Ann Summers gets its data straightened out: last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance — Retail Technology Innovation Hub
Albertsons CompaniesAlbertsons Companies has announced the launch of its patent pending Intelligent Quality Control tool, an AI powered solution that uses computer vision to support distribution centre associates in maintaining quality and consistency of fresh fruits and vegetables across the company’s supply chain. Built in house by its technology and supply chain teams, the tool uses Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise, including Vision AI and Gemini models.“We built the AI powered Intelligent Quality Control tool to support our team of talented quality inspectors in our distribution centres, and early results show it’s been incredibly helpful in increasing the consistency of quality rating which is crucial for highly perishable products such as fruits and vegetables,” says Evan Rainwater, EVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer at Albertsons Cos. “This is just the latest advancement in how we are using AI within our multi-billion-dollar supply chain to improve operational efficiencies, improve product quality and ultimately enhance customer satisfaction.”Integrating into the distribution centre workflow, the quality inspector feeds an image of the produce into the AI tool, powered by Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, which evaluates visual characteristics against Albertsons Cos.’s established quality standards. The system then provides an accurate, consistent rating and recommendation to the inspector for approval. Live now in select DCs, the tool is initially focused on quality inspections for strawberries and red and green grapes. The company is expanding the solution across the entire berry section with plans to scale the tool nationwide and incorporate more fresh products. MCMC, the retail division of Sonae that operates in Portugal’s grocery market and health, wellness, and beauty space across the Iberian Peninsula, has selected Blue Yonder cognitive solutions for allocation and replenishment to boost its supply chain transformation. With more than 400 stores across multiple formats, MC operates major supermarkets and hypermarkets such as Continente, along with convenience stores, health and wellness shops, and online grocery services. Blue Yonder’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) enabled solutions will help the company improve visibility into demand forecasting. “The grocery retail sector is adapting to a period of significant change, underlining the need for more agile operations across the supply chain. We needed end-to-end visibility and faster, more accurate inventory planning to address demand uncertainty while prioritising our business goals,” says Sofia Castro, Head of Supply Chain, at MC. "We were impressed by Blue Yonder’s patented AI and machine learning forecasting capabilities, which help us establish a single source of truth and coordinate decision-making across demand and supply planning. They support our need to serve every part of our retail portfolio, enabling our teams to deliver results more efficiently.” BooztShift4 has partnered with Boozt, a Nordic online department store for fashion and lifestyle, to provide global card acquiring and settlement services through its merchant facing payment gateway, Kronor. “We continuously optimise our payment infrastructure to ensure a seamless and secure shopping experience for our customers,’’ says Hanui Ye, Payments Director at Boozt. “Partnering with Shift4 strengthens our acquiring setup and provides us with the flexibility and scalability we need to support our growth.’’“We continue to see strong growth of the e-commerce sector in the Nordics, and our latest partnership with Boozt places us squarely at the forefront of this transformation,” says France Blanchard, SVP Account Management at Shift4 Europe. “This collaboration highlights Shift4’s commitment to helping leading global e-commerce companies strengthen their payment infrastructure. Together with Boozt, we are ensuring each and every one of its customers enjoys a fast, seamless, and secure checkout experience.”M&SMarks & Spencer has begun construction on its new automated national distribution centre (NDC) in Northamptonshire.To mark the start of the build, Michelle Elliman, from M&S Rugby store joined Kevin Bennett, CEO at Gist (M&S Food’s logistics arm), Stuart Andrew, MP for Daventry and Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Prologis for an on-site steel signing ceremony.This recognised the start of construction on the 1.3 million sqft facility, celebrating the largest supply chain investment in M&S history and a major step toward doubling the size of the Food business. The retailer says that the site will significantly increase capacity, reduce long‑term cost to serve, and improve product availability for customers.Over 200 M&S Food stores will be serviced by the new DC.Bennett says: “Starting the build on this site marks a major step in transforming M&S into a true destination for the weekly shop, with a modernised supply chain at the heart of that ambition. This investment will boost capacity for future growth, lower our long‑term cost to serve, and improve product availability so customers get the right products in the right place at the right time.”“With construction underway, this new site strengthens our network and puts us ahead of the volume curve as we build a bigger, better Food business. By deploying the latest proven automation, we’re future‑proofing our operations and UK retail logistics, while creating 1,000 permanent jobs on site.”Lidl GBLidl GB has ramped up its partnership with Neighbourly, introducing a new trial with the food sharing app Olio to redistribute more surplus food. Managed by Neighbourly, the model introduces Olio’s Food Waste Hero network as an extra layer to support the discounter’s primary charity partners. Using the free Olio app, registered Food Waste Heroes collect items in the evenings, including chilled food, meat, fish, and poultry, alongside Lidl bakery goods, and share them with neighbours for free. Launching Friday 15th May across 20 stores in London and Northern England, the trial, if successful, is expected to redistribute more than 5,000 tonnes of food, the equivalent of 11.9 million meals, to those in need annually. With ambitions for a nationwide roll-out by the end of the year, the initiative is pitched as a critical step toward Lidl GB's target to reduce food waste by 70% by the end of FY2030. Matt Juden, Head of Sustainability at Lidl GB, says: “We believe that no good food should ever go to waste. While we have already made massive strides in reducing our surplus, this extension of our Neighbourly managed programme allows us to have even more impact. It ensures that we are reaching every corner of the communities we serve, making sure edible food stays on plates and out of the bin." Fortnum & MasonBritish luxury retailer, Fortnum & Mason, has partnered with Proximity to launch Fortnum's Connect, a new clienteling platform.This provides store teams with a real-time, centralised view of customer profiles, with the aim of helping them deliver more informed and personalised service on the shop floor.Built on Proximity's clienteling technology, Fortnum's Connect gives retail teams instant access to customer insights including preferences, purchase history, and recommendations. The platform also supports: 1:1 communication via email, SMS, and WhatsApp; Customer preference and recommendation management; Appointment booking and in-store event management; Real-time reporting and analytics.Cathy McCabe, CEO at Proximity, says: "Fortnum & Mason is one of the most recognisable names in British retail, with a heritage built on exceptional service and customer relationships. With Fortnum's Connect, we're giving store teams the tools and insights they need to deliver that experience consistently at scale. By bringing everything into one place, colleagues can focus on what matters most: building meaningful customer relationships and creating exceptional experiences."Sean Ghouse, Director of UK Retail, Fortnum & Mason, says: "Exceptional customer service is part of our DNA at Fortnum & Mason, and it's something we've been extremely proud of throughout our history. But we can never stand still, which is why I'm delighted to be working with Proximity, and with their support we're launching Fortnum's Connect.”“It allows our customers to build a personal relationship with our teams in-store, and gives us the chance to enhance our existing levels of service. To connect and talk even more meaningfully to our customers in future, means that we can continue to know, and serve them brilliantly."
