Starring Tesco, Lowe's, and Coop Danmark: it can only be this week's biggest retail technology stories

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 few days, including Joe Wicks, Retail Technology Show 2025, The Estée Lauder Companies, Adobe, Kellogg's, Liverpool ONE, Carrefour Belgium, and TCS.

1. 'Out of touch' Tesco under fire for large trolley checkout scales trial at grocery giant's Gateshead store

Tesco is testing out giant trolley checkout scales at its Gateshead Trinity Square Extra store.

The aim is to identify items that customers may have missed or duplicated while using the retailer's Scan as You Shop service, which is exclusive to Clubcard members.

In a LInkedIn post, Lee Coopersmith, Director of Business Development at Cleveron, said: "Before joining Cleveron, I had the privilege of being a key contributor to this Tesco project, and like many, I find it tough to leave behind something I’ve invested so much effort into (over three years!), especially when I know it’s bound for success. A huge congratulations to Bizerba and Supersmart for making this happen in the UK. Excited to see where this journey takes them next."

There have been mostly negative reactions to the trial among customers on social media, with one user on Reddit likening the experience to “border control”.

Another quipped: “No Clubcard? Deported!”

Over on X, meanwhile, @BradChuck said: "Having fallen foul to the @Tesco policy of making you look like a criminal every time you use the scanner to shop, for them to then not belive you and rescan all your shopping again whilst making you look like a shoplifter, these new weight measuring gates are nothing new."

And @ClareBeveridge commented: "So now you have to have your trolley weighed after self scan in @Tesco, how much has that cost? You just don’t get it do you? Bring back proper checkout tills."

2. Reckon.ai powered Carrefour BuyBye interactive fridge deployed at Auderghem, Belgium hypermarket

Carrefour Belgium has developed a new autonomous micro-store concept, Carrefour BuyBye, in association with Reckon.AI, with the aim of tapping into opportunities beyond traditional retail.

The initiative has now seen a trial of an interactive fridge section at an Auderghem hypermarket.

"We’re proud to mark a new milestone with Carrefour Belgium, bringing smart stores to one of the largest hypermarkets in Auderghem - unlocking new revenue streams with ease," says Ana Pinto, CEO at Reckon.ai. "Trusted by Carrefour, our solution is live at HQ, franchised stores, and Publicis, with roll-outs expanding to hospitals, stations, and universities, driving growth and creating value together."

Matthieu Ullens, Director E-commerce, Data and Digital Transformation at Carrefour, comments: "This is the future of shopping - the interactive fridge that lets you buy and say bye in one seamless move.Developed with our amazing Innovation team, this new concept is designed to revolutionise the way our customers shop, combining convenience with cutting-edge technology."

He adds: "After successful technical tests, we’re now diving into financial viability assessments to measure its potential impact. The journey has already begun with Carrefour BuyBye units up and running at our Service Centre in Zaventem, in franchised stores, at our partner Publicis, and in other strategic locations such as hospitals, offices, and more.”

“We’re excited to see how the latest test at the Auderghem hypermarket unfolds. A huge thank you to all the teams who brought this idea to life. Your dedication is paving the way for a more innovative and effortless shopping experience. This is just the beginning as we continue to build the future for our customers."

3. Lowe’s Style Studio expands to five stores across Austin, TX and surrounding area following pilot

Lowe’s has launched Style Studio for Apple Vision Pro in five stores across Austin, Texas, and its metro area. The app, developed by the retailer, allows customers to visualise and design a dream kitchen within an immersive, 3D experience.  

“By combining the power of Lowe’s Style Studio with our passion for helping customers, Lowe’s is transforming the retail experience like never before,” says Lowe’s Chief Digital and Information Officer Seemantini Godbole.

“This immersive in-store technology leverages the spatial computing technology of Apple Vision Pro to make it easier for customers to visualise, plan, and shop their dream kitchens, all in one seamless experience. This is yet another example of Lowe’s leading the industry in solving problems and fulfilling dreams for the home.”

