Retail Reality Check

Ahold Delhaize USA launched Edge, a proprietary retail media platform for grocery, replacing past partners like Criteo, Quotient, and Epsilon. Edge powers sponsored ads and digital in-store screens across banners like Food Lion, integrating AI-driven planning, DoubleVerify measurement, and Inmar-managed coupons to build a connected, creative in-store experience.

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Albertsons reported strong Q3 results, crediting AI tools for gains across its business. AI-enhanced search grew basket size 10%, while generative AI improved labor forecasting and inventory management. The grocer also saw 21% digital sales growth and 12% loyalty membership increase but noted spending softness among middle-income shoppers.

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Albertsons Media Collective introduced in-store incrementality measurement to quantify true sales lift from ad exposure using a matched-market model comparing test and control stores. Partner Mondelēz used the tool for its Sargento Cheese Bakes campaign, driving a 14% sales lift via Albertsons’ in-store digital display network and omnichannel media tools.

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Amazon is expanding its upgraded Dash Cart smart shopping carts to dozens of Whole Foods Market stores by the end of 2026. The new version features real-time spending tracking, Alexa shopping list integration, interactive store navigation, instant produce weighing, expanded payment options, and a lighter, higher-capacity design.

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Amazon launched the browser version of Alexa+, powered by 70+ large language models on Amazon Bedrock. The update enables meal planning, recipe customization, and shopping integration with Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market. Alexa+ also connects via APIs to partners like Panera, Uber, and BMW using agentic AI for personalized experiences.

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Amazon is halting its Prime Air drone delivery rollout in Italy after concluding the country’s broader business and regulatory framework does not support its long-term plans, despite successful tests and positive work with regulators. ENAC disputes this, tying the move to Amazon’s financial situation instead; meanwhile, Amazon continues MK30 drone deliveries in select U.S. markets and planning in the U.K., while still targeting 500 million drone-delivered packages annually by decade’s end.

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Associated Food Stores is deploying GoSpotCheck by FORM’s mobile task management platform across 450+ stores to enhance field visibility and merchandising execution. The retailer cooperative will use the tool for real-time store visit data, supporting marketing, Exclusive Brands, and Fresh Teams in faster, data-driven decision-making.

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Muscle Republic has implemented Refundid’s returns technology to offer customers instant refunds, instant exchanges, standard refunds, standard exchanges and store credit via a full returns portal. The solution is designed to enhance the post‑purchase experience and deepen the partnership between the two companies.

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Big Brand Tire & Service selected Invent.ai to modernize inventory replenishment across over 320 stores and distribution centers. Using Invent.ai’s multi-agentic AI platform, the company aims to reduce stockouts, optimize allocation, and improve service with real-time, financially optimized inventory decisions and integrated network visibility.

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Bridgeline Digital’s HawkSearch will replace a national closeout retailer’s native site search across 170+ stores and eCommerce, adding AI-driven relevance, flexible filtering, and advanced merchandising tools to boost discovery, conversion, and AOV for merchandisers and shoppers in real time.

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The Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct (OGSCC) announced full implementation of the Canada Grocery Code and its Dispute Resolution Management Process. Major retailers including Costco, Walmart, Loblaw, Empire, and Metro have registered, advancing fairness, transparency, and collaboration across Canada’s grocery supply chain under a federally supported framework.

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Carrefour S.A. is evolving into a tech-driven retail platform through its “Carrefour 2026” plan. The company leverages omnichannel retail, private-label brands, the Carrefour Links data and retail media platform, and financial services to boost margins and compete with Amazon, Walmart, Lidl, and Aldi across Europe and Latin America.

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Claire’s is upgrading its technology stack in 2026 to enhance in-store experiences and streamline operations. The retailer aims to integrate data and applications, implement a new point-of-sale system, and cut costs by optimizing Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 use. These efforts support Claire’s post-bankruptcy turnaround under Ames Watson.

