Everseen, Hanshow and Vusion are so hot right now: last week's most read retail systems articles
Check out our most clicked retail technology articles from last week, including Starship Technologies, White Castle, Murphy USA, M&S, Uber Eats, Coco Robotics, Tesco, Simbe, and the first ever RTIH Retail Technology Hot 100 List.
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…
You can download the hot 100 in pdf format here. Enjoy!
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?”
White Castle onboard as launch partner as Murphy USA starts roll-out of autonomous hot food platform
Murphy USA, a retailer of gasoline and convenience merchandise with more than 1,800 stores located primarily in the Southwest, Southeast, Midwest and Northeast United States, has announced an initial roll-out of an autonomous foodservice platform in select larger format stores, providing customers another way to access hot, branded food. The platform, developed by Automated Retail Technologies (ART), will launch featuring hamburger chain White Castle.
“We’re continually evaluating opportunities that create additional value for our customers while building on the strengths that have made Murphy USA successful,” says Scott Woodward, Murphy USA Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer. “This relationship allows us to introduce a new convenience offering informed by customer insights, while maintaining the operational discipline and focus on everyday value. We’re encouraged by the opportunity to drive incremental inside sales, traffic and basket growth.”
“We’ve spent more than a century finding innovative ways to bring our Crave to customers wherever they are,” says Audra Mazzeo, White Castle Vice President of Retail Sales. “This partnership creates a unique opportunity to meet customers during their everyday routines and deliver the White Castle experience in a way that is convenient, fast, and incredibly tasty.”
Customers place orders through a touchscreen interface and receive hot food in approximately two minutes. Behind the scenes, ART’s technology automates preparation, heating, and delivery within a self-contained system. The technology is also designed as a modular, multi-brand platform capable of supporting nationally recognised brands, regional favorites and a variety of food categories over time.
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.”
Japanese fashion retailer UNIQLO lands at Canary Wharf retail and leisure destination in East London
Canary Wharf is getting a new addition to its fashion line-up with the arrival of UNIQLO.
Stuart Fyfe, Managing Director of Retail, Leisure and Hospitality at CWG, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome UNIQLO to Canary Wharf. This is a brand that has built a global following by making exceptional quality feel effortless and accessible. UNIQLO joins a host of innovative, forward thinking brands that are redefining what a world class retail and leisure destination can feel like, and we couldn’t be more excited for them to be part of the story.”
“The momentum we’re seeing across the Wharf this year has been remarkable. Footfall continues to grow, our visitors are spending more time here and the energy across the retail, dining and leisure offer is palpable. UNIQLO aligns with our ambition and amplifies that energy. It’s another clear indication that Canary Wharf is one of London’s most exciting and dynamic destinations.”
UNIQLO follows a number of recent deals including Jigsaw, premium footwear retailer Nokwol, Sushi Dog, Holy Greens making its UK debut, Vagabond, The Tallyman and Bronson Burger. Sea Lanes Canary Wharf - an open air floating swimming pool - opened in June, welcoming more than 30,000 swimmers within the first month of opening.
99% of the estate’s retail and leisure space is currently occupied.
Uber Eats set to launch robot deliveries with Coco Robotics in EU market with Finland up first
Uber Eats is bringing robot delivery to the EU. This week, Finland will become the first EU market where its customers can get their orders delivered by autonomous robots, starting in central Helsinki through a partnership with Coco Robotics. Customers matched with a robot can follow its journey in the Uber Eats app.
A spokesperson says: “We’re growing fast in Finland. We launched Uber Eats in May with three cities, and just three months later we’re adding eight more, bringing us to 11 cities and areas across the country. Helsinki is a particularly exciting place to take this next step: the robots have already been put through their paces on the city’s streets and in Finnish winter conditions. Now they’ll be delivering for Uber Eats alongside our existing courier network.”
Starship Technologies pulls delivery robots from Sheffield streets following vandalism and threats
Starship Technologies has said its fleet of delivery robots will no longer operate in Sheffield. The company launched a pilot in the city in March, with the robots being used to deliver food for Uber Eats.
Ryan Case, Public Affairs and Communication Manager at Starship Technologies, says: “Our pilot in Sheffield has now come to an end, and we have paused the service while we review what we’ve learned. We’ll assess the results of the pilot before deciding on any future deployments of robots in the city. We regularly assess a number of areas across the UK, and Sheffield remains one of them.”
The move comes after a small number of the robots and their infrastructure were vandalised. This included the words ‘off our street’ being daubed across their tops and flags meant for increased visibility being snapped off. Traffic cones were also placed behind robots in an attempt to stop them moving.
Case adds: “There have been a small number of incidents of vandalism in Sheffield, which is disappointing, not least because it affects the local businesses that rely on the robots for deliveries. However, vandalism was not a factor in our decision to pause the service: this was a commercial decision and a natural conclusion to the pilot phase.”
The pilot highlights a key challenge facing autonomous delivery companies. The technology clearly works out in the wild. However, long-term deployments have to win over both customers and communities, whilst proving that the economics work.
The clock is ticking: there are now just five weeks left to get your entries in for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
The eighth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now up and running with the deadline for entries being Friday, 2nd October. That’s just five weeks away, so don’t delay, start working on your submissions today!
The awards, sponsored by 3D Cloud, Business France, and Retail Technology Show 2027, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world. Our latest winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC (Prince Consort Rooms) in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Click here for FAQs, categories, and information on our judging panel.
Sign up for an account and submit your entry or entries here.
Key dates for 2026
Friday, 20th February: Awards open for entries
Friday, 2nd October: Awards entry deadline
Tuesday, 6th October: 2026 finalists revealed
Wednesday, 7th October - 20th October: Judging days
Wednesday, 4th November: Winners announced at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC (Prince Consort Rooms) in Central London.
Please email our awards team if you have any questions or need further information: awards@retailtechinnovationhub.com