4. Kroger pilot sees deployment of in-store autonomous robots for inventory management and pricing accuracy

In a project involving Badger Technologies, The Kroger Co. is testing out in-store robots in two of its markets, including at locations in and around its hometown of Cincinnati. The autonomous robots, Simbe's Tally and another dubbed Barney after the grocer’s founder, are being used for real-time inventory management and pricing accuracy.

A pilot is active at a number of stores, with the Tally deployment also extending to the Indianapolis area.

“We are always exploring new ways to create a more convenient and friendly customer experience,” Kroger said in statement. It added that utilising the robots “means our associates can more easily and quickly identify and address shelves where products are low or out of stock.”

5. The Estée Lauder Companies taps gen AI for digital marketing campaigns with Adobe Firefly deployment

The Estée Lauder Companies is adopting Adobe Firefly in a bid to redefine its process of launching digital marketing campaigns through generative AI.

As the parent company to brands such as Clinique, Estée Lauder, Jo Malone London, La Mer, and M•A•C Cosmetics, ELC connects with consumers across roughly 150 countries and territories.

With a focus on innovation and speed to market, it is investing in digital advertising to engage its consumer base. By integrating Firefly across existing Adobe Creative Cloud workflows, ELC says it will drive efficiency, accelerate campaign execution and empower creative teams to recapture time, and focus on ideating and creating new artistic concepts.

Across digital channels, different formats (text, image, shopping, app promotion) and sizes for marketing campaigns contribute to hundreds of thousands of assets needed every year. Teams are burdened with repetitive tasks that take time away from driving new design concepts and connecting with different audiences. This partnership underscores ELC’s newly unveiled Beauty Reimagined, aimed at establishing it as the best consumer centric prestige beauty company in the world.

Through leveraging Adobe Firefly Services - a collection of creative and generative APIs - ELC says it can reimagine content production as additional campaigns are required to engage consumers who are more digital than ever. With features such as Generative Expand integrated into existing workflows, images can be resized and optimised for various formats. Teams can quickly deliver assets with text and imagery intuitively placed, ready for distribution across digital marketing channels.

6. TCS extends Coop Danmark tie up for one of the largest implementation projects of its kind in the Nordics

Tata Consultancy Services has extended its partnership with Coop Danmark to support the core business system of the consumer goods retailer. By managing Coop’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform on SAP S/4HANA, TCS aims to enable efficient operations for the retailer and consistent shopping experiences for customers across 900 plus stores.

TCS has been supporting Coop Danmark’s digital transformation journey and adoption of the SAP S/4HANA enterprise resource planning platform for the past five years. Through this extended engagement, it will continue supporting Coop’s ERP to further stabilise, optimise and enhance its central digital core system.

Lars Ole Dybdal, Chief Technology Officer, Coop Danmark, comments: “We are building the Coop of the future and using the latest technology to offer a shopping experience customers will keep coming back for. To realise our vision, our digital transformation must continue.  We are delighted to extend our strategic partnership with TCS to accelerate our journey, innovate, and create value for our two million members.”

One of the largest implementations of its kind in the Nordics, the move to SAP S/4HANA has standardised business processes throughout Coop’s retail operations, from in-store operations or supply chain management. The aim now is to tap machine learning, artificial intelligence and other technologies while continuing to scale up automation and innovation initiatives along with increased efficiency.

7. Kellogg’s Town digital playground immersive experience goes live in partnership with Merkle and dentsu

Kellogg’s Town, a new digital experience from Kellogg’s, is aiming to redefine the way in which people across Europe interact with the cereal brand.  

This has been designed and built by Merkle, in partnership with dentsu Creative. Kellogg’s is also working with Carat UK on a media buying strategy. It has launched across 23 European markets, in 16 different languages. 

