Retail Reality Check

Ahold Delhaize USA has completed the rollout of its proprietary PRISM digital and e-commerce platform across all five U.S. brands—Food Lion, The Giant Co., Giant Food, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop. PRISM’s cloud-based architecture supports omnichannel growth, improved customer experiences, digital engagement, and streamlined operations for over 26 million customers weekly.

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Albertsons is the first major grocer to offer Uber One perks to all 48.7 million loyalty members, including free "for U" and paid "FreshPass" programs. Members get extended Uber One free trials, enabling savings on Uber Eats deliveries, rides, and free delivery fees, enhancing value and convenience nationwide. This partnership is accessible via Albertsons' app and website.

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Amazon has upgraded its generative AI shopping assistant, Rufus, with new features including account memory for personalization, agentic AI capabilities for cart management, text and visual search for specific needs, and price tracking with deal finder tools. Rufus supports product discovery, branded searches, and integration with influencer storefronts, enhancing Amazon’s mobile shopping experience.

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Tesla is reportedly testing Apple CarPlay integration — a major reversal after years of resistance from Elon Musk. Bloomberg says the feature could roll out soon as Tesla seeks to boost declining sales. McKinsey found a third of buyers deem CarPlay or Android Auto essential; Apple’s tool enables iPhone-powered in-car experiences.

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Currys has completed the rollout of electronic shelf edge labels in all 295 UK and Ireland stores, partnering with SOLUM and Vestcom. The Newton ESL technology enables agile pricing, saves over 400,000 manual hours, and enhances customer experiences, earning recognition as an award-winning innovation.

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Debenhams Group, which owns PrettyLittleThing, boohoo, boohooMAN, Karen Millen, and Debenhams, is deploying Peak’s agentic AI solution to autonomously optimize sales, stock, and pricing decisions. This AI aims to streamline operations, enhance decision-making speed and accuracy, and elevate the customer experience across all its brands.

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Designs Direct, a home decor designer serving over 60 U.S. retailers, has renewed its partnership with Digital Wave Technology. Digital Wave’s AI-native Product Information Management (PIM) platform centrally manages product data across design, merchandising, sourcing, and quality assurance teams, enhancing speed, consistency, and collaboration.

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DoorDash expanded its use of Coco Robotics’ emissions-free delivery robots to Miami, fulfilling DashMart orders and supporting national retailers through DashMart Fulfillment Services. The platform also partnered with Old Navy, a Gap Inc. brand, to offer same-day apparel delivery via the DoorDash app ahead of the holiday season.

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DoorDash now offers delivery from around 7,000 Family Dollar stores nationwide, providing household essentials, groceries, and more through its app. This partnership enhances convenience and affordability, especially during the holiday season, with options on DashPass and a 25% discount for new users.

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Duracell has launched its first Amazon locker holiday campaign in the US, with 250 lockers nationwide featuring festive Duracell Scientist branding. Shoppers can scan QR codes on the lockers to buy batteries from Amazon. Lockers can be found in CA, NV, FL, IL, TX, and DC, helping remind customers to power their holiday celebrations with Duracell.

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EG America has added Swiftly’s Alcohol Cashback solution to its SmartRewards app, letting shoppers earn instant, supplier-funded cash back on beer, wine, and spirits at its convenience brands like Cumberland Farms and Kwik Shop. The feature enables easy in-app deal browsing, redemption, and payouts via PayPal, Venmo, or digital Visa.

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Essity is partnering with Accenture and Microsoft in a multi-year digital transformation to embed generative and agentic AI across its operations. Using Microsoft Azure, Copilot Studio, and Power Platform, Essity will first modernize procurement and finance systems, scaling enterprise-wide under a responsible AI framework.

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Furniture.com uses AI tools to significantly streamline and personalize furniture shopping, reducing decision time from weeks to moments. Their platform offers a unified, multi-brand checkout, real-time inventory updates, and personalized recommendations, creating a faster, more confident experience that integrates showroom touch and trust-building strategies.

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Google has launched AI Mode, a conversational search tool powered by its Shopping Graph and Gemini generative AI, delivering visual, data-rich shopping results. The company also introduced agentic checkout using Google Pay, in-app Gemini shopping features, and AI-powered phone calls via Google Duplex for real-time product availability and pricing from retailers like Wayfair, Chewy, and Shopify merchants.

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Google is launching new AI-powered shopping features ahead of the 2025 holiday season, integrating its Gemini AI across Search and the Gemini app. Key tools include AI Mode for conversational product search and comparisons, an agentic AI "Let Google Call" feature to check local store inventories, and agentic checkout that can automatically purchase items when prices drop, using Google Pay.

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GPM Investments LLC, a subsidiary of ARKO Corp., is partnering with Bitcoin Depot Inc. to install Bitcoin ATMs at 188 convenience store locations. The collaboration will allow GPM customers to securely buy Bitcoin while shopping, using Bitcoin Depot’s fintech tools for faster, more convenient digital currency access.

