Blockbuster acquisitions, AI issues and changing shopping habits: the retail tech week in numbers
Do you like numbers? Do you like retail tech news? Then this is the article for you. Including Uber, Delivery Hero, Vusion, Decathlon, Wickes, lululemon, Costa Coffee, Lidl Plus, Asda, Walmart, dunnhumby, Fortnum & Mason, Evri Group, Wonder, Stripe, Advent International, PayPal, and Castorama.
$650 million and $9 billion…Wonder, a Marc Lore fronted food technology platform, has announced a $650 million Series D round at a pre-money valuation of $9 billion.
The round has participation from existing investors, including Accel, GV (Google Ventures) and New Enterprise Associates (NEA). New backers include certain funds managed by AllianceBernstein, ARK Invest and funds managed by Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management.
The funding will support Wonder's physical expansion, marketplace growth, and investments in technology, robotics and artificial intelligence. The company is set to go public in 2027 or 2028.
“Wonder was founded with the mission to make great food more accessible,” says Lore. “By building the technology, robotics and infrastructure behind a new kind of food platform, we’re making high quality food more affordable, more convenient and available to more people than ever before. This funding allows us to accelerate that mission.”
“It’s been exciting to watch the evolution of what Wonder is building - a fundamentally new way for people to access great food, at a level of quality and speed traditional players can’t match,” says Tony Florence, Co-CEO at NEA. “Our ongoing investment reflects our confidence in that model and in Marc’s ability to continue executing at scale.”
$53.4 billion…Stripe and Advent International have made a joint offer to buy PayPal in a deal valued at $53.4 billion.
This isn’t the first time Stripe has been linked with a potential acquisition of PayPal. Earlier this year, reports suggested the company had been exploring a takeover and was engaged in preliminary discussions, although no formal proposal emerged at the time.
$14.8 billion...After weeks of intense speculation, Uber has confirmed it will snap up Delivery Hero in a deal valuing the German food delivery company at around $14.8 billion. It’s a move that would expand the Uber Eats food delivery network in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, but it could also bring antitrust regulators in to play due to overlap in the companies' operations.
Delivery Hero has also entered into a separate agreement with New York-based investment firm SSW Partners. SSW will acquire Delivery Hero’s businesses in a total of 14 markets, particularly where Uber Eats and Delivery Hero already overlap for approximately $1.6 billion.
"Delivery Hero’s talented team has built an extraordinary business, with beloved local brands and leading positions across many of the world's fastest growing delivery markets,” says Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO at Uber. “By bringing our platforms together, we will extend affordable, reliable delivery to many millions more people in many of the world’s most dynamic economies, while creating more opportunities for merchants and couriers. Together, we’ll nearly double the number of markets where we offer both mobility and delivery services, scaling a proven platform that we believe will create significant long-term value for our customers and shareholders.”
“We are excited about this opportunity with Uber and the possibilities it offers for our employees, shareholders, and partners. Uber's global mobility and delivery platform and our shared commitment to innovation make this the right partnership to build on Delivery Hero's strengths in local food delivery and quick commerce, and to take our Everyday App strategy further for our customers,” says Niklas Östberg, CEO at Delivery Hero. “I'm grateful to our people for building this company over 15 years, and we look forward to this great next chapter together.”
1...The first Wickes pilot store has gone live with the home improvement retailer’s new unified commerce platform. It has embarked on a transformation of its till systems with a view to offering a seamless online/in-store customer experience and improved store inventory management.
Plans are also afoot to implement an order management system to simplify its ordering and fulfilment capabilities and improve customer order accuracy. This will take place in two phases launching in 2026 and 2027.
In a LinkedIn post, Ben Dahan of Wickes said: “The future of retail at Wickes is officially here! If you read our last annual report, you may have noticed our CEO talk about the transformation of our till systems and other investment projects. Today (15th July) marked a historic milestone as our Woking branch became the first Wickes pilot store to go live with our new unified commerce platform. This wasn’t just a simple till upgrade, but rather the first phase of a major digital transformation.”
