Walmart changes Apple Pay stance as Tesco doubles down on robots: 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 Gap Inc., The Home Depot, M&S, Burberry, KFC UK & Ireland, Gatik, Kroger, Instacart, Everseen, Hanshow, OpenAI, and the first ever RTIH Retail Technology Hot 100 List.
1. Justin Breton departs Walmart for Fashiontainment push across Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta
Last week, we reported that Justin Breton had left Walmart, where he spent the past six and a half years, most recently serving as Head of Partnerships, Content & Emerging Experiences.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “It’s truly hard to put into words just how excited I am for this opportunity. I’ve spent much of my career exploring what happens when brands create experiences people genuinely want to be part of, whether through content, gaming, entertainment, or the unknown.”
“Now, I get to take everything I’ve learned and apply it in an entirely new way: helping develop original content and entertainment for some of the most iconic brands in the world. I’ll be working alongside Pam Kaufman (Chief Entertainment Officer) and an incredible team to dream up ideas, develop them, and help bring them to life.”
He concluded: “I’m grateful to the Gap Inc. team for believing in me. Grateful to everyone who has helped me get here. And incredibly excited to be a beginner again, to listen, learn, meet new people, and build something new and exciting together. One great story with Walmart may have ended, but I have a feeling this next chapter is going to be a fun one.”
2. Tesco extends its UK trial of Simbe's in-store autonomous inventory scanning solution Tally
Last month we reported that Tesco was trialling Simbe’s Tally in-store shelf scanning robot.
Having kicked off with a single store, the pilot is now being extended to a small number of other locations. Thanks to Toby Pickard, Retail Futures Senior Partner at IGD, and a member of the judging panel for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards, for bringing this to our attention.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “I’ve now seen Simbe’s Tally robot in a third Tesco store in the UK - another store trialling autonomous inventory scanning. But this time, I had my son with me. His reaction was fascinating. He was completely intrigued by Tally: watching it move around the store, trying to work out what it was doing, and following it with the kind of curiosity only a child can bring to something that feels like it has just stepped out of the future.”
He added: “I’ve heard that in the US, some shoppers will even choose stores specifically because they have Tally, because their children love seeing the robot. Honestly, I can believe it. And it got me thinking…We often talk about retail automation in terms of efficiency, accuracy, labour productivity and ROI. But what happens when the technology itself becomes part of the customer experience? Could robots like Tally become something that customers - and especially children - actively want to see?”
Could, Pickard asked, the presence of robots change which stores people choose to visit? And perhaps more importantly: what happens when the next generation grows up thinking autonomous robots moving around a supermarket is completely normal? Will they see Tally as technology? Or simply as part of what a modern store is?
Pickard concluded: “There’s a fascinating intersection here between automation, operations, customer experience and the psychology of physical retail. I’m increasingly convinced that the question isn’t just, what can robots do for retailers? It’s also, what can robots make customers feel about the future of retail?”
3. Walmart backs down on stand against contactless payments with Apple and Google Pay
Walmart will this week start adding tap to pay options to its checkout stations at US stores and Sam's Club warehouses, with deployment set for completion by end of year. Fuel stations will be upgraded by mid-2027. This includes options like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Walmart has long resisted the rise and rise of NFC-based payments, opting instead to go all in on its Walmart Pay app and Scan and Go app features for contactless payments.
In a LinkedIn post, Sam Amrani, Founder and CEO at PassBy, said: "Isn't it crazy to think that it's 2026 and Walmart doesn't accept Apple Pay? Until now that is. This has been a case of America's largest retailer vs America's largest consumer tech company."
He added: "Inevitably, Walmart Pay will go down as the largest attempt at creating a closed loop payment system. Its demise will be the final nail in the coffin for retailers trying to create proprietary payment rails for their ecosystem. Ultimately, convenience wins."
"The consumer is the kingmaker, and the result was clear, the convenience of Apple Pay was too important to the customer journey. It will make customers happier and Walmart - although adopting reluctantly - will see this lead to faster transaction times, happier customers and more visits."
4. Nathan Davies swaps financial services for retail as he takes on data and AI role at M&S
Nathan Davies has joined Marks & Spencer as Head of Data & AI Delivery.
