JD.com gets physical as Kingfisher cashes in on AI: 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 Co-op, Instacart, StrongPoint, Dollar General, Morrisons, InPost UK, Asda, Thri5, and the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
1. Focus on 'seamless shopping upon seeing' experience as JD.com preps new 101Home store in Shanghai, China
JD.com reports that its first 101HOME store will open on 28th September in Jing’an District Shanghai. Building on the launch of an online flagship store in 2025, this is pitched as a premium lifestyle retail destination that brings together global design, home furnishing solution, smart technology, fashion, renovation services, dining, art and cultural experiences under one roof.
The retailer says that with its global sourcing capabilities, self-operated retail model and omnichannel infrastructure, 101HOME will offer a seamless “shopping upon seeing” experience, allowing consumers to explore new possibilities for their homes and discover the art of everyday living. Spanning approximately 12,000 square metres across four floors, 101HOME is designed to meet the evolving needs of consumers from age 0 to 101, across different life stages, household structures and lifestyles.
It brings together more than 1,000 full category home and lifestyle brands, including over 30 international brands making their China debut and more than 150 domestic and international brands making their JD.com debut. At the heart of 101HOME are 33 “Dream Homes”, designed for different living situation, family structures, lifestyles and interests.
The Shanghai store features spaces created by British designer Kelly Hoppen, and Japanese designers Shuhei Aoyama and Takashi Honma. Chinese designer Wang Heng (Ryan) draws on Song dynasty inspired aesthetics to create a three-generation family home. Consumers can step into fully designed home settings and see how furniture, lighting and furnishings come together, offering inspiration for their own homes.
2. Norwegian fashion retailer VILLOID inks deal with StrongPoint for world's largest Pio installation
StrongPoint has signed a contract with VILLOID, a Norwegian online fashion platform for women. This will see it design and install its new Pio facility, created by AutoStore, a warehouse automation solution.
The contract value is approximately NOK 17 million, and the installation is expected to be completed by Q2 2027.
VILLOID is moving its fulfilment centre to a new location, and the new Pio system will be doubled in size as the retailer requires additional capacity to support future growth. When completed the system is expected to be the largest Pio installation in the world.
"Retailers like VILLOID are looking for partners that understand their fulfilment operations, not just automation. That aligns with StrongPoint's focus on customer intimacy, working closely with customers to understand their operations, improve operational outcomes, and act as a partner rather than simply a supplier. We look forward to supporting VILLOID on its expanding automation journey," says Jacob Tverabaak, StrongPoint CEO.
"We have had a very positive experience with AutoStore Pio over several years. World class logistics with same-day delivery has been a key driver of our strong and profitable growth, delivering on customers' expectations of exceptional fulfilment service. StrongPoint will be a valuable partner as we continue our expansion, and with the new, larger Pio system we look forward to the additional capacity as we scale toward our next milestones. The facility will be the largest AutoStore Pio facility in the world," says Jeanette Dyhre Kvisvik, CEO and Founder at VILLOID.
3. Former McDonald's and Compass Group executive Jon Braithwaite connects with Co-op as new Group CDIO
Jon Braithwaite has joined Co-op as Interim Group Chief Digital and Information Officer. His CV includes stints at McDonald’s, Compass Group, and Gala Coral Group. Braithwaite is also an advisory board member at micro-donations specialist Pennies.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “Co-op is a business that combines commercial scale with genuine social purpose, and few organisations are as trusted. Technology sits right at the heart of how we serve member-owners, customers and colleagues. I'm looking forward to working with the brilliant team here and building on the momentum already underway. Exciting times ahead.”
4. AI startup Thri5 builds on Wild Fork Foods pilot as it lands $5.4 million in seed funding
Thri5 has announced $5.4 million in seed funding following a pilot and roll-out with Wild Fork Foods. The round was co-led by Whitecap Venture Partners and Mistral Venture Partners, with participation from MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF), N49P and a group of retail and technology veterans.
Wild Fork has deployed Thri5’s AI technology across its store network in the United States and Canada.
“What I look for in any new tool is whether it connects what’s happening on the floor with what we plan centrally, and whether the team can actually trust the data. Thri5 does both. Adoption was fast because it told operators what mattered each day, not just what to look at,” says Radek Mazurkiewicz, COO at Wild Fork Foods.
Thri5 is built as an AI native execution layer that develops context across the enterprise, understanding what is happening across the business, how work gets done and where value is being lost. It continuously interprets signals across a retailer’s data and systems, identifies and prioritises the highest value opportunities, and connects head office priorities with field and store execution, orchestrating action across teams, systems and AI agents.
As work is completed, Thri5 learns from outcomes, building deeper operational context and improving how the organisation executes over time. Because it sits above retailers’ existing technology stack, it can coordinate execution across functions without requiring them to replace or migrate their core systems.
5. Home improvement retailer Kingfisher taps AI tech driven personalisation as it ups profit target
Kingfisher Group, which owns B&Q and Screwfix in the UK and Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other markets, is using AI enabled productivity tools, including Fabric, to accelerate content creation, enhance SEO and improve conversion.
The FTSE 100 home improvement retailer lifted the lid on its AI and other tech initiatives as it raised its profit target despite seeing a heatwave driven drop off in sales at B&Q. It now expects to make a pre-tax profit of between £595 million and £635 million, having previously guided between £565 million and £625 million. Last year, it posted a £560 million profit.
Other highlights from its full year profit guidance and HY26/27 results include: group e-commerce sales reached 22% penetration. Group app sales now account for 29% of e-commerce sales, with app customers spending approximately 14% more than non-app users.
AI driven personalisation increased +16% generating approximately £100 million of sales, showing, Kingfisher claims, the growing value of its data and digital capabilities. Click & Collect sales were up +9% and home delivery sales +15%, supported by store-based fulfilment network and marketplace growth.
