Joachim Pinhammer

Spar Austria relies on smart technology from specialist for facility management automation Loxone. Following successful test operations and installations at a Eurospar store in Tyrol and a Spar outlet in Mundefing, the retailer is rolling out the system to all new stores built and reopened this year, as well as its head office in Salzburg.

At Home World charging park near German motorway A3 in the immediate vicinity of Wertheim Village outlet centre, a kitchen robot from start-up company Goodbytz serves food to customers. A self-service terminal from Smoothr works as the customer interface. The operating company with star chef Holger Stromberg is planning to roll out the concept further.

Aldi Süd is expanding its collaboration with Instacart in the USA. Customers can now also use the quick service provider's app in Aldi stores to make shopping easier. The software promises the discounter a uniform view of customer behaviour across online and offline channels. Click & Collect is also set to become easier and more efficient for employees.

Spanish grocery retail giant Alcampo, which belongs to Auchan, has opened its first Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) with automation solutions from Ocado. Around 1,000 robotic systems will help to prepare up to 70,000 customer orders from the greater Madrid area per week.

Carrefour is piloting payment via palm vein recognition in one of its Paris stores during the Olympic Games. The technology for the innovative biometric system is supplied by Ingenico.

Aldi Süd has agreed a multi-year collaboration with professional services provider Genpact in the USA and Australia. In these countries, the discounter is piloting the introduction of its new, predominantly SAP-based technology landscape under the project name Ahead.

Aldi Nord is piloting a customer loyalty programme for the first time. Users of the Aldi app can collect bonus points in 70 of the discounter's stores in Belgium. The application was developed together with software specialist GK.

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.