International – UK

  1. Technology & Innovation
Six Flags is set to become the first theme park operator to pilot Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, with the aim of reducing wait times for customers wanting to purchase food and drinks. It will soft launch the tech at its theme park in New Jersey on 1st June. A similar roll-out is planned later […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
Wearable technology has made waves in health and fitness, enabling everything from more personalised fitness training to doctors monitoring their patients remotely. Now wearable tech is helping to make improvements to workplace safety, with several trends helping to improve safety and reduce serious incidents. Wearable safety devices include a range of products that use tech […]
  1. Data & Insights
We’ve spent a lot of time here on MNB talking about America’s troubled cities, and the impact that urban issues – especially vandalism and theft – are having on retailers. But in the last couple of days, there have been a number of stories examining the issue from a different point of view. •  The […]
  1. Stores & Formats
Convenience stores and supermarkets should see an increase in sales in June with warmer weather boosting business, according to NIQ (formerly Nielsen). The consumer intelligence company made its prediction as its figures revealed that UK supermarkets enjoyed a 12.3% increase in takings for the four weeks to May 20 compared to the same period last […]
  1. Channel: Dollar/Value
Aldi UK has partnered with recycling technology company Polytag. It will trial the deployment of Polytag’s invisible UV tags onto its packaging, starting from July. With the company’s unique readers installed at the Biffa Teeside recycling centre, Aldi will get insights on the quantity of its packaging that is actually recycled and be able to […]
  1. Department & Category
Marks and Spencer has come under fire from disgruntled elderly customers after closing traditional counters in eight digital cafes, including at two of the retailer’s megastores. With orders placed via touchscreens, staff are now focused on making food and drinks rather than taking orders, with customers alerted when their order is ready. Elderly shoppers have […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
According to actor Keith David, “publicity is publicity, controversy and all that, it’s all good”. Most marketers and business leaders would probably disagree.  A lot of us like hearing about controversy, but we don’t necessarily want to be associated with it. If the news blacklisted our favorite clothing line, chances are we’d be less keen […]
  1. CPG: Beverage
Amazon is continuing to expand the reach of its Just Walk Out (JWO) cashierless checkout tech with a particular focus on events-based venues. Two Six Flags theme parks will feature new cashierless stores where fans can buy park essentials without waiting in line, and at the Coors Field stadium in Colorado, fans can now purchase […]
  1. Data & Insights
Scaling up a business is both an exhilarating and challenging phase in the life of an entrepreneur. It’s an opportunity to expand your reach, serve more customers, and increase profitability. However, it comes with its share of challenges and responsibilities. Today, we’ll be answering some key questions about scaling your business, focusing on readiness, branding, […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
The fifth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now open for entries. The awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and include a supply chain category. Deadline for 2023 submissions is Friday, 27th October, with winners being revealed at an exclusive event in central London on Wednesday, 29th November. Entries […]
  1. Department & Category
Most of the UK experienced an unusual feeling this week: warm sunshine. Less welcome, sadly, was the news that food prices were still stubbornly, and for too many people, debilitatingly high. With food inflation at 19.1%, close to a record high, it is only right that Mintel focuses attention on those consumers who are struggling […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
With 38% of Americans saying that they want companies to be socially responsible, it’s proof that brand values matter for US consumers. That’s why it’s more important than ever to understand what social issues matter, why they matter, and what people want brands to do about it. Digging into the data for actionable insights is […]
  1. Media & Marketing
I recently put a post up on LinkedIn asking whether the creators are taking over from the ‘traditional’ brands. Why I asked this question was that I was inspired by a twitter post, saying that Mr Beast’s new bar is being distributed to every 7/11 in the USA. As well as this, there was also […]
  1. Media & Marketing
SADA has announced a new services engagement with Frasers Group, a retail conglomerate based in the UK. This will see it develop and implement a new platform to help Frasers Group scale data visibility and reporting across its retailers, which includes Sports Direct. “We selected Google Cloud because we were facing a data challenge – […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
With Glastonbury 2023 fast approaching, 20% of Brits plan to prioritise festivals over holidays this summer, according to research from eBay Ads. The findings, based on a survey of 1,000 UK consumers, reveal that 28% expect this festival season to be the biggest following the pandemic, with a further 22% saying this is the most […]
  1. Data & Insights
Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT, it has become synonymous with this new generation of advanced chatbots and the generative text AI that made them possible. However, there are many developers competing in this field who offer different and more unique AI experiences. Let’s talk about these underrated AI projects and the importance of different chatbot experiences […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
It’s Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail systems space. Here’s your briefing on the most important stories from the past five days, including Amazon One, Marks and Spencer, Walmart, and eBay. 1. Amazon One payments solution rolls out age verification with […]
  1. Media & Marketing
Bensons for Beds is using Emplifi Live Advisor solution to deliver live shopping and support to customers. It’s now possible to connect to in-store experts for real-time tours, product demonstrations, and purchases. By visiting the store’s website, customers can activate a live one-to-one video call. “One of the most notable characteristics of our customer base […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
Yesterday we took note of a Wall Street Journal report that Target plans to remove some of the items it brought in to help customers celebrate Pride Month, and will move remaining displays to less visible parts of its stores, as it reacts to a backlash that caused some of its employees to feel unsafe.  […]
  1. Media & Marketing
eBay has launched a pre-loved wedding hub – a collection of second-hand bridal and bridesmaid dresses, accessories and vintage suits. The e-commerce giant says that it is offering a sustainable and cost-effective option for shoppers to get designer outfits from the likes of Vera Wang, Suzanne Neville, and Pronovias Mildred. Kirsty Keoghan, Global GM of […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
In the olden days, people didn’t have access to the technological advancements that we do today. Where we can make appointments online, our predecessors had to do everything in person. There was no internet, which meant no access to Google. Can you imagine having to go to the library and looking for information sources on […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
This week sees the launch of Market Express at London ExCeL, pitched as the first checkout-free store within an events space in the UK.   ExCel worked with catering partner, Levy UK + Ireland, on the store, which is powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. Visitors tap their payment card or mobile wallet upon entry […]
  1. Technology & Innovation
When we look back at 2022, it may be remembered as a turning point for AI (artificial intelligence). At this point, you’ve likely heard of Open AI’s ChatGPT. In case you haven’t, ChatGPT is a natural language processor developed by Open AI that can respond to queries using human language. In other words, you can […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
Travel industry outlook The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly decimated the international holiday market, with travel restrictions and quarantine requirements in place for the best part of two years. In March 2022, the UK government announced the removal of all international travel restrictions, leading to a spike in holiday bookings. This sudden jump in […]
  1. Corporate Finance
Gresham House Ventures has completed a £3.5 million investment into product sustainability impact software business Dayrize. Founded in the Netherlands in 2020, with offices in Amsterdam and London, Dayrize has developed a rapid sustainability impact assessment tool that delivers product level insights for consumer goods brands and retailers. The cash will be used to strengthen […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
Record high food prices do not appear to be denting consumer confidence, according to the latest survey from GfK. The long-running monthly figures produced by the market research company suggest the UK’s consumer confidence has risen for the fourth month in a row. The latest monthly increase is three points – to minus 27 in […]
  1. Media & Marketing
Daisy Corporate Services has announced a multi-year managed services contract with health and beauty retailer A.S. Watson Group. This will see it provide SD-WAN, cloud unified communications, and fibre connectivity to more than 1,500 stores in the UK. A.S. Watson’s brands in the UK include Superdrug, Savers, and The Perfume Shop. To support its digital […]
  1. Media & Marketing
While retail sales may currently be bouncing back at a rate faster than predicted — increasing by 1.2% between January and February of 2023 — they are still some way behind the comparative period of 2021. To continue on a positive trajectory, the retail sector must focus on the growth being driven by consumers’ continued […]
  1. Shopper & Customer
The marketing mix is a strategy for considering the different elements that go into promoting a brand and its products.  It offers broad guidelines for putting the right products in the right place, at the right time, and price.  Originally comprised of 4 key basic marketing categories known as the 4 “P”s (product, place, price, […]