Kellogg’s Town is centred around a virtual town that champions Kellogg’s cereal boxes. There are several opportunities for users to engage with its content, including interactive games, such as ‘Shelf Shuffle’ - which uses Kellogg’s brand assets in a brain training exercise and ‘Crafting with Coco’ - an opportunity for families to give cereal boxes a second life by transforming them into birdhouses, wearables, seed starters and more.  

The immersive experience will also encourage repeat engagement through partnerships and seasonal competitions. Supported by a first party data collection strategy, QR codes will connect a physical purchasing moment to Kellogg’s Town which will then provide an opportunity to engage through other channels, such as email and organic social.

Phil Wilkinson, Senior Director Omnichannel Experience & Commerce at Kellogg’s, says: “We’re delighted to create some digital playground magic in the breakfast space. The launch of Kellogg’s Town marks a really exciting time for Kellogg’s, as we look to expand our reach and drive engagement with our customers.” 

8. Liverpool ONE becomes first destination in North West to introduce WelcoMe accessibility service

Liverpool ONE, a shopping, residential, and leisure complex in the UK, has launched accessibility service WelcoMe.

This allows visitors to share their accessibility requirements with Liverpool ONE’s guest services team ahead of their visit, ensuring they receive the right support when they arrive.

It is the first destination in the North West to introduce this service, joining nearly 100 locations across the UK.

“Today I'm feeling just that little bit more confident that we can and have turned a corner in making shopping more accessible and inclusive for those requiring a little support to feel more confident in their retail experiences,” says Gavin Neate, Founder at WelcoMe.

“Liverpool ONE is working with Sociability and Waymap and today adds WelcoMe to the solutions they offer to ensure that they are meeting the needs of their guests.”

9. Just Eat Takeaway.com PHOENIX group team on health and personal care products rapid delivery

On-demand delivery marketplace Just Eat Takeaway.com and PHOENIX group have partnered to deliver health and personal care products to consumers across Europe.

The tie up has first launched in Belgium (BENU stores available via Takeaway.com) and the UK (Rowlands stores via Just Eat). Consumers across both countries will be able to choose from a variety of pharmaceutical products from pain relief to skin care and intimate hygiene.

“Our ambition is to provide the best choice and value to consumers, at any time and everywhere, with the most convenient end-to-end ordering experience,” says Guido Fambach, Executive Vice President Sales at Just Eat Takeaway.com.

“As we continue to expand our offering into new verticals, this partnership with PHOENIX group, the leading healthcare provider in Europe, will enable consumers to order from a wide selection of health and personal care products, for quick and seamless delivery, whenever they need it.”

10. The Body Coach and social media sensation Joe Wicks toplines Retail Technology Show 2025 as keynote speaker

Fitness coach and entrepreneur, Joe Wicks, has been confirmed to headline Retail Technology Show 2025, which will take place at London ExCel on 2nd-3rd April.

Rising to fame through his platform The Body Coach, which delivers workouts and nutrition advice, Wicks gained a sizable following across online and social. This following grew exponentially during the Covid pandemic when PE with Joe, his daily YouTube exercise videos for kids, saw him dubbed the ‘Nation’s PE Teacher’, breaking a Guiness World Record when almost one million people tuned in for a single live fitness class. 

Beyond this, Wicks has sold over four million cookbooks focused on healthy eating.  He has partnered with retailers, including Asda, where he collaborates on budget friendly healthy recipes for school children and appeared in the grocery giant’s latest Rollback ads, as well as recently popping up as a guest investor on Dragon’s Den.

Speaking on the Spectacular Headline Stage on day one at Retail Technology Show, Wicks joins Customer Whisperer, Kate Hardcastle, for a fireside chat discussing the art of brand building, the role of fitness and wellbeing in driving motivation and the importance of cultivating resilience. 

Drawing on his experience in building a digital health and fitness empire, Wicks will explore how retailers can effectively use social and emerging channels and apps to connect with customers and reach new audiences.  He will also discuss how retail leaders can support wellbeing in the workplace and strategies for retail workers in staying motivated and resilient.