An AI and technology vacancy arises at lululemon: 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 AllSaints, HMV, Co-op, Sainsbury's, Ikea UK, eCommerce Expo 2026, Wonder, and Serve Robotics.
1. AllSaints goes live with new customer engagement platform powered by Klaviyo technology
Fashion retailer AllSaints has launched a new customer engagement platform in partnership with Klaviyo. In a LinkedIn post, Alfie Meekings, Chief Transformation and Technology Officer at AllSaints and John Varvatos, said: “One of our core values at AllSaints is 'the customer is the boss' and so naturally one of our key transformation pillars is deeply focused on how we bring even more amazing experiences to our customers.”
He added: “This year, the focus is on how we empower our amazing global teams to be able to drive more personalised content and build genuine connection with people that want to connect with our brand. I'm pleased to share that last week we went live with a new customer engagement platform with Klaviyo to help us do exactly that. We'll be able to offer content that is far more personalised at a global scale, open new channels and ways to connect with our customers and make sure that the engine that sits behind it all is optimised with AI.”
“Getting this done so quickly and smoothly was a big cross-functional effort. This is also a significant project as it's the first that's been delivered by our new engineering team at our GCC in India led by Vijay Venugopal. Also a big thank you for the amazing partnership from team Klaviyo.”
2. Superdrug owner AS Watson ramps up NCR Voyix as it inks global Voyix Commerce Platform agreement
NCR Voyix has announced a new multi-year agreement with AS Watson, a health and beauty retailer, that expands their retail technology partnership.
Under the agreement, AS Watson will adopt the Voyix Commerce Platform, deploying Voyix POS, self-checkout, loyalty and managed services across select retail brands and markets in Europe and Asia, including Watsons in Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines; Superdrug and Savers in the UK; Kruidvat in the Netherlands; and Drogas in Latvia.
“This agreement marks an important milestone in the evolution of AS Watson’s retail technology landscape,” says Gerrit-Jan Steenbergen, Group Retail Technology Director, AS Watson. “By adopting the NCR Voyix Commerce Platform, we are creating a modern, scalable and cloud native foundation that will help our brands deliver exceptional customer experience while accelerating innovation across our global operations.”
“NCR Voyix understands the growth requirements of AS Watson and has proven to be a valued strategic partner. Together, we are building the platform that will support the next phase of our O+O growth and retail transformation journey.”
5. Wonder and Serve Robotics bring robot delivery to Grubhub marketplace in Chicago, LA and Alexandria
Wonder is partnering with Serve Robotics to bring autonomous delivery to customers in Chicago, Los Angeles and Alexandria on the Grubhub marketplace. The launch expands robot delivery across more than 100 participating merchants in Chicago and nearly 200 in Los Angeles, while also bringing the technology to Wonder’s Potomac Yard location in Alexandria.
"A year ago, our robots were delivering dinner in a handful of neighbourhoods. Today they serve three of the country's largest delivery platforms, they're rolling into new cities from San Jose to the nation's capital and their hospital cousins are showing up in health systems across the country," says Ali Kashani, Co-Founder and CEO at Serve Robotics. "Welcoming Wonder and Grubhub to our network is the clearest signal yet of where we are headed. Every new partner puts more robots to work and every delivery makes the whole fleet smarter."
"We're constantly looking for ways to make the customer experience more convenient and reliable," says PJ Poykayil, EVP of Customer Delivery Operations at Wonder. "Our partnership with Serve brings autonomous delivery to Grubhub customers in Chicago, Los Angeles and Alexandria while also enabling robot delivery from our Potomac Yard location in Alexandria. As we continue to grow, partnerships like this help us expand delivery options, improve efficiency and create a more seamless mealtime experience."
4. Co-op Group CTO Robert Elsey becomes retailer's latest high profile departure
Co-op’s Group CTO Robert Elsey is set to leave the business in October, with the retailer hopeful of naming his replacement before he departs.
Elsey joined Co-op in 2021 and guided it through last year’s high profile cyber attack. Prior to that, he was CTO and then CIO at Bank of England. The role at Co-op was newly created with CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq stating that the restrictions brought by the Covid-19 pandemic had shown the “increasing importance of technology and digital propositions - the role they play in our colleagues’, customers’ and members’ lives is here to stay”.
She added: “The CTO will play an instrumental part in helping us to maintain and build momentum in our marketplaces, as well as make meaningful differences to the lives of our members and communities.”
