Tesco cleans up and Morrisons gets smart: last week's most read RTIH retail technology articles
Check out our most clicked articles from last week, including Coach, Aston Villa, FARM Rio, Inspectorio, Pret A Manger, Vusion, Butlin's, Boxbar Tech, Simbe, ICE, Pernod Ricard, and Ocado.
American luxury fashion brand Coach expands its open access collaboration with The Sims 4
Coach is ramping up its open access tie up with The Sims 4 with the introduction of a new collection inspired by the brand's (Re)Loved initiative. Marking the second collaboration between the pair, Coach says that the launch continues its “exploration of gaming as a space for creativity, self-expression, and personal style”.
Available for free to all players through The Sims Marketplace, the collection introduces four new Coach items to Create-A-Sim: Repurposed Cotton Trench Coat; Coach Cardigan; Horse And Carriage Striped Rugby Polo; Repurposed Denim Mini Skirt. The new pieces invite players to express their personal style and tell creative stories through virtual fashion, while honouring the in-game universe with localised Simlish apparel.
The move builds on the Coach x The Sims 4 collection launched earlier this year, which introduced ready to wear styles, Tabby and Brooklyn bags, and the interactive Coach Trunk.
Rina Chotai moves from fashion to football as she takes on VP of Technology role at Aston Villa
Rina Chotai has joined Aston Villa Football Club as Vice President of Technology. She was previously at Selfridges where she served as Head of Information Technology Services.
In a LinkedIn post, Chotai, whose CV also includes a stint at Dunelm (Head of Retail Technology), she said: "As I close one chapter and begin another, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone at Selfridges who have been part of my amazing journey."
"Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some truly incredible people and leading a team that has continuously grown in both capability and culture. Watching the team develop, overcome challenges, and achieve great things has been super rewarding."
She added: "Selfridges has given me opportunities, experiences, and relationships that I will always value, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported and inspired me along the way. Now, I’m excited to be entering the next phase of my career as Vice President of Technology at Aston Villa."
"From fashion to football, a move I couldn’t be more excited about. I’m looking forward to working with the new team, learning a new industry, and helping drive technology, innovation, and digital transformation in one of the most exciting environments in sport. Thank you again to everyone at Selfridges for being part of the journey. Here’s to new challenges, new opportunities, and an exciting adventure ahead."
Morrisons notches up a first as it deploys Instacart AI powered smart trolleys in Preston store
Morrisons has launched Instacart’s Caper Cart smart trolleys at a Preston supermarket, marking North American firm Instacart’s first retail partnership in the UK for its AI powered solution. These automatically recognise items as they are placed in the trolley, including weighing fresh produce on the spot.
Customers can bag items as they shop, saving time throughout the trip and making checkout quicker and easier. The trolley's touchscreen displays a running basket total to help customers stay on budget, makes relevant product recommendations, and enables them to scan their Morrisons More Card to access loyalty savings and promotions throughout their shop. At the end of their trip, they scan the barcode displayed on the trolley's screen at a dedicated Caper checkout lane to complete payment.
"Caper smart trolleys represent a new era for in-store grocery shopping - one where the physical store is as intelligent and personalised as the best online experience," says David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart. “Customers want technology that helps them stay on budget and discover products they love, and Caper smart trolleys deliver both, directly in the aisle. We're proud to bring this to the UK for the first time through our partnership with Morrisons, who share our belief that technology should make the weekly shop not just easier, but genuinely more enjoyable."
"Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we're always looking for ways to make their weekly shop easier, more rewarding, and more enjoyable, to give them more reasons to shop at Morrisons," says Gordon Macpherson, Productivity Director at Morrisons. “Caper smart trolleys do exactly that, giving customers real-time visibility of their spending, instant access to their More Card savings, and a more seamless experience in the aisle. We're proud to be the first UK retailer to bring this technology to our customers, and we look forward to seeing how shoppers in Preston and across Lancashire respond to this innovative new trolley in this in-store trial.”
Caper Carts are now live in more than 100 cities across the US and Australia with the likes of Kroger, Wakefern Food Corp., Schnucks, and Coles.
