Category: Supermarkets

  • Co-op’s Technology Director on Grocery Retail Transformation

    Live from the NRF Big Show, Co-op’s director of technology Ian Cox joins Natalie to discuss:

    • NRF highlights and practical use cases for AI in food retail.
    • How Co-op enacted digital transformation to innovate faster, scale resources, and stay agile in a rapidly changing market.
    • The importance of service availability as a convenience retailer: delivering transformation projects with minimal impact on the customer.
    • The relevance of quick commerce for convenience retailers.

    Ian’s Bio: 

    Ian Cox is the director of technology for Co-op UK, where he oversees SAP services, roadmap and footprint across the entire business. He’s also responsible for all Colleague Digital Technology products and platforms used in our Co-op businesses and support center, including Stores, Distribution, Legal Services and Funeral-care.

    Connect with Ian on LinkedIn.

    Find out more about the Retail Disrupted Podcast by visiting retaildisrupted.com

  • It’s a Density Game, with Deliveroo’s Paul Wilkinson

    Paul Wilkinson, Product Director at Deliveroo and former Tesco and Amazon exec, joins Natalie to discuss retail technology trends.

    They explore the evolution of quick commerce, why Deliveroo won’t chase 15-minute delivery and moving into non-food to “bring the whole high street to the customer”.


    Other topics covered include: learnings from the restaurant sector, supermarket collaboration, voice commerce and frictionless checkout.

  • Ken Towle on Supermarket Trends, Shrinkflation, International Retail

    Former Tesco director and Nisa CEO Ken Towle joins Natalie on the podcast to discuss:


    •    The retail and consumer outlook.
    •    Why shrinkflation is not always a bad thing.
    •    His experience running Nisa during the pandemic.
    •    From self-checkouts to generative AI – how technology is changing the way we shop for food.
    •    Grocery e-commerce and the importance of collaboration.
    •    Lessons from his time as Tesco China CEO.

  • Why Currys is Nick Bubb’s 2024 Pick

    Wonderful to have Nick Bubb on the podcast this week. We discuss:

    🎄 Christmas trading results – winners and losers.
    💻 Why electricals retailing is poised for a comeback in 2024.
    📉 What JD Sports’ and Burberry’s profit warnings tell us about the state of retail.
    🛍 What went wrong at John Lewis and whether Peter Ruis can revive the brand.
    👗 Frasers’ stake-building strategy – what is the end game for Asos and Boohoo?
    🛒 Supermarket switching and the importance of physical stores in food retail.

    TLDL: skip to 26 minutes to hear 3 reasons why Currys is Nick’s tip of 2024. Last year, he picked Marks & Spencer so I’d listen up!

  • The Shoplifting Epidemic

    Chris Noice, Communications Director at the Association of Convenience Stores, joins Natalie to discuss Britain’s shoplifting epidemic. They explore:

    • The scale of the problem and factors driving the growing wave of shoplifting.
    • What motivates shoplifters and is it a victimless crime?
    • Cops in shops – will we see more retailers and shopping centres collaborate with the police for in-store police stations?
    • From equipping staff with body cams to hiring undercover security guards – what more can retailers do to deter theft?
    • Retail staff abuse and the issue of under-reporting.
    • The rise of middle class shoplifting and how automation is exacerbating the problem.
    • Will retailers see more TikTok-inspired mass shoplifting rampages?
    • How can the government take action to curb the rise in shoplifting?

  • Quick Commerce: Collaborate or Die?

    George Nott, Technology Editor at The Grocer, joins Natalie to discuss the evolution of quick commerce. They examine the latest Uber Eats / Getir collaboration, how traditional supermarkets are responding to the quick commerce trend and whether the world is ready for AI-powered conversational shopping experiences.

    Fun Fact: Did you know ‘getir’ means ‘bring’ in Turkish?

  • Enemy to Frenemy: Amazon & Iceland

    “We hate Amazon. They’ll bully us and do horrible things to us. They’ll use us, we don’t want anything to do with them.” -Iceland Managing Director, 2018

    Fast forward five years…

    This morning Amazon UK announced that frozen food specialist Iceland will begin selling groceries on its platform. In this episode, Natalie explores the rationale behind Iceland’s shift in strategy and why Amazon is expanding its relationship with third party supermarkets like Morrisons, Co-op and now Iceland.

    Amazon may need the grocery industry but does the grocery industry need Amazon? Let’s explore.

     

  • Friction vs. Reward

    Richard Hammond, CEO of Uncrowd and fellow retail author, joins Natalie to explore the differences in US and UK grocery retailing. Why have British retailers failed to crack the American market? When is it ok to have friction? Automation – how can retailers balance customer satisfaction and operational efficiencies? And what is the risk of deprioritizing CX investment in the current climate? 

    Listen to the end to hear Richard’s own experience of being stuck in self-checkout jail. 

  • Grocery Greedflation?

    Are the UK supermarkets profiteering? Food price inflation remains stubbornly high at 18.4% – its highest level since the 1970s – and now lawmakers want to understand if the supermarkets are lining their pockets at the expense of the shopper. In this episode, Natalie shares her views on why the grocers aren’t guilty of greedflation: they have no choice but to remain price competitive, while simultaneously doing everything in their power to protect their inherently low profit margins. Harvir Dhillon, Economist at the British Retail Consortium, joins the show to explore some of the cost pressures that retailers are facing, whether inflation has now peaked, and why a supermarket price cap is a bad idea.