Building upon the successful and rapid deployment of Origin, we are now looking forward to expanding our partnership with Retail247 to include Archean."
"As we continue to modernise our technology landscape, Archean will play a key role in improving data visibility, accuracy, and operational efficiency across the business. The Retail247 team has been a trusted partner throughout our journey, providing expertise, guidance, and support at every stage. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead and confident that this continued collaboration will help drive meaningful value for our business."
Retail247’s Martin Schofield said: "I'm proud to be extending our partnership with JoJo Maman Bébé to include Archean. They're on an exciting growth trajectory, and it's fantastic that our solutions will play a key role in supporting that journey. By replacing legacy systems, Archean and Origin will provide the robust foundations needed to scale operations, improve efficiency, and drive future growth. Everyone at Retail247 is looking forward to working closely with the team and helping them achieve their ambitious goals."
VenHub Global
VenHub Global, a US-based specialist in autonomous smart store technology, has announced its expansion into the Florida market through a new commercial deployment with a local operator. The initial roll-out will target the Tampa Bay region, representing VenHub’s first technology presence in the state.
“Florida represents one of the most compelling markets in the country for autonomous retail, driven by its scale, rapid population growth, and persistent labour challenges,” says Shahan Ohanessian, CEO at VenHub Global. “Our expansion into the state reflects accelerating demand for a smarter, more resilient retail model. We’re excited to bring a solution that delivers both operational efficiency and a fundamentally better experience for today’s consumer.”
VenHub expects to deploy its initial Florida locations in 2026, with a multi-unit roll-out planned across the Tampa Bay region for multiple stores in Q4/early 2027. Site selection is currently underway, focused on high foot traffic environments underserved by traditional staffed retail formats.
MESHKI
Returnalyze, an AI powered decision intelligence platform for retail returns prevention, reports that it is working with fashion brand MESHKI.
Its technology analyses customer signals and return patterns to surface SKU level insights and prescriptive recommendations that help retailers optimise product content, sizing guidance, and merchandising decisions.
Since implementation, MESHKI says that its teams have integrated Returnalyze’s automated insights into their workflows, enabling faster identification of product specific issues and more informed updates to the online shopping experience.
“Returnalyze has equipped us with the intelligence needed to take a more proactive approach to returns prevention,” says Michael Quach, Chief Financial Officer at MESHKI. “The platform’s clarity and accessibility have been instrumental in accelerating our progress.”
Pinterest is now offering Amazon Storefront linking, a new tool that lets creators connect their Amazon Storefront directly to their Pinterest account. Once connected, their affiliate link is automatically applied whenever they tag an eligible Amazon product.
According to a press release: “This matters because Pinterest isn’t a place where people scroll aimlessly. It’s a place where people come with intent and purpose. More than 50% of Pinterest users come to our platform to shop, and people search Pinterest more than 80 billion times a month.”
With the new feature, eligible creators will see their Amazon Storefront handle featured directly on their Pinterest profile, giving users another way to discover the products and recommendations from the creators they trust most. Storefront linking with other partners will be available soon.
“People come to Pinterest with purpose - they’re looking for ideas, and often ready to act on them,” says Lauren Glaubach, VP of Global Content Partnerships. “This means Pinterest sits closer to decision-making than other platforms. That helps creators reach audiences at the moment inspiration turns into action.”
DSV
DSV, a specialist in transport and logistics, has entered into a partnership with Exotec, a warehouse robotics firm. Exotec has equipped DSV's logistics centre in Venlo, Holland with its end-to-end Skypod system.
This is made up of approximately 100 of Exotec’s autonomous Skypod robots, supporting fulfilment operations for various retail brands and managing approximately 90,000 bins and trays. The project comes as part of DSV’s efforts to modernise its warehouse operations.
Jan Heijblom, Senior Sales Executive at Exotec Benelux, says: “We are proud to support DSV in optimising its Venlo site. Our Skypod system is designed for environments with high demands for speed, accuracy and scalability - essential elements for leading 3PL providers such as DSV. Businesses like DSV must continuously deliver high performance and flexibility for their customers, and the solution we’ve designed for them perfectly matches the dynamics of the retail and e-commerce industry.”
Barbara Klep, Managing Director of the Contract Logistics division at DSV, says: “In our warehouse, we use state-of-the-art storage systems and innovative automation to respond optimally to our customers’ requirements and growth ambitions. The Skypod system gives us the agility to adapt to changing needs while safeguarding our service levels and sustainable performance. In this way, Exotec contributes to more reliable, efficient and sustainable distribution from the Netherlands.”