In a LinkedIn post, Davies, whose CV includes stints at BlackRock and Lloyds Banking Group, said: “M&S is continuing to scale its data and AI ambitions, and my focus will be on building a strong, predictable delivery capability that helps teams turn great ideas into measurable business impact with clarity, pace, quality, and confidence.”
He added: “What I have seen already is the energy, talent, and ambition across the organisation. I look forward to partnering with teams across data technology, product, analytics, governance, operations, and retail to accelerate delivery while maintaining the quality, governance, and operational excellence required for successful scaling.”
“While I am excited about what lies ahead, I am equally grateful to the many people who have supported me on the journey here. To colleagues, leaders, mentors, friends, and family, thank you. Every opportunity is built on the encouragement, trust, and contribution of others. I have always believed that while individual talent matters, it's teams that win. The best outcomes happen when great people come together around a shared purpose, and I look forward to becoming part of that team at M&S. Excited for the journey ahead and ready to get started.”
5. Kroger connects with Instacart so customers can shop for groceries and prescriptions in a single order
Grocery and prescription delivery is now available across nearly all Kroger banners in the US, including Fred Meyer, Ralphs and Harris Teeter. The Instacart powered capability connects customers to more than 2,200 Kroger pharmacy locations.
Eligible prescriptions are filled and verified by Kroger pharmacy teams before being delivered from the store by an Instacart shopper.
"We're committed to making it easier for our customers to take care of their health and their families," says Colleen Lindholz, President at Kroger Health. "This new service combines the convenience of grocery delivery with the personalised care provided by our pharmacy teams. Customers have groceries and eligible prescriptions delivered together, knowing their prescriptions are filled and verified by the trusted Kroger pharmacy teams who serve their communities every day."
"Grocery delivery has always been about removing friction from people's lives, and picking up a prescription is one of the most important errands customers manage," says Ryan Hamburger, Chief Commercial Officer at Instacart. "Together with Kroger, we're making it easier for customers to access groceries and pharmacy services in one order, bringing greater convenience to everyday life while preserving the trusted pharmacy experience customers depend on."
6. Everseen, Hanshow and OpenAI top first ever RTIH Retail Technology Hot 100 List
In partnership with 3D Cloud, RTIH is pleased to launch its first ever Retail Technology Hot 100 List. We’re bringing you the hottest companies whose solutions and systems are helping drive the retail sector forward.
These companies operate across the omnichannel retail landscape (stores, online, mobile, supply chain, payments etc).
Our judging panel, including Vineta Bajaj, Group CFO, Holland & Barrett, Dan McGrath, JD Group Customer Operations, JD Sports, Dr. Astha Purohit, Director of Product Management, Customer Data and Identity, Walmart, and Paula Bobbett, Chief Data and Digital Officer, Boots, provided feedback on those who have the most innovative, forward thinking technology offerings and are also best addressing retailers' current challenges, painpoints, and opportunities.
The judges used the following framework when making their picks:
1. Retailer problem fit - how meaningful, strategic, and widely felt the retailer pain being addressed is. 2. Production traction in retail (2025–2026) - real named retailer deployments, pilots. 3. Innovation and defensibility - genuine technical novelty paired with a defensible competitive position.
And there was also a public vote, with thousands of members of our community of retail tech enthusiasts getting involved. Thanks to all those who took part! Based on the judging panel's feedback and the public vote, we then drew up our first ever RTIH Retail Technology Hot 100.
So, without further ado, here are the 100 hottest global retail technology ventures right now. Drum roll, please…
7. Autonomous trucking firm Gatik lands $200 million in funding amid growing grocery and CPG supply chain demand
Gatik has announced $200 million in financing as it records increading demand for driverless commercial freight across Fortune 50 retail, grocery and CPG supply chains. The Series D round was led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), with participation from Millennium Management, ARK Invest, Intact Private Capital and others.
The capital will be used to expand Gatik's commercial operations and fleet, while it continues to invest in technology, infrastructure and its workforce. It moves freight between distribution centres and stores across Texas, Arizona and Arkansas in the US and in Canada and is targeting more than 100 driverless trucks by the end of 2026.