Dahan added: “Watching the very first transaction process on the new system was an unforgettable moment, and the excitement in the store was palpable - the result of meticulous planning, rigorous testing, and constant development turning into reality. Achieving a transformation of this scale is a major undertaking. A special shoutout to the countless Architects, Developers, Store Operations, and Project Managers who have worked tirelessly to bring this to market. Sharing the shopfloor with several of those key figures today, watching the systems come to life and celebrating this milestone together, made the launch all the more special for me.”
“Being on the frontline of this massive change is a privilege. Over these first few weeks of live trading, each piece of feedback and insight we share from the shopfloor will be critical in shaping the roll-out and deployment across the business, which carries its own levels of responsibility. It’s a challenge the whole team is proud to take on, as we help set the rest of the network up for success. Here’s to setting a new standard for retail at Wickes!”
$30 million...Syntetica, a French company focused on technology to recycle complex textile waste, has announced a $30 million Series A funding round. This was led by the Ecotechnologies 2 fund managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance, with participation from SWEN Capital Partners, lululemon, MAS Holdings, existing investor EQT Ventures, and the family offices of Peugeot, Etam and Indorama Venture's largest shareholder.
The round, which takes the total raised to date to $38 million, also includes support from public institutions including Bpifrance (French public investment bank) and the European Innovation Council.
Syntetica has developed a proprietary solution capable of recycling both Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 from mixed textile waste in a single process. The company is working with brands including Victoria’s Secret and Etam, alongside a number of global apparel firms.
The funding will support the planned construction of Syntetica's first commercial demonstration facility in France, with the aim of bringing the technology from laboratory scale to industrial production, targeting the processing of hundreds of tonnes of textile waste each year. The demo plant will be developed through the company's partnership with Michelin's Centre for Sustainable Materials in Clermont-Ferrand.
700, 54 and 3...Vusion reports that Decathlon hit 700 stores equipped with its digital solutions during the second quarter 2026. The deployment now spans 54 countries across three continents (Europe, South America, and Asia-Pacific), making the sporting goods retailer Vusion's most internationally deployed customer to date.
Decathlon taps the company’s platform to automate price management. With instant, synchronised price updates on electronic shelf labels (ESL), store teams are freed from the time-consuming task of manually replacing paper price tags. As a result, they can dedicate more time to welcoming customers, delivering personalised advice and service to sports enthusiast customers. Meanwhile, discrepancies between the shelf price and the price charged at checkout are nearly eliminated, those involved claim.
“Thanks to ESLs, we have further enhanced the in-store experience while improving our operational efficiency. Deploying connected shelf labels at scale enables us to focus on our core mission: advising and supporting our sports customers. This project delivers immediate, tangible benefits for both our store teams and consumers,” comments Xavier Dété, VP Innovation at Decathlon.
“We are particularly proud to support Decathlon, a global retail leader highly valued by its customers and recognised for both the strength of its brand and its commitment to sustainability. This large scale partnership demonstrates our ability to support leading global retailers and industrialise our cutting-edge solutions in the demanding sporting goods sector - a high potential market where Vusion continues to strengthen its leadership position,” comments Sébastien Fourcy, SEVP EMEA at Vusion.
Launched in partnership with The Walt Disney Company, this stands almost nine metres tall, featuring golden honeycomb windows, a buzzing bees soundscape, illuminated Winnie the Pooh illustrations and bee facts, plus a built-in archway for passersby to step inside the hive itself. It is inspired by the working beehives on the train station roof and on Fortnum & Mason’s Piccadilly store rooftop.
Passers by will be able to discover more about the importance of bees, learn about the rooftop hives, and explore the storytelling behind A.A. Milne’s classic Winnie the Pooh book. The installation runs until 30th August.
1...lululemon has announced the opening of its first store in Austria, in partnership with Arion Retail Group. Located in the heart of Vienna on Kärnter Straße, this spans more than 200 square metres. Designed as more than a retail destination, the space will serve as a community hub, bringing together local ambassadors, fitness studios, trainers, and wellness enthusiasts through a year round calendar of events and experiences.
The opening weekend will feature complimentary wellness experiences, movement sessions, local community activations, and special moments in partnership with Vienna-based fitness and wellbeing partners. Guests will have the opportunity to connect with lululemon ambassadors and discover the latest product innovations.