Digital Next Ventures
Digital Next Ventures has officially launched ShipSherpa, a logistics platform built to disrupt the UK same-day and on-demand delivery market.
Phase one of the launch sees Digital Next Ventures begin building out a dedicated technology and e-commerce arm alongside its Digital Next agency.
Digital Next Ventures says that it has invested £100,000 to date into the development of ShipSherpa and e-commerce projects, with the ambition of creating the most elite technology enabled logistics network in the UK. It also plans to launch its own e-commerce brands, utilising the skills, knowledge and infrastructure of the Digital Next agency team across performance marketing, SEO, paid media, web development, automation, AI search and digital growth.
Built for logistics managers, businesses, self-employed owner-driver couriers and fleet operators, ShipSherpa has been designed to make same-day delivery easier, faster and more intuitive. The platform aims to solve one of the biggest problems in logistics: outdated, fragmented and manual processes. Logistics managers will be able to book, manage and track urgent same-day deliveries in one place.
Between now and the end of the year, ShipSherpa’s goal is to onboard 10,000+ self-employed owner-driver couriers across the UK, creating a verified network capable of supporting businesses that need to move goods quickly, reliably and on-demand. Self-employed owner-driver couriers and logistics operators can now sign up here.
A customer facing portal is scheduled to launch in August. Later down the line, fleet operators will be able to upload their own vehicles onto the platform, allowing them to generate revenue from idle fleet capacity and flex their operations up and down without having to invest in additional vehicles.
Dr. Wolff Group
THG Fulfil, a provider of automation driven fulfilment and courier management solutions, has partnered with Dr. Wolff Group, the German business behind beauty brands including Alpecin, Plantur, Linola and Vagisan.
The tie up spans both UK and US markets and covers the full breadth of THG Fulfil’s capabilities - from merchant of record services to warehousing, Amazon FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon), FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) and SFP (Seller Fulfilled Prime) integrations, kitting and returns processing, D2C and B2B fulfilment, alongside courier management and customer services. Alpecin is now live across both markets, with further Dr. Wolff brands set to follow.
Tom Killeen, COO, THG Ingenuity, says: “Dr. Wolff is exactly the kind of partner we built our proposition for. A globally recognised brand, growing across multiple markets and channels at the same time. What sets this partnership apart is the combination of our merchant of record capability alongside full service fulfilment on a single platform. For brands with serious international ambitions that do not want to build out the commercial and operational infrastructure themselves, this is a compelling model. We are delighted to have Alpecin live in the UK and US and look forward to welcoming further Dr. Wolff brands onto the platform.”
Jonny Davys, General Manager UK&I, Dr Wolff, says: “This partnership with THG Fulfil opens up a brand new distribution channel in the UK and US, and we have no doubt it will be a huge success. It gives us a much closer view of who our consumers are, helping us build stronger, longer lasting relationships. With THG Fulfil's reliable, high speed delivery and the capacity to scale, we are well positioned to grow our D2C business over time.”
Amazon
Amazon has opened a new fulfilment centre in Northampton and announced plans for a second major site in nearby Kettering, taking its investment in a single county to more than £1 billion and creating over 4,000 jobs.
The developments come one year after it committed to stump up £40 billion in the UK from 2025 to 2027 - the largest investment in the company's history outside the US - with more than £15 billion thus far delivered. Amazon’s Northampton fulfilment centre is pitched as one of the most advanced logistics operations in the country, with thousands of robots working alongside employees on three floors. The Kettering site will be the UK’s largest cross-dock facility, sorting and routing customer items across the country.
Amazon has also expanded its London headquarters in Shoreditch with the opening of a third building, bringing around 6,000 employees together on a single campus.
The 900,000-square-foot Kettering site will process around 20 million items each week, creating more than 2,000 permanent jobs and hundreds of seasonal roles. Recruitment is under way for engineers, HR and IT professionals, finance specialists, and operations teams. The announcement comes as customer deliveries begin at Amazon's new £500 million fulfilment centre in Northampton, where a further 2,000 jobs will be created.
John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager, says: “A year ago we said we planned to invest £40 billion in the UK. Today you can see what that means - from 4,000 jobs in Northamptonshire and 2,000 in Hull, to drone deliveries from Darlington, a new tech HQ in Swansea. We said we'd deliver and we have. And we're only a year in.”