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Grocery TV is expanding its partnership with Wakefern Food Corp. to add its in-store media platform to 31 more ShopRite stores in New York and New Jersey, bringing the total to over 230 stores using the platform. This expansion reflects their ongoing collaboration since 2021 to enhance shopper experience and generate ad revenue.

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The Home Depot’s new AI-powered Blueprint Takeoffs tool delivers complete, accurate material lists and quotes for single-family projects within days, cutting down weeks of manual work. It helps professional renovators and builders streamline ordering and improve project efficiency by centralizing materials purchasing through Home Depot. This advances Home Depot's support for pros with faster, cost-effective project planning.

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eBay’s AI strategy since 2020 has driven a strong comeback by enhancing personalized shopping and seller tools. Key innovations include AI-powered listing automation, real-time shopping recommendations, and marketing personalization, leading to a 15% traffic boost and 75% stock surge. These AI advances improve seller visibility, buyer experience, and mobile optimization, helping eBay compete effectively amid evolving consumer behavior and intense market competition.

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Villa Restaurant Group, a family-owned restaurant operator with 140 locations, won the 2025 Restaurant365 Customer Excellence Award for leveraging Restaurant365’s accounting and operations tools. By unifying accounting, inventory, scheduling, and purchasing, VRG improved profitability, reduced manual work, cut costs by nearly 2%, and lowered staff turnover below industry averages.

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Digital manufacturing transformation empowers frontline workers with real-time data, boosting productivity and retention. Companies like The Hershey Company and Nestlé Purina use QAD Redzone to break silos and upskill employees, driving operational efficiency and workforce engagement through a connected, people-first approach.

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Kroger is closing three Ocado-powered automated fulfillment centers in Wisconsin, Maryland, and Florida, taking a $2.6 billion impairment charge to restructure its e-commerce for better profitability. It will focus more on in-store fulfillment and expand delivery partnerships with Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats, while continuing to operate five remaining Ocado sites.

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Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM), powered by the 84.51˚ Stratum analytics platform, launched new self-serve tools for CPG brands to quickly access customer insights. Enhancements include AI-powered weekly performance summaries, consolidated dashboards for flexible analysis, and self-service data orders, helping brands extract and use tailored retail data with advanced automation and visualization.

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Lakeland Leather partnered with HubBox to launch a "Ship to Shop" option via DPD, letting customers pick up orders from local stores like Co-op. This custom integration, live before Black Friday, improves delivery flexibility in the Lake District's challenging logistics.

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The Old Peacock, a historic Leeds United fan pub run by Ossett Brewery, will install Boxbar Tech’s self-service Container Bar with six points of sale, pouring 12 drinks simultaneously and serving up to 1,440 pints per hour, boosting matchday experience.

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Levi Strauss & Co. is launching an AI "super-agent" built on Microsoft Teams and Azure, integrating sub-agents across IT, HR, and operations to automate tasks and boost efficiency. The company also introduced mobile AI tools: Outfitting for personalized style recommendations and Stitch for store associates’ on-demand support, both rolling out in 2026.

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Maag Food expanded its use of RELEX Solutions’ AI-driven demand planning and promotion forecasting to its dairy operations, building on earlier success in its meat division. Partnering with re:innovation, Maag aims to automate forecasting, harmonize planning, and enhance supply chain alignment across Tere, Farmi, and Deary brands.

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Mango has expanded its six-year partnership with Inspectorio by adopting the AI-powered Lab Test Management solution. This will provide Mango with detailed performance insights across suppliers, materials, and products, standardize lab testing protocols, and enhance quality control across apparel, footwear, and home goods categories.

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The McDonald’s Cashier Training App is an interactive digital platform that simulates the real POS system to train employees efficiently in order entry, payment processing, and error correction. It includes gamification features like points and rewards, enhancing engagement and retention. This tool streamlines training, improves accuracy, and supports consistency across locations, benefiting both employees and franchise owners.

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Minuteman Food Mart partnered with Lula Commerce to enhance digital operations across its 60-store network. Lula’s enterprise tools, including Lula Hub and integration with ADD Systems, will unify ordering, delivery, and analytics while automating tasks with AI to boost efficiency, streamline inventory, and improve customer experiences.

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Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, a longtime PAR Technology customer, has selected PAR Engagement to unify its loyalty, marketing, ordering, and guest data across its national footprint. This move enhances guest experiences and streamlines operations as the brand prepares for expansion. PAR’s integrated platform builds on tools like PAR OPS, PAR POS, and PAR’s payment solutions to drive personalized and consistent customer engagement.

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St. Louis-based Pizza World has chosen FoodTec Solutions as its unified platform across 14 stores, aiming to expand to 26 by 2026. The system streamlines online ordering, loyalty, delivery, inventory, labor, and marketing, cutting training from days to minutes and improving delivery tracking and marketing campaigns. This integration supports Pizza World’s growth and operational efficiency.

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Priceline Pharmacy has partnered with retail media platform Zitcha to enhance its retail media network and educate suppliers. With over 9.5 million Sister Club loyalty members and 470+ stores, this collaboration leverages Zitcha’s omnichannel and self-serve capabilities to deliver targeted, data-driven advertising solutions.

