The 9 Best Grocery Delivery Services of 2026
CNET’s 2026 roundup evaluates nine grocery‑delivery platforms, from Amazon Fresh and Walmart+ to niche players like Misfits Market and Hungryroot. Test orders measured selection breadth, pricing, delivery speed, and freshness, revealing Amazon Fresh’s extensive catalog and Prime‑free shipping, Walmart+’s rural reach, and Instacart’s higher mark‑ups. Specialty services such as Thrive Market focus on pantry staples with a membership model, while Gopuff excels at ultra‑fast, limited‑item drops. The review highlights regional availability gaps, especially FreshDirect’s Northeast focus, and the trade‑off between convenience and cost across the sector.
Target’s Tech Chief Has a Central Role in the Retailer’s Turnaround Plan
Target’s chief information and product officer, Prat Vemana, is steering a $6 billion technology push aimed at reversing a multi‑quarter sales slump. The retailer is deploying AI‑driven tools such as Trend Brain to accelerate design cycles and new demand‑forecasting models for...
UK Banks Wary as Contactless Payment Limits Are Lifted
The UK is scrapping the £100 ceiling on contactless card payments, theoretically allowing unlimited tap‑to‑pay transactions. However, many banks are signaling they will retain their own limits due to heightened fraud exposure. Contactless already dominates UK in‑store spending, with 94.6%...
SupplyHouse Expands Ohio Fulfillment Center to Increase Capacity and Delivery Speed
SupplyHouse has opened a 527,000‑square‑foot fulfillment center in Canal Winchester, Ohio, more than doubling its previous space. The larger warehouse allows deeper inventory, expanded product assortment, and faster same‑day shipping for contractors and DIY customers across the Midwest and Plains....
Temu Grows Rapidly in Spain and Italy
Temu’s Digital Services Act report reveals the platform serving an average of 129.7 million European shoppers per month in the second half of 2025, a 12 percent increase over the previous six months. Growth was strongest in Southern Europe, with Spain and...
Instant Checkout in ChatGPT Reflects Enormous Challenge
OpenAI announced its Instant Checkout feature for ChatGPT in late 2025, but in March 2026 the company said it is scaling back the rollout to focus on merchant‑site integrations. The pause reflects the difficulty of embedding AI agents in e‑commerce,...
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[Opinion] Temu, Shein, AliExpress, and Now Joybuy: Are We Finally Waking up in Europe?
Chinese e‑commerce giants Shein, Temu, AliExpress and now JD.com’s Joybuy are rapidly expanding into Europe, intensifying price competition for local retailers. These platforms combine ultra‑low pricing, AI‑driven merchandising and cross‑border logistics to attract cost‑conscious shoppers. The influx signals a systemic...
The New Must-Haves in B2B Ecommerce Tech Stacks Go Beyond CRM and CMS
B2B ecommerce leaders are expanding beyond traditional CRM, analytics and CMS to meet rising buyer expectations for real‑time, self‑service experiences. Five emerging applications—product information management (PIM), digital experience platforms (DXP), configure‑price‑quote (CPQ) tools, B2B‑specific ecommerce platforms, and customer data platforms...
Private 5G Seen as Fix for Warehouse Robot Connectivity
Private‑5G specialist Celona and Digi International have teamed up to deliver a plug‑and‑play Robots‑as‑a‑Service (RaaS) platform that replaces unreliable Wi‑Fi in large‑scale warehouses. By integrating Digi’s rugged edge routers and gateways with Celona’s 5G LAN, the solution offers low‑latency, high‑capacity...
IOPE Debuts in Canada Through Exclusive Sephora Retail Partnership
South Korean skincare brand IOPE, owned by Amorepacific, has launched in Canada through an exclusive partnership with Sephora Canada, making its products available both online and in physical stores. The debut features nine clinical‑grade items ranging from $9 to $93,...
How Quick Commerce Is Turning Into A Visibility Engine For Retail & D2C Brands
Quick commerce has evolved from a niche last‑minute service into a mainstream habit, with Indian consumers ordering multiple times a week. The 10‑minute delivery market, worth roughly $6 bn today, is projected to reach $35‑40 bn by 2030, while gross order value...
Store Tab Appearing in Google Shopping
Google Shopping now includes a “Stores” tab that surfaces local retailers alongside product listings. The feature appears after clicking the “More places” button and redirects users to the Places navigation bar. It is distinct from the existing “Nearby” filter, which...
Kentucky Horsewear Uses AI as a Sales Assistant: “From Searching to Selecting, Both Online and In-Store”
Kentucky Horsewear has deployed a generative‑AI product assistant that guides shoppers through natural‑language queries, delivering tailored horse‑gear recommendations both on its e‑commerce site and in physical stores. Developed with Taglayer, the tool instantly suggests items such as blankets, underblankets, and...
Brussels Pressed on Online Import Loopholes
In 2025 the EU received an estimated 5.8 billion parcels, overwhelming customs systems. A coalition of European apparel, footwear and clothing groups is urging the EU to bring forward the “deemed importer” obligations for online marketplaces such as Shein and Temu,...
Picnic on Track to Reach 1 Billion in Revenue in Germany
Dutch online supermarket Picnic aims to hit €1 billion in German revenue this year, marking a milestone after five years of operation. The retailer is expanding its footprint by launching in Munich, bringing its total to thirteen fulfillment centers across the...