WHSmith
WHSmith and SOLUM have announced a partnership involving the deployment of electronic shelf label (ESL) solutions across WHSmith’s UK travel estate, starting with high footfall locations including the retailer’s recently opened flagship stores at Heathrow Airport.
To support the roll-out, WHSmith has selected Newton PRO, SOLUM’s flagship ESL designed for demanding retail environments such as airports, railway stations and major transport hubs.
Heidi Reynolds, Retail Director at WHSmith, says: “Our focus is on making every journey better by bringing together all of the essentials travellers need in one place. As we continue to evolve our offer, the ESL solutions help us support a clearer and more intuitive customer experience while enabling colleagues to operate more efficiently in busy travel environments.”
Mark Duckworth, Country Manager UK & Ireland at SOLUM, says: “WHSmith’s new flagship stores reflect the continued evolution of travel retail, where convenience, speed and clarity are essential to the customer journey. We are proud to support WHSmith with ESL solutions designed for high-footfall environments, helping improve shelf-edge accuracy, operational efficiency and the in-store experience across key travel locations. This partnership is an important milestone for SOLUM as we continue to strengthen our presence in the UK travel retail market.”
East of England Co-op
Transaction Network Services (TNS) reports that East of England Co-op has deployed TNS Secure SD-WAN across more than 200 sites.
East of England Co-op required a more reliable and scalable network to support its growing digital footprint. Its previous infrastructure created operational challenges, with failover times of up to 90 seconds, disrupting PoS transactions and impacting store performance. Services were also fragmented across multiple provider divisions, limiting visibility, increasing costs and leaving no single point of accountability.
TNS Secure SD-WAN consolidates multiple network lines into a single, resilient connection with built-in redundancy, helping reduce failover from 90 seconds to instantaneous and providing uninterrupted transactions and back office operations.
Centralised dashboards now provide East of England Co-op with real-time visibility across all locations, helping to improve compliance management and strengthen security oversight. The fully managed service model delivers a single point of accountability, allowing for simplified operations and faster issue resolution. With a future-ready architecture, the network provides a foundation for Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives, energy management systems and advanced in-store analytics.
Wing and Walmart
Wing and Walmart have confirmed seven new metro areas that will join what is pitched as the USA’s largest drone delivery network: Memphis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and Salt Lake City. This will bring their total service footprint to nearly 20 US markets across the country.
"Our work with Walmart has shown that drone delivery isn’t just a novelty, it’s a service many customers count on multiple times per week," says Heather Rivera, Wing’s Chief Business Officer. "We’re already working with many communities in the seven new markets, as we accelerate our progress to bring ultra-fast delivery to 40 million residents throughout the US."
Wing’s drones fly at speeds up to 60 mph and use a tether to lower packages directly to a customer’s yard or driveway in as fast as 30 minutes.
“Customers expect their orders on their terms, delivered with speed and ease,” says Greg Cathey, Senior Vice President of eCommerce Fulfillment Transformation, Walmart U.S. “Expanding into new markets with Wing allows us to provide an innovative delivery option for customers, utilising our vast store network to make everyday shopping and fulfilling last-minute needs just a little bit easier.”
The latest phase builds upon previous announcements in Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Los Angeles and Miami.
Denner
Pudu Robotics, in collaboration with its authorised regional distributor Robobee, has announced a partnership with Denner, a Swiss discount supermarket chain and a subsidiary of Migros Group. This will see the deployment of 200 PUDU CC1 4-in-1 cleaning robots across Denner's store network.
The initiative forms part of Denner's broader modernisation programme, recently highlighted by CEO Torsten Friedrich, aimed at improving operational efficiency and enhancing the in-store customer experience.
"We are honoured that Denner selected PUDU CC1 to help address a critical operational challenge," says Felix Zhang, Founder and CEO at Pudu Robotics. "This deployment stems from a clear need: to maintain impeccable hygiene standards amid expanding fresh produce offerings, while alleviating the daily cleaning burden on store teams. The success of the initial pilot proved that robotics can be a reliable, safe, and integral part of the daily retail environment."
He adds: "Seeing the project scale from four pilot stores to a deployment of this size is a strong validation of both the technology and the operational value it delivers. It reflects a shared commitment to practical innovation and measurable day-to-day efficiency."