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Clorox Co. is embracing a “social-first” strategy, launching TikTok Shops for Burt’s Bees, Brita, Pine-Sol, and Hidden Valley to connect authentically with younger consumers through influencers. Supported by a $580 million SAP S/4 HANA digital transformation and Adobe Commerce Cloud integration, these efforts embed commerce directly within social platforms.

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VST has partnered with Co-op to give branded suppliers direct access to Co-op’s planogram data via the Planogram Publisher platform, initially trialled with five suppliers for four weeks before a wider rollout. The Co-op Group Commercial and Logistics division aims to use this tool to reduce friction, increase transparency and enable more agile, data-driven category execution for CPG brands.

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CPGIO expanded its omnichannel e-commerce partnerships across Nordstrom, Chewy, Lowe’s, Faire, and Best Buy. Using its proprietary technology and Shopify integration, the company enabled brands like Yankee Candle and La Preferida to reach new audiences and accelerate digital growth, strengthening its position as a leading e-commerce growth partner.

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Diebold Nixdorf expanded its partnership with Autogrill, part of Avolta, to manage Autogrill’s full IT ecosystem across Italy. The agreement includes DN AllConnect ServicesSM, second-level POS support, and DN Series® checkout solutions like EASY ONE kiosks, enhancing traveler experiences across Autogrill’s restaurants, bars, and coffee corners.

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GK Software was named the top POS/mPOS vendor in IHL Group’s 2025 Market Study, leading in general retail and food/drug/convenience/mass retail segments. Recognized for its CLOUD4RETAIL platform, AI tools, and global compliance, GK (a Fujitsu company) will showcase unified commerce innovations and its GK Vision, Engage, and Drive solutions at NRF 2026.

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Harris Teeter, a Kroger banner, launched its “Happier, Healthier with Harris Teeter” program to promote customer wellness through storewide initiatives. The rollout features the new Simple Truth Protein line, FoodHealth Score digital tool in the app, and free virtual dietitian sessions for VIC card households.

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Jack in the Box completed a 15-month rollout of Qu’s unified commerce platform across 2,100 restaurants, replacing its legacy POS system. The solution, deployed with help from WWT, has increased check sizes, cut training time in half, and maintained operations during outages while enabling multi-channel ordering and analytics.

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JD Sports Fashion’s Head of Customer Operations, Dan McGrath, reflected on 2025’s major RFID initiatives and store rollouts. The retailer deployed RFID to 414 UK and Ireland stores using tools from Checkpoint Systems, Zebra Technologies, and Renovotec. In 2026, JD plans a 600-store European expansion and deeper RFID integration.

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Kroger has launched a Verified Savings Program giving SNAP, WIC, Medicaid and other assistance recipients 20% off all fruits and vegetables through Jan. 31, 2026, plus 50% off Boost by Kroger Plus memberships. The Kroger Co., which operates about 2,800 U.S. stores under banners including Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Harris Teeter and more, layers this offer on top of typical spend patterns highlighted by Numerator, which reports SN

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Lane Bryant is deploying Rithum's full-stack commerce infrastructure to enable U.S. brand partners to list, sell, and fulfill products directly on its website using drop-shipping. The partnership allows the plus-size retailer to expand assortments without inventory risk while giving customers broader product access across its 400 stores and e-commerce site.

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Nordic pharma distributor Oriola has selected RELEX Solutions to enhance forecasting, replenishment, and diagnostics across its distribution network in Finland and Sweden. The AI-driven system will improve inventory accuracy, reduce manual tasks, and boost supply chain efficiency, ensuring reliable product availability for pharmacies and healthcare providers.

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PepsiCo is partnering with Siemens and NVIDIA to use AI and physics-based digital twin technology to optimize its supply chain operations. Using Siemens’ digital twin tools and NVIDIA’s Omniverse computer vision platform, PepsiCo can simulate, test, and refine facility layouts—cutting costs, boosting throughput by 20%, and accelerating global expansion through 2027.

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PMG Carolinas is rolling out LottoShield’s automated lottery management platform across all 73 convenience stores to boost efficiency and reduce shrink via real-time inventory, theft prevention and automated reconciliation. Other adopters include SunStop, Chestnut Market, Tooley Oil Co. and H&S Energy Products.