As part of the celebrations, the first guests visiting the store will receive exclusive lululemon gifts, while curated in-store experiences throughout the weekend will, according to a press release, “showcase the energy, optimism, and sense of connection that define the lululemon community”.
The opening builds on recent market entries including Poland, Hungary, Greece, and Romania.
$21 million and $350 million...Augmodo, a US-based startup that puts AI powered cameras onto retail workers to track store shelves, has secured $21 million in a funding round led by existing backer TQ Ventures, taking its valuation to $350 million. The company says that it is scaling AI assistants for the physical workforce and accelerating its roadmap into manufacturing, automotive, convenience stores, and more.
“Just as AI is changing knowledge work, Augmodo’s physical AI is changing the future of physical work,” says Ross Finman, Founder and CEO. “The core thesis: picking up a box of Cheerios for an e-commerce order and picking up a wrench on a factory floor require the exact same intelligence. Both require a computer that understands a person, a hand, an object, and the 3D space around them in real-time. We built that by capturing egocentric data, seeing the world seamlessly through the physical worker's eyes, to enhance and enable people.”
He adds: “We weren't raising, but TQ saw our traction and came to us wanting to double down. We were excited to accelerate and follow the market pull beyond our initial go to market to build out our vision of augmenting the physical workforce with physical AI tools. An enterprise's best asset is its people, and our human powered AI is built to dramatically enhance the workforce rather than replace it.”
“Building an AI assistant that works seamlessly in dynamic, messy, real-world environments is incredibly challenging. But that's where the highest value lies. This capital gives us the runway to aggressively expand our global enterprise footprint, invest deeply in our core AI models, and scale our engineering team.”
1...Castorama has become the first DIY retailer in France to launch a store on Amazon. Customers can now shop products from some of Castorama owner Kingfisher's own brands, including Erbauer, Magnusson, MacAllister and GoodHome, through the US online giant.
A spokesperson for Kingfisher says: “This is another important step in accelerating our digital ecosystem and meeting customers wherever they choose to shop. Congratulations to the teams involved in making this happen.”
€45 million...Glacier, a European pureplay manufacturer of private label and co-manufactured ice cream and frozen desserts, has announced a €45 million investment programme that, it says, will expand production capacity, accelerate innovation and support international growth across its operations.
This will fund two new production lines in Italy to expand capacity in high growth product categories, alongside investment in additional warehousing, automation capabilities and upgrades to cooling facilities at its Langemark site in Belgium.
The new production lines will be dedicated to extruded ice creams and linear moulded ice lollies, to meet growing consumer demand for fruit-based ice creams that offer a lighter, lower calorie alternative. The first line will produce spiral ice cream lollies and fruit coated sticks, doubling the company’s manufacturing capacity in these formats. The second will expand Glacier’s water ice capabilities, increasing manufacturing speed while enabling the production of lollies with up to seven layered flavours.
Longer term, Glacier is in the process of creating a dedicated innovation centre at its Cavriago site in Italy, establishing a collaborative space where customers can co-develop, refine and test new products alongside the company’s innovation teams. The site is currently in its final design stage with plans for completion by the end of the year.
The new facility will, according to those involved, accelerate the speed at which Glacier can bring products to market, strengthen its product development capabilities and feature a multi-sensory kitchen and interactive studio where customers can taste new concepts while watching the product development process.
Matt Frost, Managing Director at Glacier, says: “Consumer expectations of ice cream continue to evolve, with growing demand for premium products, exciting new formats and lighter, fruit-based options that don't compromise on enjoyment. This investment strengthens our ability to respond to those trends, from expanding our fast growing bites portfolio to creating more innovative water ice and extruded products. Combined with our continued investment in innovation, it ensures we can help our retail and brand partners bring differentiated products to market more quickly than ever before."
1 billion...Evri Group says that it is now delivering more than one billion parcels on an annual basis. Martijn de Lange, Chief Executive at Evri Group, comments: “Shopping habits have changed for good. The growth of online small businesses, social commerce and pre-loved marketplaces last year is driving parcel volumes higher, with the combined Evri Group now delivering more than one billion parcels annually.”