Fashion and lifestyle brand FARM Rio taps Inspectorio AI powered supply chain technology
Inspectorio reports that FARM Rio is aiming to digitise supply chain operations and streamline regulatory compliance with its Quality Risk Management, Lab Test Management and Traceability and Transparency solutions.
Founded in 1997, Rio de Janeiro born FARM Rio is a fashion and lifestyle brand known for its colourful textiles and nature inspired prints. Since beginning its international expansion in 2019 with the opening of its flagship boutique in SoHo, New York, it has built a sizeable following among younger shoppers across the US and Europe through a growing network of its own boutiques, department stores and fashion rental platforms.
Inspectorio will support it by further digitising and strengthening the brand’s global supply chain operations across retail locations in France, Italy, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. FARM Rio is a flagship brand of AZZAS 2154, Latin America’s largest fashion retail group.
“As one of the most recognised and fastest growing brands in the Americas, sustaining this growth requires a modern supply chain that aligns with our future,” says Alexandra Brito, Head of Quality at FARM Rio. “As we grow, Inspectorio provides us with the platform and regulatory expertise to fully digitise our operations. We can now scale our international business with the confidence that our supply chain meets the highest standards in the markets we serve across the Americas and Europe.”
Pernod Ricard hires Caroline Connan as Chief Data Officer and Mauve Croizat as Executive Vice President, Finance & Tech
Pernod Ricard has announced the appointments of Caroline Connan as Chief Data Officer and Mauve Croizat as Executive Vice President, Finance & Tech.
Connan, who previously worked at FORVIA as Group Chief Data Officer & Digital Transformation, said: “I'm excited to contribute to the group’s data and AI journey, helping build strong data foundations and turning data into business value at scale. A heartfelt thank you to the teams who have already given me such a warm welcome. I look forward to learning, collaborating, and building the future together.”
Croizat, meanwhile, succeeds Hélène de Tissot, who has decided to pursue a new professional opportunity, following a 23-year career with Pernod Ricard. During her near 20-year career with Pernod Ricard, Croizat has held senior leadership positions across Finance (Treasury, FP&A), Business Development, General Management in France, the United States and Sweden. Most recently, she has led the deployment of the group's global transformation programme, following successive leadership positions including Vice President Finance & Administration at The Absolut Company and Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard Sweden and Northern Europe.
Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: “I am delighted to appoint Mauve as Executive Vice President, Finance & Tech. Her career path within Pernod Ricard is a testament to the breadth of talent we have across the group. Mauve is a proven strategic and operational leader with a track record of building highly successful teams. I would also like to warmly thank Hélène for her outstanding contribution to Pernod Ricard over the past 23 years and wish her every success in her new role.”
Pret A Manger takes off again at Heathrow Terminal 5 with launch of its ninth store in UK airport
Pret A Manger has opened its new flagship store in Terminal 5 at London Heathrow - its ninth at the UK’s busiest airport. This offers Pret’s usual menu of barista made drinks and freshly prepared food, including Super Plates and Protein Pots.
There are also mobile handheld tills to help team members serve customers more quickly in the arrivals area, along with seating for 104 people.
In a LinkedIn post, Luke Kan, Global Head of Shop Format & Design at Pret, said: “We are immensely proud of what we have achieved with our new shop at Heathrow Terminal 5 Arrival Hall, a truly unique opportunity to showcase the best of Pret A Manger to the millions of international passengers that will be travelling through Heathrow every year.
He added: “The site presented a complex design challenge: to create a flagship vision and tailored shop format that will welcome all Heathrow customer groups. Working in collaboration with Draw Creative and KAD Retail, we are really happy with the outcome and hope the design will play a part in helping those visiting the UK form their best impressions of the country with inspiring design, freshly made food and prepared drinks and incredible customer service. Big thank you to the amazing team who worked tirelessly to deliver this project.”
Tesco completes initial phase of grocery retailer's ICE store cleaning automation roll-out
ICE recently announced a partnership with Tesco, launching autonomous cleaning robots across 600 Express stores. The pair said that this was the first deployment of this scale in the UK convenience sector. The initial phase of the roll-out has now been completed.
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.