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Editor’s Choice

  1. Shopper & Customer
  2. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital
  3. Media & Marketing
  4. Shopper & Customer
  5. Trends & External Forces
The feature, which allows consumers to single out their preferred in-store shoppers to fulfill future orders, will roll out in the coming weeks among select users. Dive Brief: Instacart said in a Tuesday blog it will pilot a feature for customers that lets them select their favorite personal shoppers to fulfill online orders. Select customers and personal shoppers […]
  1. Stores & Formats
  2. Merchandising
  3. Owned Brands (Private Label)
  4. Stores & Formats
The grocer is bringing its Signature Farms, Signature Care and Signature Cafe private labels under its flagship Signature Select brand and has launched a new advertising campaign to promote the expanded product line. Dive Brief: Albertsons announced Wednesday it is bringing its Signature Farms, Signature Care and Signature Cafe private label products under its flagship Signature Select […]
  1. Associates & Employees
  2. Department: Nonfood
  3. Technology & Innovation
  4. Trends & External Forces
  5. Associates & Employees
From the Seattle Times: “More than 1,700 Amazon employees have pledged to walk off the job on Wednesday, demanding more flexibility with remote work and more attention on Amazon’s climate impact. “Of the 1,726 employees who had signed on to participate by Tuesday afternoon, about 830 plan to physically walk out of offices in Amazon’s […]
  1. Channel: Delivery
  2. Channel: Ecommerce & Digital
  3. Department & Category
  4. Department: Food
  5. Data & Insights
  6. Technology & Innovation
The tool allows customers to find products as well as recipes, food prep tips and more using “natural language” instead of keyword-based searches. Dive Brief: Instacart announced Wednesday it has begun the rollout of an artificial intelligence powered search tool that leverages ChatGPT called Ask Instacart. The company said the new capability will scale to all […]

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