“Following significant investment in our service, operations and people this year, including £50 million to more than double our ParcelShop and locker network by 2030, we are focused on meeting customers where they are, with greater flexibility, convenience and choice. The formation of Evri Group, through our merger with DHL eCommerce UK and acquisition of Coll-8, means we are better placed than ever to offer greater reach and more ways for customers to send, receive and return parcels at a fair price.”
He says: “Our ambition is to become the UK’s largest parcel company by 2030, delivering 1.4 billion parcels a year. We will achieve that by continuing to invest in our network, technology and people, while maintaining the quality of service our customers expect.”
3,000...Quadient reports that its Parcel Pending by Quadient locker network now exceeds 3,000 locations across the UK. Open to all major logistics providers, including Royal Mail, Evri, DPD and UPS, the lockers allow consumers to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day.
The network also supports prescription collection, retail Click and Collect, key exchange, spare parts collection and temporary luggage storage through partnerships with companies such as KeyNest, Stasher, Qeepl and Radical. Quadient lockers are available through a network of host partners, including Shell Service Stations, Morrisons, Northern Rail, Buzz Bingo, Everyone Active, The Range and Stonegate Group pubs.
"Surpassing 3,000 locations is more than a network milestone; it marks a fundamental shift in how people manage deliveries, returns, and everyday services. Consumers increasingly seek a single, convenient location to access multiple carriers and services. Carriers and retailers require dense and scalable infrastructure that improves efficiency and reduces costs and environmental impact,” says Geoffrey Godet, Quadient CEO.
“Our open locker network addresses these needs, creating shared infrastructure that benefits consumers, businesses, logistics providers, and host partners. As we continue to expand at a rapid pace across the UK, we are further building the foundation for the future of out of home delivery and local community services."
With over 28,200 locker units installed worldwide, Quadient says that it is on track to deploy 40,000 lockers globally by 2030.
£7 billion...Analysis from Experian reveals that buy now pay later (BNPL) continues to grow in popularity across the UK. From 15th July, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will begin to regulate the sector for the first time, introducing new consumer protections including clearer information, affordability checks, and access to support if they get into difficulty with repayments.
A look at Experian’s datasets found there were more than 100 million BNPL transactions across 8.5 million customers in 2025, worth more than £7 billion in spending. Of that spend, 98.5% of balances were repaid on time. Its popularity is continuing to grow. In March 2026, more than nine million transactions were recorded across nearly four million consumers, worth £621 million. Average transaction values remain modest at around £60.
Users of BNPL aren’t just younger consumers. While 25-34 year-olds remain the largest user group, adoption continues to expand across all age ranges, with particularly strong growth among older demographics. Customer volumes among those aged 65-74 have increased 46% year-on-year, while usage among consumers aged 75 and over has grown 53%.
John Webb, Head of Consumer Affairs, Experian UK&I, says: “It’s clear people of all ages have enjoyed the convenience of BNPL, helping them managing their monthly budgets affectively and without getting into difficulty. As with all forms of borrowing, it’s important to be aware of the commitments you’re taking on and keep a close eye on what your repayments will be. And remember that each time you open a new BNPL account, it will appear on your credit report, which lenders may consider when you apply for new borrowing, such as a loan, credit card or mortgage.”
15...Congratulations to Andy Saw who has hit 15 years at The Perfume Shop, a UK retailer founded in 1992 and owned by A.S. Watson.
In a LinkedIn post, the IT Director said: “That feels a bit crazy to write, it has literally flown by! Looking back, it is not just the projects, systems, stores, websites, launches or all the change that stands out. It is the people. That is what makes us special. Our culture, our people, and the fact that so many people genuinely care about what they do. I have been so lucky to work with so many brilliant people over the years, and that is what has made it such a great place to be part of.”
He added: “A huge part of what I am most proud of is the systems team we have built. I have been so lucky to have worked with so many amazing people in systems over the years. People who care, take ownership, look after each other, and just get stuff done. A lot of what they do happens quietly in the background, but the impact is everywhere - in our stores, online, in our support centre, and across the wider business. I am so proud of the team, the standards they set, and the difference they make every day.”