“This round, led by some of the world’s leading financial institutions, is a clear validation of our commercial leadership in autonomous freight,” says Gautam Narang, CEO and Co-founder at Gatik. “We have built Gatik with real revenue, deep customer demand, and AI driven autonomous technology proven every day in live supply chains. This round gives us the capital to scale with speed and discipline, serve the world’s largest companies, and define the future of autonomous freight.”
“Autonomous freight is transforming the global logistics industry, making it more efficient and reliable,” says Abdulla Al-Kuwari, Head of Industrials at QIA. “QIA is committed to supporting next-generation solutions providers like Gatik that are shaping the future of freight infrastructure.”
8. Jon-Paul Brett swaps fashion for fast food as he exits Burberry and heads to KFC UK & Ireland
Jon-Paul Brett has taken on the role of Chief Digital & Technology Officer at KFC UK & Ireland. He joins from Burberry, where he spent the past ten and a half years, most recently serving as Global Digital Director.
A spokesperson for KFC UK & Ireland says: “Our Original Recipe hasn’t changed. How we run KFC definitely has. Behind the scenes, we’re exploring how AI can empower our restaurants, giving our teams more time to focus on what matters most: our customers and our fried chicken.”
“With 70% of transactions already digital, we’re continuing to modernise our restaurants through new designs, digital kiosks, and digital drive-thrus. Creating a simpler, more convenient experience for customers, whether they eat in or take food to go. So there couldn’t be a better time to welcome Jon-Paul Brett our new Chief Digital & Technology Officer for KFC UK & Ireland.”
They added: “Jon-Paul joined us in July and has wasted no time getting stuck in. He’s been out in restaurants meeting the team members who use our tech every day, while also spending time with our Tech team and franchise partners to understand where the biggest opportunities lie to create best in class experiences for our teams and customers.”
9. Toolstation launches omnichannel gift card programme powered by Edenred Payment Solutions technology
Edenred Payment Solutions (EPS) reports the launch of a new closed loop gift card programme for Toolstation, a UK omnichannel retailer of tools, accessories and building supplies. This enables DIY enthusiasts and trade professionals to purchase and redeem gift cards across all Toolstation touchpoints, including in-store across its network of over 550 UK branches, online, or through the retailer’s mobile app.
Powered by EPS’s API-based payments platform, the programme provides Toolstation with end-to-end card processing capabilities, including real-time top-ups, balance enquiries, and secure redemptions built directly into its checkout systems with zero third-party redirects. EPS also equips the Toolstation team with dedicated customer service management tools and analytics dashboards to monitor activity, breakage, customer behaviour, and campaign performance.
Rehana Mitha, Managing Director at Edenred Payment Solutions, says: "Toolstation is the latest retailer to recognise the importance of incorporating gift cards into their customer proposition. They wanted to create a brand new programme with zero friction when their customers were using the gift card, regardless of how they choose to purchase and redeem across stores, the web and app.”
“They set an ambitious goal of integration, card manufacture, and launch in their stores in just eight weeks. Our dedicated project team worked with great agility and close collaboration with several Toolstation stakeholders to meet this timeline. We are thrilled to support Toolstation with an end-to-end payment solution that promotes long-term customer loyalty while also giving rise to meaningful community and B2B initiatives in the future."
10. Christine Foster departs Kroger Precision Marketing to join The Home Depot's retail media offshoot
The Home Depot reports that Christine Foster will join the retailer as General Manager and Vice President at Orange Apron Media, its retail media arm, effective 8th September.
Foster brings with her 20 years of experience across retail media, digital marketing, content creation and media strategy. She joins from Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM), where she served as Group Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Operations.
“Christine’s deep experience, paired with a proven track record of building high performing teams and driving measurable growth, makes her the right leader to grow Orange Apron Media into an even more powerful engine for our brand partners. I know her vision and leadership will help us accelerate our strategy and unlock new value for the brands and customers we serve. We are thrilled to welcome her to The Home Depot,” says Molly Battin, Chief Marketing Officer at The Home Depot.