Bodycare
Bodycare has connected with PMC to design, orchestrate and deliver the digital infrastructure that will power its new store network as the health and beauty retailer prepares for its return to the UK high street.
Last year, it closed all its stores after collapsing into adminstration. Its brand and intellectual property were acquired out of administration in late 2025 by an investor group led by former The Body Shop and Molton Brown CEO Charles Denton, and it is now aiming to open 25 UK stores in 2026, growing to 200 locations over the next five years.
The plan is to run all store operations through a proprietary, custom built AI platform, which will see AI decisioning powering colleague actions, served via data harvested from the store, from task management, in-store network, CCTV and PoS systems to digital shelf technologies.
Bodycare also envisages making each new location a social content hub for local communities, generating localised content via staff, micro-influencers and customers. Each one will host a dedicated content production studio, generating social content each week, with content and UGC takeovers streaming live across digital screens.
“Store experience, digital presence and community engagement - all underpinned by AI intelligence - will be central to Bodycare’s new vision, as we prepare to welcome customers back,” says David Stern, Managing Director at Bodycare. “PMC is not just a transformation partner that we can trust with delivery - their trusted experience is helping us re-imagine, design and create the AI led strategy to bring our vision for Bodycare 2.0 to life.”
ORLEN Deutschland
ORLEN Deutschland has rolled out refive's digital receipt and customer engagement platform across more than 600 fuel stations in Germany.
Customers can now receive their digital receipt directly at the payment terminal via a QR code scan - no app required. This gives ORLEN Deutschland a channel to reach people after every visit with relevant offers, information and campaigns.
For fleet accounts, the integration delivers compliant e-invoices that meet tax requirements. Every receipt remains digitally available after the visit. Customers also continue to have the option to receive a paper version. Through an integrated receipt finder, they can retrieve any receipt within seconds after their visit, using a search by date, station and payment details, without needing to contact ORLEN Deutschland or the station itself. On the operator side, a receipt archive enables ORLEN Deutschland's support team to retrieve and reissue any receipt across the entire network immediately.
The deployment connected refive to ORLEN Deutschland's existing infrastructure with no changes to hardware or station operations.
"With the move to digital receipts, we are making the experience at our fuel stations faster, more digital and more sustainable for everyone who fills up with us. Eliminating thermal paper at more than 600 stations is a significant operational and environmental step and fits our strategy of developing our network with purpose. In refive, we have found the platform that enabled us to take this step across all our stations simultaneously,” says Andreas Trost, Chief Financial Officer at ORLEN Deutschland.
B&R Stores
B&R Stores, a family owned US grocery operator behind banners including Russ’s Market, Allen’s, Super Saver and Cash Saver, has introduced Simbe’s Store Intelligence platform, powered by the autonomous shelf-scanning robot, Tally, to select locations in Lincoln, Nebraska.
"We are committed to delivering the highest quality shopping experience, and Tally is a powerful tool that helps our associates do that more effectively every day," says Marty Jarvis, Director of Marketing at B&R Stores. "This technology eliminates repetitive manual audits so our teams can spend more time serving customers, keeping shelves stocked, and ensuring products are accurately priced."
"B&R Stores has built a strong reputation by investing in both its customers and store teams," says Negar Ballard, Senior Director at Simbe. "Bringing real-time shelf intelligence into daily operations gives associates better tools to maintain the high standards B&R's shoppers expect."
PepsiCo
Gatik has announced a multi-year partnership to deploy driverless trucks across PepsiCo’s North America food and beverage supply chain.
“This is the largest commercial driverless freight deployment to date in the United States, with over 40 driverless trucks already operating across Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas. And, we are just getting started,” says Gautam Narang, CEO and Co-founder at Gatik. “Earlier this year, Gatik announced more than $600 million in contracted revenue. Partnerships like PepsiCo are the foundation of that momentum: real customers, real operations, and the trust required to bring driverless freight to commercial scale. This moment was earned by our team. And it is just the beginning.”
“Serving our vast network of customers requires a supply chain that is safe, reliable, and built for the future,” says Jim Farrell, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at PepsiCo. “Gatik is already operating inside our networks and brings the autonomous freight technology, commercial experience, and scale we need to strengthen service, add capacity, and move products more consistently for our customers.”
Nobody's Child
Womenswear brand Nobody’s Child is rolling out Ometria’s customer data and experience platform.