Technology has changed a lot over the last 15 years, but the last three years have been something else, Saw observed.
“With AI and the pace of innovation, it feels like tech has moved faster in the last three years than it did in the previous 12. That has meant my role has never really stood still. It keeps changing, challenging me, stretching me and giving me new things to learn. Even after 15 years, I am still learning every day, and I love that,” he said.
“I also want to say a big thank you to A.S. Watson. Being part of a group with that scale, ambition, support and belief in technology has helped make so much of this possible. I am really proud of what we have achieved, the team we have built, and the part technology continues to play in moving us forward. Excited for what comes next, and for everything we still have to build together.”
4 and 100,000...M&S has officially opened its revamped Pantheon flagship store on London’s Oxford Street. M&S Food, Fashion, Home and Beauty can be found over four floors and almost 100,000 square feet of shopping space.
These floors feature a new R&D concept. M&S will use the store to test and learn with successful features to be rolled out across the wider estate over time.
Pantheon is one of six stores the retailer is renewing in the capital this financial year, alongside four brand new openings. Across the UK, two new full line stores, 18 new Food location, four extensions and a number of renewals are planned.
Dedicated rooms across each floor at Pantheon showcase curated collections, with dedicated product moments, zoning and architectural features, supported by ambient lighting, a colour palette of signature heritage green and warm neutrals, bespoke scents and curated playlists.
Key features include a new bespoke suiting offer, a first for M&S menswear, enabling customers to create a made to order suit in-store, dedicated Body Shop lingerie room, Babywear room, Beauty Hall offering M&S ranges and third-party brands, including K-Beauty. An M&S x Kelly Hoppen homeware edit also features within a bespoke section of Home.
Across the location, customers will also find new product displays, digital screens providing outfit inspiration and a Click & Collect, payments and services experience.
120 million and 32...Lidl Plus is now live in all countries where the discount retailer has stores. A launch in the US on 15th July marked the final step in the loyalty and rewards app’s international expansion. There are now 120+ million users across 32 countries.
"Launching a platform at global scale across continents and time zones requires more than excellent tech and project management. It takes clear strategic alignment, seamless cross-functional collaboration, and an exceptional team committed to one shared goal," says Linus Himzmann, Global SVP and Board Member at Lidl International.
"What excites me most isn’t the scale itself - it’s what it enables: faster learning, better customer experiences, and new value through AI on one shared platform."
20...Kieran Shanahan, EVP & Chief Operating Officer at Walmart, has taken to social media to pay tribute to Rob Montgomery, who currently serves as Executive Vice President, Supply Chain and is celebrating 20 years at the US retailer.
Montgomery joined Walmart in 2006 as Logistics Engineer and has held various positions over the past 20 years, including Director US Replenishment. He took on his current role in January of last year.
In a LinkedIn post, Shanahan said: "Congratulations to Rob on his 20-year milestone with Walmart. Over the past two decades, Rob's leadership across strategy, replenishment, logistics, inventory flow, optimisation, network design, and planning has helped transform our supply chain and position it for continued success."
"As leader of our supply chain, his deep expertise and strategic vision continue to shape the future of our business and deliver meaningful impact for our customers and associates. We’re so grateful for Rob and his years of service, and also for his family who were here to celebrate with him. Thank you to Rob and all our long-term associates who have dedicated so many years to serving our customers and each other. Our people make the difference. Let’s go."
£750,000...Costa Coffee has returned to London Luton Airport, stumping up over £750,000 for the opening of a new 24/7 store. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this is located within departures and features touchscreen ordering and Click & Collect via the Costa Club app.
Armend Xhema, Area Manager at Costa Coffee, says: “We’re incredibly proud to be bringing Costa Coffee back to London Luton Airport. With our latest modern design, digital ordering and 24/7 service, we’re ready to serve passengers and airport teams whenever they need us.”
Mark Jennings, Interim Director of Non-Aeronautical Revenues at London Luton Airport, comments: “We’re thrilled to welcome Costa Coffee to London Luton Airport. Costa Coffee joins more than 40 other shops and restaurants that our passengers can enjoy at the airport and will be particularly welcome news for coffee shop connoisseurs.”