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Radisson Hotel Group launched Creator Hub, partnering with nano influencers on Instagram and TikTok for non-monetary hotel stays in exchange for branded content. Co-developed with Apple Tree, it leverages gamification and Radisson Rewards, enabling authentic travel storytelling. Similar efforts include Expedia, nooon, and Travly’s influencer collaborations.

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Retail giant Kingfisher, owner of B&Q and Screwfix, rejected SAP’s push to upgrade to S/4HANA and its RISE cloud model, opting instead to keep ECC 6.0. The retailer moved ECC to Google Cloud, added AI and personalization using Databricks tools, and selected Rimini Street for support—cutting costs by up to 90%.

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retailcloud’s unified commerce platform now manages millions of SKUs for over seventy pro sports teams and venues including the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Heat, and Madison Square Garden. Its real-time data streaming powers sales, inventory, and fan-commerce reporting across in-store, eCommerce, and live event environments.

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Revisn, operated by Welcome Holdings in Raleigh, N.C., offers 48 high-end executive residences for extended stays. Powered by Mews’ front-desk-free platform, guests use digital keys and experience check-in times reduced by up to 85%. The model blends smart tech, automation, and concierge app services, redefining corporate lodging.

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Shipley Donuts has launched an AI-powered ordering assistant developed by Saivory that personalizes donut and catering orders based on preferences, event size, and budget. This tool speeds up ordering, increases average order value by 24%, and enhances the user experience with smart recommendations and faster checkout.

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Six Stories, a bridal and occasionwear label, has launched a US distribution centre in New Jersey in partnership with THG Fulfil. Leveraging THG’s end-to-end fulfillment solution and an AutoStore system to automate 99.9% of dispatches, the centre aims to deliver faster shipping, reduced costs, and a seamless experience for American customers, supporting the brand’s rapid US growth which now accounts for 25% of total sales.

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Snipes U.S. launched Snipes Reserve, a digital wallet loyalty program powered by Accrue, offering 3% cash back on purchases, 5% bonuses on wallet preloads, early access to sneaker drops, and exclusive events with DJ Khaled and the Philadelphia 76ers to engage Gen Z

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Superdrug has launched an exclusive UK partnership with Just Eat to deliver over 8,000 products, including beauty, fragrance, baby care, and medicines, in as little as 30 minutes. The service, available via the Just Eat app or website, begins with 29 stores and aims for nationwide rollout by March 2026.

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Target has launched two new AI-powered tools in its mobile app: a conversational Gift Finder that provides personalized gift suggestions and a handwritten list scanner that turns wish lists into shoppable carts. The retailer also upgraded its Store Mode for in-store navigation, fulfillment options, and virtual holiday helpers.

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Target is piloting a new sortation center model in Cleveland, exclusively using its Shipt delivery platform for last-mile delivery to enable next-day delivery of online orders. The40,000-sq.-ft. facility, operated by third-party partner Ryder, will test the long-term viability of a Shipt-only sortation center, aiming to boost speed and efficiency in Target’s supply chain.

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Target is launching a beta app inside ChatGPT that allows customers to browse curated picks, build multi-item baskets, shop fresh food, and select fulfillment options like Drive Up, Pickup, or shipping. Personalized recommendations and seamless checkout through Target accounts will also be available, with same-day delivery and Target Circle linking coming soon.

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Tennis Giant, founded by Maher Diab in2001 and expanded with partners Michael Ghazal and Alexis Kavanagh, has become a leading Canadian racquet sports retailer. Leveraging Shopify’s unified commerce platform with help from Shopify Plus Partner Retailogists, Tennis Giant streamlined operations across multiple pro shops, a flagship showroom, and pop-up retail, achieving over100% sales growth in four years and seamless online-offline integration.

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10Beauty, backed by Victoria Beckham and Karlie Kloss, is debuting its five-step robotic manicure at Ulta Beauty’s Braintree, Mass., store. The machine, developed by engineers from Keurig, Shark Ninja and Roomba, uses recyclable single-use pods and completes manicures in 25–45 minutes for $30, with plans for broader Ulta rollout.

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Microsoft and Land O’Lakes have launched the AI-powered agricultural tool “Oz,” designed for mobile devices to help farmers manage weather, pests, fertilizer, and yield optimization. Oz leverages Land O’Lakes’ 20 years of proprietary data, enabling agronomists and retailers nationwide to offer data-driven insights and reduce uncertainty in farming operations.

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Varner deployed Sitoo’s mobile POS on Zebra handheld devices across 1,100+ stores. This enables staff to serve customers anywhere in-store with real-time product and customer data. The rollout boosted customer confidence in mobile payments (93%) and staff adoption (89% user-friendly rating), enhancing personalized shopping experiences and operational efficiency.

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Winn-Dixie is expanding its in-store Amazon return kiosks to 68 additional locations across Florida, building on a successful pilot in Jacksonville. This move aims to boost convenience and customer experience, reinforcing its collaboration with Amazon. The retailer also now offers online grocery shopping on Amazon, with over 16,000 items and free delivery in Florida.

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