Screwfix Sprint (20 min delivery) was up +50% reflecting the growing demand for rapid fulfilment, particularly in Kingfisher’s City stores. Marketplace GMV rose +42% to £372 million, representing 18% of e-commerce sales. There has been investment in platform enhancements including Buybox, which helps customers find the best offer from multiple vendors by balancing price, merchant performance and delivery speed.
B&Q, meanwhile, continued to stump up cash for search and navigation capabilities, supporting improvements in online traffic and conversion. Natural language search is planned for implementation at B&Q in H2. The next phase of digital commerce will also include agent enabled shopping experiences.
6. InPost hails significant UK retail partnership as it inks Asda parcel lockers deal across 700 stores
Asda and InPost have announced a new partnership that will see up to 700 of the latter’s parcel lockers installed across the former’s UK store estate. This will give Asda customers a new way to send, collect and return parcels while they shop, and is pitched as one of InPost’s most significant UK retail partnerships to date.
The lockers will be installed across a mix of Asda superstores, supermarkets and Express locations.
Joseph Sutton, Director - Express, Fuel & Wholesale, says: "Our unmatched mix of services is a key part of what sets Asda apart, and we know customers increasingly value the convenience of being able to tick off multiple tasks in a single trip. We're delighted to be partnering with InPost to bring parcel lockers to up to 700 locations nationwide.
This roll-out gives customers a fast and flexible way to collect and return parcels, seamlessly fitting around their weekly shop and making everyday life a little easier."
7. UK grocery giant Morrisons names former Kingfisher executive Mohsen Ghasempour as Chief AI Officer
Morrisons has appointed Dr Mohsen Ghasempour as Chief AI Officer, a newly created role that will see him establish a central data science and AI function for the UK grocery retailer. He joins from Kingfisher, where he had served as Chief AI Officer since March 2024 following more than two years as Group AI Director.
He will take overall responsibility for data and AI strategy, with a remit spanning customer growth, colleague empowerment, operational efficiency, manufacturing excellence and commercial excellence. He will report directly to Morrisons CEO Rami Baitiéh when he takes up the role on 1st October.
“Creation of this new role reflects our commitment to ensuring Morrisons is embracing the opportunities in data and AI at pace, with focus and in the right way,” says Baitiéh.
“Mohsen is a recognised expert in the field with hands on experience of unlocking the potential of technology to deliver innovative new solutions that serve customers, empower colleagues and deliver measurable business impact.”
Ghasempour saus: “I’m excited about joining Morrisons and building the team that will help the business make effective and responsible use of AI in the years ahead, to deliver real benefits for customers and colleagues.”
8. Batteries Plus Director Karthik Jambulingam joins RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel for 2026
We're hugely pleased to announce the addition of Karthik Jambulingam, Senior Director of Enterprise Architecture, Batteries Plus, to the judging panel for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards. At Batteries Plus, he leads technology strategy and transformation across a 730+ store retail network in the United States.
With over 23 years in IT and a decade in technology leadership, he drives enterprise AI adoption, architecting multi-agent systems and agentic workflows for AI assisted selling, intelligent product discovery, and AI enabled decision-making in store operations, alongside a Gen AI assistant for store associates.
Karthik has also led the shift to cloud native, distributed architecture on Azure and Google Cloud, and modernised PoS and digital commerce platforms. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and holds an MBA and a B.E. in Computer Science.
Welcome onboard, Karthik!
Further information on our judging panel can be found here. In addition to Karthik, it includes representatives from Ingka Group/Ikea, JD Sports Fashion, Holland & Barrett, Walmart, CVS Health, Amazon, Boots, C&C Group, Warner Bros. Discovery, East of England Co-op, PoundFun, Austen & Blake, and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants.
9. Boots pilot launching on TikTok Shop in partnership with THG Commerce on 28th September
Boots UK is kicking off a TikTok Shop pilot, in partnership with THG Commerce, involving a curated selection of No7 skincare and beauty products. Further brands and products are set to launch over the coming months.
Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital and Data Officer at Boots, says: “Millions of people are already discovering beauty and skincare products through TikTok and the creators and communities that they trust. This launch gives us an exciting new way to be part of this dynamic experience and help more customers to discover new products and shop those they love in way that feels seamless and relevant to their lives.”
Daniel Callaghan, Business Development Manager at THG Ingenuity, says: “Boots' debut on TikTok Shop is a testament to the growth and development that the platform has seen over the last few years. This forms part of Boots’ wider ambition to create more connected customer experiences and bring beauty content, product discovery and purchase closer together. Through the platform, it aims to reach new audiences, while giving existing customers greater choice and flexibility in how and where they shop. Huge move, and well done to everyone involved.”
10. Dollar General and Instacart on demand delivery partnership kicks off with pilot across six US states
Instacart and Dollar General have announced a new partnership to offer same-day delivery of the latter’s everyday essentials through the former’s app and website. The partnership will launch with a pilot at approximately 7,000 Dollar General and pOpshelf stores in six states in the coming weeks with plans to expand to approximately 20,000 stores across 48 states this autumn.
“Dollar General’s vast footprint and longstanding commitment to affordability make them an important addition to the Instacart Marketplace,” says Ryan Hamburger, Chief Commercial Officer at Instacart. “As we expand this partnership to approximately 20,000 Dollar General and pOpshelf stores, we’ll help provide customers in communities across the country with even greater access to affordable food and everyday essentials, with the convenience of same-day delivery.”
“Our mission is Serving Others, and we continually look for new ways to provide customers with the value and convenience they count on," says Tony Rogers, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Dollar General. "Our partnership with Instacart provides another convenient way for customers to access affordable food, household essentials and other products they need while saving them valuable time."