It says it was looking for a tech partner that could: bring online and in-store customer data into one view, including Shopify POS; power real-time onsite personalisation and behavioral triggers; layer predictive AI into segmentation, frequency, and product recommendations; pair the technology with hands-on strategic support.
Hannah Reese, Head of Digital Marketing and CRM at Nobody's Child, says: “With an ambitious go-live timeline and a long list of complex integrations to manage, Ometria has supported us every step of the way. The onboarding has been transparent, well structured, and delivered entirely by their in-house experts.”
“That depth under one roof has removed the need for a third-party integrator, and the cost and complexity that comes with one. The hands-on approach has stood out from day one, and we're excited to keep working with the team to build outstanding omnichannel experiences for our customers.”
Tesco
ICE has announced a partnership with Tesco, launching a roll-out of autonomous cleaning robots across 600 Express stores. The pair are laying claim to the first deployment of this scale in the UK convenience sector.
The machines are designed as "co-bots" to work alongside Tesco colleagues. By taking over routine floor cleaning, they free up time for the store teams to focus on serving customers. The technology promises a highly consistent, premium clean every single day, backed by data tracking and reporting.
Mark Bresnihan, CEO at ICE, says: "As long standing pioneers in cleaning technologies, ICE is delighted to partner with Tesco on this project. We are providing not just our industry-leading autonomous machines, but also the comprehensive training and service support required to make this a success. Together, we are showing how data driven automation can work hand-in-hand with retail teams to improve cleaning standards."
Snappy Shopper
Snappy Shopper has officially launched in Jersey with Alliance Retail through an Iceland Foods store, marking its first expansion into the Channel Islands.
It says that early results show average order values reaching £72, significantly above typical UK convenience benchmarks. The partnership is powered by EdgePoS integration, enabling real-time pricing, stock availability and promotions.
Greg Deacon, VP, Snappy Shopper, says: “Launching in Jersey is an exciting milestone for Snappy Shopper as we continue to expand our reach and bring best-in-class convenience e-commerce to new communities. Partnering with Alliance Retail and Iceland has allowed us to hit the ground running, and achieving a £72 average order value so early is a strong indicator of both customer demand and the strength of the model in this market. With super fast delivery and strong slot availability, alongside our integration with EdgePoS, we’re delivering a seamless and highly reliable experience for customers.”
Ross Falla, Finance Director, Alliance Retail, comments: “We’re delighted to launch this new service for customers in Jersey, providing a reliable and convenient way for people to access groceries and everyday essentials without needing to visit a store in person. This partnership is an important part of our continued expansion plans, both digitally and through future retail growth across the islands. We see significant potential to broaden the range available to customers over time and continue improving accessibility and convenience for the communities we serve.”
ASICS and Runners Need
Capitalising on the the 2026 London Marathon, ASICS partnered with UK retailer Runners Need (part of the Cotswold Outdoor Group) to deliver a full funnel retail media campaign in support of the Gel Nimbus franchise.
The aim of the campaign was to drive demand, capture high intent shoppers, and convert sales across both digital and physical stores. It connected CRM, onsite media and in-store experiences.
Homepage placements, sponsored product ads and category content across key shopping environments generated a surge of demand, according to those involved. These were also supported by email placements which were designed to increase product visibility and drive consideration.
Runners Need then maximised conversion through coordinated in-store execution across six London locations. This included window takeovers, digital screens and footwear displays which were designed to influence shoppers who are at the decision-making point of purchase.
Jamie Kristow, CEO at Cotswold Outdoor Group, comments, “We’re really pleased to see such strong, measurable results for ASICS during a key cultural moment like the London Marathon. It shows how our retail media approach can help brand partners turn heightened demand into tangible growth across both digital and physical channels.”
Popeyes
Popeyes Louisiana Chicken has opened its first ever restaurant in the Republic of Ireland. This is located at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in Dublin.
In a LinkedIn post, Mike Tinnion, Creative Director at Popeyes, said: “The queues didn’t let up once during opening day (video taken yesterday before the chaos). Brilliant to see so many people trying our famous Louisiana chicken for the very first time.”
He added: “Super proud of the screen: a brand new digital display that doubles up as the entrance, blending animation and real photography. Its only job is to create atmosphere and bring our brand to life in a fun, engaging way. You’ll never see a sales message on it. That’s the whole point. And it’s the first of its kind across our 120-strong portfolio in the UK and Ireland. Massive thanks to all the usual culprits, with a special shout out to MediaNerd and Rèmi Cabarrou for bringing the content to life. Onto the next one!”