Earlier this year, Khoury-Haq said she was leaving. “It has been an honour to lead our Co-op as CEO. It is not only a commercial enterprise, but also deeply embedded in communities, doing right by them and our members every day,” she commented. “Following last year’s cyber attack, the organisation is now ready to deliver on an ambitious strategy of stabilisation and transformation. This extends beyond the timeframe I had planned for my CEO tenure, and now is the right moment to hand over to leadership that can commit to seeing the strategy through.”
“I want to thank all of our colleagues and members for their support over the years. I wish this wonderful organisation success in the future and, when the transition period is over, I look forward to continuing my relationship with our Co-op as a member owner.”
Co-op did not respond to our request for comment as to exactly why Elsey was following Khoury-Haq out the door, but it is understood that he has handed in his resignation.
5. Search on for new leader as lululemon Chief AI and Technology Officer Ranju Das leaves retailer
Ranju Das has left lululemon, where he served as Chief AI and Technology Officer. He joined the retailer in September of last year, with a focus on leveraging AI and technology to redefine the retail landscape, enhancing guest experiences and internal operations.
His LinkedIn bio noted: "My role involves creating responsible AI strategies that not only improves efficiency but also adds significant value for shareholders. I work closely with diverse teams to ensure our innovation is aligned with the company’s mission of being a leading brand for people around the world who want to live a healthy and active lifestyle."
“Ranju Das has left lululemon. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him well in his next chapter,” a lululemon spokesperson told RTIH “We are conducting a global search for our next technology leader and have full confidence in our current technology teams to continue delivering on our priorities.”
The spokesperson did not reveal why Das was suddenly leaving or whether this was connected to the recent departure of Chief Strategy Officer Rachel Acheson. He exits stage left just a month before incoming Chief Heidi O’Neill is set to start.
6. Ikea UK preps launch of secondhand products marketplace following Norway and Spain pilots
Ikea UK reports the upcoming launch of a new platform: the Ikea secondhand marketplace. Available to Family members, this is a dedicated space where pre-loved products can find a new home. The platform will enable customers to connect directly with one another. The announcement builds on pilots in Spain and Norway.
An Ikea spokeperson says: “We are always looking for new ways to make life at home even better and help our customers discover products they love. With the launch of Ikea secondhand marketplace in the UK, we’re taking a meaningful step toward creating a destination that simplifies access to pre-owned Ikea furniture.”
“Our goal is to make passing on beloved Ikea pieces as seamless as possible. We’re creating a trusted and vibrant space to make it quick and easy for our Ikea Family members to trade directly with one another. We want the process for buying and selling pre-owned products to be simple, accessible and rewarding.”
Further information regarding the official launch and how customers can participate will be made available in the coming months.
7. eCommerce Expo announces full line-up for 2026 show taking place at London Excel next month
eCommerce Expo has announced the full agenda for its 2026 show with a focus on building smart commerce in the age of AI and intelligent growth.
Returning to ExceL London across 23rd and 24th September, the event is set to welcome more than 10,000 e-commerce professionals from 200+ different organisations, with speakers including:
Millie Bright - former England Lioness, Chelsea FC captain and UEFA Women’s Euro winner
Ellen White - former England Lioness and record goalscorer, UEFA Women’s Euro winner
Jordy Jordan - Director of Product Management at Asos
Björn Bengtsson - Chief Product and Supply Chain Officer at UNTUCKit
Karl Lillrud - Speaker and AI Expert
Douglas Gremmen - Chief Growth Officer and Board Member at HYROX
Hilary Platt - Director at OpenAI
Deann Evans - Managing Director, EMEA at Shopify
Duncan Rutherford - Head of eCommerce at BT
Senior leaders from Space NK, Loaf, B&Q, L'Oréal, Amazon, Google and more will also take the stage to share practical case studies and outlooks heading into Q4 and peak season.
Co-hosted alongside Technology for Marketing and supported by UK e-commerce association IMRG, the show will feature more than 200 hours' worth of content hosted by some of the most influential voices in eCommerce. This year also marks the debut of Parcel+Post Expo, featuring dedicated tracks on fulfilment, delivery and post-purchase experiences - all delivered under the same roof.
“We’re at a pivotal moment for e-commerce and marketing, with technology advancing at such a pace and businesses facing the challenge of what to focus on to drive growth and be future-proof,” says Sarah Tully, Group Event Director for eCommerce Expo & Technology for Marketing.
“eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing bring together the people, ideas and technologies shaping what comes next. This is the place the industry comes to discover new solutions, hear directly from leading brands and practitioners, and have the conversations that turn innovation into meaningful commercial results. It’s about giving our community the insight, connections, and practical knowledge they need to navigate change with confidence and unlock new growth opportunities.”
Registration is free and open for retailers and B2B/B2C brands, with all three events available under one ticket.
8. Sainsbury's keeps the faith with Facewatch technology as customer is wrongly accused of shoplifting
Sainsbury's plans to continue with its roll-out of Facewatch facial recognition technology to approximately 200 stores during 2026, despite a customer being wrongly challenged as a shoplifter and asked to leave a store earlier this month.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said that this resulted from human error rather than a false match by the Facewatch system and that the retailer contacted the customer to apologise for his experience. "The incident was caused by human error, not the facial recognition technology. Customers can be reassured that the Facewatch system has a 99.98% accuracy rate, and every match is reviewed by a trained manager,” they added.
A Facewatch spokesperson commented: "We can confirm that our live facial recognition technology was not at fault in this incident. A correct alert was sent to the retailer, but was subsequently subject to human error in the way it was handled and communicated by the retailer."
Matt Arnold, 46, was buying items at a Sainsbury’s store in East Dulwich when he was stopped by management at a self-service checkout. He was waiting for a staff member to approve an alcohol purchase. Having scanned his items alongside his Nectar loyalty card, he waved an attendant over, but was instead approached by management.
"They came over and said I had to leave. The staff member said I'd been identified by the AI, and the cameras had flagged me," he told BBC London. "A shoplifter does not walk around with that much shopping, they don't scan it through, they don't put their Nectar card through. But what upset me was thinking this is what the future could be - people just listen to what the machine tells them to do without thinking about the consequences."
After being escorted off the premises, Arnold said he had looked back from the entrance and saw an overhead CCTV monitor alert with a red circle surrounding his face.
9. Vinyl loving HMV sees double at Bluewater Shopping Centre as retailer preps new store opening
Entertainment retailer HMV is moving on up at Bluewater Shopping Centre in the UK with a new two-storey store. It is poised to take over a 7,000 sq ft unit after Gravity Arcade shut down last month. A spokesperson for Gravity Arcade said that the premises were always intended to be a “temporary pop-up location”, which “operated for a limited period”.
The expanded store (double the size of HMV’s previous Bluewater location) will open later this year and stock vinyl, CDs, films, and TV shows, as well as T-shirts from major franchises including Star Wars, KPop Demon Hunters, and Funko POP! It will also offer a wide selection of books, from fiction and graphic novels to music biographies, young adult titles, and manga.
Phil Halliday, Managing Director at HMV and Fopp, says: "Bluewater has always been a key destination for the business, and we're thrilled to be expanding our footprint within the centre. Whether you're hunting down rare vinyl, diving into Manga, or picking up the latest merch, the new shop will offer something for everyone. We can't wait to welcome in customers later this year."
James Waugh, Centre Director at Bluewater, says: "As one of Bluewater's original retailers, having been with us since we first opened in 1999, HMV has always been a firm favourite with our guests. "Seeing them commit to an even bigger space is not only great news for us, but highlights a wider confidence in bricks and mortar retail. We look forward to seeing the new, larger store open its doors later this year."
The hmv delivers service will also be available, allowing people to order items not available in-store and have them delivered to their homes.
HMV currently operates more than 125 stores across the UK and Europe.
10. Yankee Candle announces partnership with THG Commerce as it officially launches on TikTok Shop in the UK
Yankee Candle has officially launched on TikTok Shop in the UK, giving customers the ability to discover and purchase its home fragrance products directly through the social commerce platform. The new digital storefront is being delivered in partnership with THG Commerce.
Lawrence Tickner, Senior E-commerce Manager at Yankee Candle, says: “We’re proud to announce the launch of Yankee Candle on TikTok Shop in the UK, in partnership with THG Commerce. As the social commerce space continues to grow, we are seeing a real appetite from consumers who want to browse, shop and engage with their favourite brands through social media platforms. Our mission is always to offer our customers a best-in-class retail experience, and we feel this launch is the logical next step in pursuing this mission.”
Exclusive offers, live shopping moments and tailored content sets are being lined up to support the launch.