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Pricer completed its first pilot of Pricer Avenue, a shelf-edge communications platform, with UK retailer East of England Co-op. Building on existing Pricer ESLs, Avenue adds large digital displays to enhance promotions, product storytelling, and shopper engagement. Pricer plans further pilots across Europe and Asia.

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RELEX is implementing its AI-driven, unified supply chain and retail planning platform at French fresh food specialist Sodebo to improve fine-grained, localized sales forecasting across all product ranges, from pizzas to salads. The deployment will reduce manual adjustments, factor in external data like local weather, and optimize manufacturing and national distribution from Sodebo’s Vendée site.

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Dema has signed British luxury fashion brand Represent as a new customer for its commerce intelligence platform, enabling deeper analysis of customer cohorts, channel impact, and causal growth drivers to link marketing, product, and customer behavior with revenue and profit performance over time.

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Retail in 2025 thrived through challenges by embracing AI, data-driven decisions, and omnichannel engagement. According to IHL Group, AI could add $9.2 trillion to retail by 2029, with 84% of retailers already using it. Amazon, Costco, and others expanded supplemental revenue via AWS, loyalty programs, and retail media networks.

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Sam's Club and Walmart are deploying 'eye bot' kiosks to over a dozen stores . The kiosks promise to offer eye exams in 15 minutes or less. The kiosks are in pilot mode at 16 stores, according to a report at The Sun. A dozen have been placed at Walmart Vision Centers. There are four at Sam's Club optical centers.

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Slim Chickens is using its mobile app to fight childhood hunger through an expanded partnership with No Kid Hungry. For every new app download in January, the chain will donate $5—up to $40,000—while giving first-time users a $5 credit, supporting its total pledge of up to $150,000.

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Target’s ChatGPT integration, developed with Unico Connect, ushers in an AI-first commerce model where conversational interfaces replace traditional mobile app navigation. The partnership highlights a shift toward backend priorities—clean data, real-time APIs, and intelligent infrastructure—enabling seamless, personalized, and context-driven shopping experiences within ChatGPT.

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Tesco plc has evolved into a data‑driven omnichannel retail platform powered by its Clubcard loyalty ecosystem, retail media network, and flexible store formats. Using Clubcard data for personalized pricing and advertising, Tesco integrates online grocery, delivery, and in‑store experiences to compete with Aldi, Lidl, and Sainsbury’s while protecting margins and market share.

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ChatGPT and Perplexity are developing AI checkout systems that let consumers complete purchases directly in conversations, threatening retailers’ visibility and customer loyalty. The article urges brands to adapt quickly via three choices: integrate fully, build proprietary AI, or adopt a hybrid “Carousel” approach—like Walmart, Instacart, and Shopify already are.

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Walmart is expanding AI capabilities within its Walmart Connect retail media network, testing an “agentic AI” tool called Marty that offers advertisers chat-based insights and recommendations for sponsored search campaigns. Walmart is also developing generative AI for ad creatives, reporting, and predictive campaign insights, launching more tools through 2027.

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Walmart Connect highlighted the success of its AI advertising assistant, Marty, which enables sellers and advertisers to create and optimize campaigns through plain-language chat. Currently in beta for Sponsored Search, Marty leverages agentic technology to enhance ad performance. Walmart also continues AI-first commerce testing through its Sparky shopping assistant.

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Wegmans has begun using facial and voice recognition technology at its two New York City stores to enhance security, according to Gothamist. Notices inform customers their biometric data may be collected. Fairway, owned by Village Super Market, also uses similar tools for identifying shoplifters amid ongoing privacy and legislative debates.

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Amazon will integrate its Alexa+ AI assistant with Yelp, Angi, Square, and Expedia in 2026. Built on Amazon Bedrock and AWS, Alexa+ will let users find home service providers, book salon appointments, and reserve hotels through voice commands, simplifying discovery and booking with conversational, agentic AI.

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