Depop
DRESSX is partnering with Depop to bring AI powered virtual try-on to resale fashion through a series of live events, beginning with the Governors Ball in New York on 5th June.
At that event, visitors were able to engage with the DRESSX Mirror, an AI powered virtual try-on experience featuring a curated selection of 300 items from Depop sellers across categories including Western, Y2K, Streetwear and Minimalism. Guests were able to mix and match tops, bottoms, shoes, bags, belts and accessories to create complete personalised looks directly within the experience.
Once guests finalised their styling combinations, they received their generated look via email or text message together with links to shop the featured pieces on Depop. The partnership highlights a new use case for DRESSX technology: making seller generated and UGC style fashion content instantly shoppable and interactive without relying on traditional high production e-commerce imagery.
“We are excited to partner with Depop to bring virtual try-on into a completely new context: resale fashion, seller creativity and live event discovery,” say Daria Shapovalova and Natalia Modenova, Co-founders at DRESSX.
“What makes this experience especially exciting is that it transforms Depop seller content into an interactive styling journey, where users can experiment with full looks in real time, including clothing, shoes, bags, belts and accessories. For us, this is an important step in showing how AI powered try-on can make fashion content more interactive, discoverable and engaging far beyond traditional e-commerce environments.”
“It also demonstrates that this technology is not limited to new luxury fashion or studio shot product catalogues, but can work equally powerfully within resale fashion and community-driven platforms so popular with Gen Z audiences. Making virtual try-on work with seller generated and UGC style fashion content is technically far more challenging than traditional e-commerce imagery, which makes this partnership especially exciting for us. It opens up entirely new possibilities for how pre-loved fashion can be experienced digitally.”
Ikea
Ikea UK is introducing Great British Bin Juice, a limited edition apple juice made from surplus British fruit, highlighting the value of food that might otherwise go unused.
A key part of Ikea's food waste reduction efforts has been the use of smart technology developed in partnership with Winnow, a company specialising in commercial waste solutions. Deployed in Ikea kitchens, the AI powered tool tracks what gets thrown away, capturing the item, weight and cost, making it easier for Food teams to take simple, effective action. The retailer says that implementing the technology has saved Ikea UK alone over £14 million in ten years, while reducing carbon emissions by the equivalent of taking 2,300 cars off the road.
Each bottle of Great British Bin Juice includes a QR code unlocking 20% off Ikea’s 365+ food storage range. This includes 365+ food containers and lids to help preserve leftovers, as well as a food storage basket with a see through design. Customers can attend free ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ workshops in participating stores, offering simple tips on storage, meal prep and creative ways to repurpose everyday ingredients. The workshops are free for customers to attend and will run in select stores from 6th to 13th June.
Karen Hughes, Country Food Manager at Ikea UK, says: “We believe good food should always be valued and enjoyed. ‘Great British Bin Juice’ is a fun and simple way to show how ingredients, often overlooked, can be turned into something delicious. But most importantly, it’s about sharing practical solutions that can help individuals make more of the food they already have. When we rethink the value of what’s already in our kitchens, those small daily habits can make a big difference.”
Shipt
Shipt is partnering with actress and entrepreneur Eva Longoria to launch Shipt Kits, a one click cart builder feature for major hosting moments.
Debuting ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the aim is to enable people prepping for World Cup watch parties or summer gatherings to customise, purchase, and avoid forgotten essentials.
"We believe no order is ordinary, especially when it comes to how our members celebrate. By turning moment defining shopping lists into seamless, one click curated kits, we're removing the pre-game scramble and unlocking a meaningful growth engine for our same-day delivery business," says Alia Kemet, Chief Marketing Officer at Shipt. "This is the kind of intuitive and relevant innovation our community craves, so they can spend less time shopping and more time enjoying what matters most."
"The best seat for the game is my own couch, but only if the food is right. In our family, soccer brings everyone together, and that means getting our game day spread right is important. That's why I teamed up with Shipt to announce Shipt Kits," says Longoria. "Shipt makes life so much easier - and now with the addition of these curated bundles, hosting is even easier, more elevated, and stress-free. You build your cart with just one click, and the entire spread shows up same-day so you can actually enjoy the game."
