Tesco taps Hanshow for estate-wide ESL roll out

Tesco will team up with Hanshow to deliver an estate-wide electronic shelf label (ESL) rollout across its supermarket and convenience stores in a multi-year partnership.

Following a successful pilot, the deployment will see ESLs go live in ~3,0000 locations over the next two years as part of its store modernisation plans.

“Moving to a digital system will not only support our sustainability ambitions by significantly reducing paper use across the Tesco estate, but it will also mean that our colleagues can focus on what matters most – serving our customers,” said Kevin Tindall, Operations MD at Tesco.

The ESLs will drive operational efficiencies via instant, centrally controlled price and promotion updates, which will save Tesco colleagues from manually replacing traditional paper tags.

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Ellis Brigham enhances post-purchase with Ingrid

Ellis Brigham has improved omnichannel delivery operations and post-purchase experiences, cutting WISMOs by -14%, in partnership with delivery intelligence platform, Ingrid.

As part of its recent digital transformation, which saw Ellis Brigham re-platform to Centra, the retailer implemented Ingrid’s all-in-one delivery suite to enhance CX while streamlining operations as it optimised new fulfilment channels. 

Post-purchase, Ingrid enabled proactive parcel tracking, create brand-rich engagement opportunities after the checkout, while offering shoppers real-time updates on their order, tracking progress from the point of payment to delivery drop-off.

As a result, during its Peak Trading period last year, the outdoor sports retailer saw WISMOs fall by -14%, even as order volumes rose by +24%.

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ASOS deploys Deliveroo’s for World Cup q-commerce

ASOS and Deliveroo have teamed up for the World Cup to make new drops of ASOS DESIGN football shirts available to order on demand via the Deliveroo app.  

Shoppers in London and Manchester can order supporters shirts from a range of 15 designs for delivery within ~25 minutes, bringing together fashion and convenience that “mirrors the spontaneity of modern match-day plans.” 

Vanessa Spence, EVP of Brand and Creative at ASOS, said that the collaboration would help customers “get match-day ready at the last minute.”

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England’s World Cup opener spikes shoplifting in-store

England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia triggered a marked rise in shoplifting and violent incidents across UK stores, according to new figures from SAI.

Data from its SAI One Platform showed that in the run up to the Three Lions’ first match (17 Jun 2026) shoplifting rose by +6% on the daily average.

Violent incidents in-store also rose ahead of the England opener, with retailers experiencing a +20% increase compared to the average daily number of instances in UK stores on match day.

“As the World Cup progresses, sales opportunities build, but so too do pressures on the store,” said Chris Bell, Head of Marketing & Insight at SAI. “Retailers need to maintain visibility and react quickly to ensure the World Cup doesn’t become an operational own goal.”

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Guest Post | SOTI’s Jon Charters on new demand hierarchies

Consumers are facing increasingly competing pressures, with economic challenges forcing them to prioritise value and convenience, says SOTI’s Jon Charters.

In our latest guest post, he explores the new factors reshaping customers’ buying journeys, including:

🛜 New demands for innovation-led in-store immersion
⚡ What is driving tech-driven retail experiences
🔒 Balancing innovation expectations with data privacy & security
🛍️ Strategies for creating the immersive shopping moments that matter

Read the full article 👉 Guest Post | SOTI’s Jon Charters on immersive experiences for converting cautious customers.

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9 in 10 retailers feel AI pressure but face execution pitfalls

While AI has become a strategic priority across the retail sector, many businesses are still grappling with how to turn their AI ambition into executional reality and performance, says news research from HyperFinity.

Its study of 200 senior retailers revealed that 91% feel under pressure to adopt AI to remain competitive, with half (53%) describing the technology as “one of the most important initiatives” within their businesses.

Yet, many retailers are still struggling to translate investment into coherent and robust innovation roadmaps. Only 46% have a well-defined AI strategies in place supported by clear value cases, while 42% of retailers remain uncertain about the commercial value AI use cases will deliver.

Thomas Hill, Co-Founder of HyperFinity, commented: “Success won’t come from deploying the most AI. It will come from having the strategy, governance and decision-making frameworks needed to create value from it.”

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Fragmented CX causes friction for fashion shoppers

AI adoption, fragmented shopping journeys and rising consumer expectations are reshaping fashion buying journeys, as shoppers become more selective, says a new study by Athos Commerce.

Six in ten (60%) now use AI tools when shopping for apparel, while two fifths (39%) are comfortable completing fashion purchases directly through AI platforms.

But, while adoption of AI-led fashion purchasing is growing, so too is the gap between discovery, consideration and conversion, the report warns. Highlighting the growing gap, the study found that despite 62% browsing fashion online weekly, only 38% make purchases at the same frequency.

As consumers’ buying journeys become more fragmented, just 14% of consumers say product information is consistently accurate across retailers’ digital touchpoints.

The Retail Recap is brought to you in partnership with Flagship PR, a specialist comms agency that delivers pioneering PR for retail tech.