In a LinkedIn post, Tabitha Gafencu, Project Manager - Stores Transformation and Operations Development at Tesco, said: "600 stores. One vision. Countless people behind the success. We've officially completed the initial phase of our 600-store cleaning automation roll-out - the largest deployment of its kind delivered in the UK to date."
She added: "A project of this scale and complexity is never about one team alone. It has taken the commitment, collaboration, and dedication of many stakeholders across the business, store colleagues, shift leaders, store managers, ICE engineers and suppliers to turn a shared vision into reality."
The next big digital media is the physical store, says Vusion, as company makes acquisition announcement
Vusion, a specialist in AI powered digitalisation solutions for physical commerce, has inked an agreement to acquire In-Store Media (ISM), an in-store retail media company, headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
“The next big digital media is the physical store” says Thierry Gadou, Chairman and CEO at Vusion. “Retail media has already transformed the economics of online commerce. The next frontier is in stores, where most shopper traffic remains and decisions of purchase are made. By combining Vusion’s connected store platform with In-Store Media’s track record, execution capabilities, and relationships with retailers and brands, we are helping retailers turn store traffic into measurable media value, new revenue streams, and more engaging shopper experiences in stores.”
“In-Store Media has developed itself by helping retailers and brands activate the full potential of physical stores” comments Fernando de Vicente, CEO at In-Store Media. “Joining Vusion would allow us to accelerate this mission with the technology, scale, and global footprint required to digitise in-store retail media at a new level. Together, our companies will support retailers in generating additional value from their foot traffic while creating better, more relevant experiences for shoppers.”
Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to be financed with debt.
Ocado veteran Chris Revill heads Down Under as he exits engoneering team lead role
Chris Revill has announced his departure from Ocado, where he spent just over 15 years, serving as Senior Engineering Operations Manager. In a LinkedIn post, in which he did not reveal his next career move but did reveal he is moving from the UK to Australia, he said: “Well, over 15 years at Ocado has come to an end today as I get ready to move to Australia for my next chapter. Exciting and a little bit scary!”
He added: “I don't think I ever thought I would stay so long but Dordon (a hub for grocery delivery for Ocado Retail and Morrisons in the West Midlands) has been a fantastic site where the people really pull together to keep breaking records and operating the site well above its original design specification. It has been a privilege to lead the engineering team and see all of the improvements they have delivered and continue to deliver facing up to the new challenges an older site brings.”
“I am especially proud of the EAL recognised learning centre we built on site in engineering which through the hard work of many of the team, providing assessors, IQA's and trainers have enabled so many people to gain NVQ Level 3 qualifications both electrical and mechanical. This has enabled so many people to reach their potential which has been great to see. I feel this has been a major factor in maintaining a good flow of talent on site and has been invaluable in a very difficult engineering job market.”
Revill concluded: “I would also like to thank my team over the years, way too many people to mention, but I have been blessed to lead so many talented people who I have seen grow and develop over the years into great leaders themselves. Its been a pleasure and good luck for the future to every one of you. Finally thank you to everyone in Ocado who has helped and supported me over the years and best of luck to Dordon in the future. On to the next chapter in the land down under!”
Butlin's notches up a hospitality first as it deploys Boxbar automated self-serve bar technology
Butlin's has completed the roll-out of 119 automated self-serve bar terminals across its three UK resorts, becoming the world’s first holiday resort operator to introduce the Boxbar machines. This is pitched as the largest deployment of its kind anywhere in the world.
The installation spans entertainment venues at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness. The aim is to increase bar service capacity all year round, maximise sales during peak trading periods, reduce queues and improve the guest experience. The 119-unit deployment spans Boxbar's full machine portfolio including Boxbar Mobile (2-Bank & 3-Bank), Container and fixed TapWall installations. By combining permanent and mobile formats, Butlin's says it can service a wide variety of indoor and outdoor venues whilst retaining the flexibility to support special events and changing guest demand.
The units can pour two drinks in as little as six seconds and serve a broad drinks menu, with 20 different products on offer across the Butlin’s portfolio. Across the three resorts, the deployment has the capability to dispense hundreds of drinks every minute. The technology has been integrated into Butlin's existing guest experience, including support for the resort's popular All Inclusive Drinks package.
