Joachim Pinhammer

Albert Heijn has introduced a new function to its customer app that aims to help reduce food waste. With the Scan & Cook application, which is based on generative AI, customers can take photos of food products and receive personalised recipe suggestions.

WHSmith is integrating data from its business applications on the AI-based Xfuze platform from Xiatech. This way, the British retailer aims to optimise business processes and grow faster internationally.

Rewe Group is further expanding its tests of Pick&Go technology. In the Romanian capital Bucharest, the retailer opened the first store from its discount operation Penny to use Trigo technology.

Leading grocery retailers in Ireland, such as Dunnes Store, Tesco and Aldi Süd, are using the AI-based purchasing platform from Kwayga to find more favourable procurement channels for food and beverages. The start-up connects retailers with suppliers from more than 60 countries.

Rossmann is rolling out a new self-checkout concept. Selected stores will receive Diebold Nixdorf Easy Express All-in-One or Beetle POS systems integrated into furniture from shopfitter Kesseböhmer. The drugstore operator has already installed more than 400 of these systems. The retailer told the Retail Optimiser that in the long term, all stores are to be equipped with self-checkouts.

Edeka independent retailer Pascal Gerdes is piloting the new Tomra R2 multi-feed reverse vending machine. His Trinkgut beverage store in Moers is the first in Germany to deploy the compact, wall-mounted machine. In future, it will also be able to accept returnable glass containers.

Rewe Digital is evaluating the use of hyper-realistic avatars in employee communication in a pilot project called Knowledge Avatar. Test avatar 'goRobert' helps with the onboarding of new employees at the Rewe IT subsidiary. The hologram technology from US provider Proto is supplied by the event agency Pave.

Ahold Delhaize, Tesco, Canadian Sobeys (Empire Company) and South African Shoprite Group have joined the venture capital activities of the Australian Woolworths Group. Under the name W23 Global, the companies have founded a new venture capital company based in London. Woolworths Australia has been investing in retail technology start-ups under the name W23 since 2019. The companies now want to…

The first Spar supermarket in Israel validates self-scanning purchases with technology from Bizerba partner Supersmart. Spar licence holder Amit Zeev plans to open ten stores within the next few months and a total of 35 within five years.

Kaufland e-Commerce Fulfilment has equipped employees at its Lutterberg distribution centre with smart watches from Nimmsta. With this digitalisation step, the Schwarz Group company expects to increase efficiency in the processing of customer orders from its online marketplace.