“Whether it’s a pre-flight flat white, a mid-morning matcha or getting holiday ready with a refreshing fruit cooler, the arrival of Costa Coffee, and its ever-popular seasonal menus, will be a huge hit with our passengers. Bringing yet another high street favourite to LLA demonstrates our commitment to offering even greater choice and underpins our simple and friendly passenger experience.”
500 and 450...Asda has signed a new partnership with Evolve that, it is claimed, will see all 500 Asda Express sites receive faster, more reliable and resilient internet connections that are critical to the operation of its IT, payment and security systems. The multi-year deal involves more than 450 stores being upgraded this year.
Asda operates a variety of Express retail formats, from forecourts to high streets, and each has increasingly data hungry technology, from payment systems to digital media, including the demands of food-on-the-go franchise partners. Evolve is providing a fully managed service that aims to get sites online quicker, using a range of carriers and connections.
Ashley Cowley, Head of Technology Portfolio at Asda, says: "Our Express store expansion is a key part of our growth strategy, and we're committed to ensuring every location delivers the convenient, reliable service our customers depend on. Investing in a new, resilient connectivity infrastructure means our teams can focus on serving customers confidently, knowing the technology behind the scenes is working as it should.”
39%...New research from dunnhumby flags how attitudes to AI chatbots and shopping agents varies by country with Ireland approaching twice the European average for AI assisted grocery shopping activity. The study shows that the UK is one of the heaviest users of AI when it comes to shopping despite also being the most sceptical with 39% of Brits saying they do not trust the technology.
Meanwhile, Germany combines comparatively high usage with the highest trust levels as 33% of respondents there reported mostly or completely trusting AI. AI assisted grocery shopping remains primarily a younger consumer behaviour rather than a mass-market habit, according to the research.
Over 1,400 shoppers took part in the survey from United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden and the Netherlands.
24% of 18–34-year-olds across Europe have engaged with AI powered tools with only 4% of those surveyed over the age of 55 saying the same. However, 48% of consumers aged 55+ trust AI "somewhat", while only 10% trust it mostly or completely, showing that routine and a need to demonstrate practical value may be holding back greater adoption. Younger shoppers are entering grocery shopping with AI increasingly already in their digital lives, while older consumers remain substantially more sceptical.
Price comparison is the most popular use of AI for shoppers (47%), while finding out more about products or ingredients came second with 31% using the technology for this purpose. Identifying personalised products was the third most common reason for shoppers to use AI tools like Chat GPT, with 26% of those surveyed using AI for this purpose.
Sandra Stanley, Chief Data Science Officer, dunnhumby, says: “This research shows that the new era of shopping is underway with loyalty needing to be earned both from the customer as well as the AI agent acting on their behalf. For retailers, the core fundamentals remain key to not falling behind in this space and that means clean, connected and well governed data, building responsible frameworks and driving AI literacy across the organisation so that teams understand and can act on opportunities.”
11,000...UK fashion retailer New Look has opened the doors to its largest ever concept store at Metrocentre. Located in the shopping centre’s dedicated fashion hub in Red Mall, the new 11,000 sq ft location includes an expanded womenswear, accessories and 915 teen range, along with Click & Collect, self-service returns, order-in-store and digital browsing.
Following concept store openings at Bluewater, Lakeside and Milton Keynes, the new store is the latest step in New Look's roll-out of its omni-hub format, bringing together its stores and digital platform with the aim of creating a more connected shopping experience under one roof.
The opening also builds on the growth of Club New Look, the retailer's first loyalty programme, which has now surpassed one million members. Together with a £30 million investment in digital capabilities, New Look is looking to make shopping more personalised and convenient for customers across both its stores and online channels.
Mark Matthews, Retail Director at New Look, says: " Opening our largest ever concept store is a proud moment for New Look and reflects how we're continuing to reimagine the role our stores play for customers. This space showcases the very best of what our omni-hub format can offer, combining a wider fashion range with smarter services and digital features that make shopping simpler, more inspiring and more connected than ever before. We look forward to welcoming customers through the doors and celebrating this exciting new chapter at Metrocentre."