Co-Op Upgrades In-Store Comms Tech Across UK Estate
Co‑op has signed a five‑year deal with VoCoVo to equip more than 2,300 UK stores with S5 Pro headsets, following a successful pilot in 114 locations. The rollout, which began in February, aims to keep staff constantly connected, improve safety...
Chinese Livestream Sellers Turn South Korean Streets Into Online Shops for ‘Authentic’ Goods
Chinese livestream sellers are turning Seoul’s bustling shopping districts into on‑street studios, using Douyin to showcase fashion items as authentic Korean goods. The number of street‑based livestreams has surged three‑ to fourfold in the past six months, with vendors like...
Aldi Ends ‘Just Walk Out’ Checkout-Free Store Experiment
Aldi has ended its two‑year “Shop & Go” checkout‑free trial in London, converting the Greenwich High Road store back to a standard Aldi Local. The experiment used AI‑powered cameras to automatically charge shoppers as they left the store, mirroring Amazon’s...
The Mounting Cost of Voice Fraud: Revenue Loss, Broken Trust and Operational Strain
A Modulate and Retail Dive survey finds voice fraud now one of retail’s fastest‑growing threats, with eight‑in‑ten leaders experiencing moderate to highly sophisticated attacks in the past year. AI‑generated voice clones can be purchased for as little as $20, enabling...
DomainsByOwner.com Challenges Traditional Domain Marketplaces With a No-Commission Model
DomainsByOwner.com has launched a commission‑free domain marketplace that operates on a subscription‑based listing model. The platform lets owners publish unlimited domains and negotiate sales directly with buyers, eliminating the typical 10‑20% broker fees. Transactions are secured through third‑party escrow services,...
Turning Browsers Into Buyers: Preezie Brings In-Store Service Online
Preezie has introduced an AI Shopping Assistant that transforms Australian retail websites into virtual sales associates, delivering conversational, context‑aware guidance. By ingesting product catalogs, size charts and policy data, the assistant can answer natural‑language queries, suggest bundles, and recommend fit....
Trust as the New Currency of Indonesia’s E-Commerce
Indonesia’s e‑commerce market is maturing, moving away from low‑trust, price‑centric marketplaces toward authenticity‑driven mall ecosystems anchored by authorized sellers. A 2025 Cube Asia study shows roughly 80% of Indonesian shoppers now favor these mall environments, driven by younger, middle‑class consumers...
The Quiet Rise of ‘Dark Brands’: Companies That Win Without Being Famous
The article highlights the emergence of “dark brands” – private‑label and marketplace‑native products that thrive without consumer awareness. Growth in e‑commerce and algorithmic recommendation engines now drives sales, eclipsing traditional brand visibility. In the United States, store brands account for...
JD.com Takes on Amazon in Europe as China's E-Commerce Titans Expand Globally
JD.com has launched Joybuy, its European e‑commerce platform, in six markets including the United Kingdom and Germany. The service promises same‑day delivery for orders placed before 11 a.m. and offers free delivery on purchases over £29. JD leverages its own warehouse...
E-Commerce Sovereignty Picks up with Pantip Mall
Pantip Mall, Thailand’s first "local alternative" e‑marketplace, will begin beta testing in April‑May with a full launch slated for June. Leveraging Pantip.com’s 2.2 million daily users, the platform aims to convert 10% of visitors into shoppers while offering merchants fees capped...
Amazon SUCKS
A consumer reported an Amazon order originally slated for September 12 that was repeatedly pushed back to October 4, despite the items being in stock. The customer was hit with an unauthorized $11.63 two‑day shipping fee and endured three lengthy support calls...
Flipkart Calls Re 1 Milk Offer a Limited Promotion After Bamul Moves CCI
Flipkart defended its Re 1 per litre milk promotion as a limited-time campaign, saying prices are set by sellers and farmer procurement rates remain unchanged. The company’s statement follows a complaint by Bangalore Cooperative Milk Union (Bamul) to the Competition Commission...
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Costco Now Lets You Order Custom Cakes Online — Here’s How It Works
Costco has introduced a digital ordering channel for its custom cakes through the member app, ending a decades‑old paper‑form process. Shoppers can now select size, flavor, and decorations on their phones and receive an email receipt confirming the request. The...
Launch Your Own Private-Label Brand
Retailers are increasingly launching private‑label brands to capture higher margins, tighten supply‑chain control, and create exclusive product assortments. By sourcing directly from manufacturers, merchants can eliminate intermediaries, set unique specifications, and differentiate their shelves from competitors. The article outlines a...
Vivid Seats Promo Codes and Deals: Save 10% This March
Vivid Seats is promoting a suite of March discounts, including 10% off for verified students, military personnel, first responders, medical providers, and teachers, plus a "Buy 10, Get 11th Free" rewards program. The company also offers app‑only coupons and real‑time...
Best POS System for Retail Stores in 2026
Choosing the right point‑of‑sale (POS) system is now a strategic decision for retailers, as modern platforms combine inventory, payments, reporting, and omnichannel capabilities into a single cloud‑based hub. In 2026 the market is led by Vibe, Square, Shopify, Lightspeed, and...
B2B and B2C Companies Increase AI Investment as Agentic Commerce Gains Traction
Artificial intelligence has moved from pilot projects to core infrastructure across B2B and B2C ecommerce, with 95.5% of surveyed firms reporting at least one AI capability. Companies are applying AI to both front‑end experiences—such as product discovery, chatbots and personalization—and...
Stitch Fix Revenue Rises as CEO Credits AI Tools in Q2
Stitch Fix reported a 9.4% rise in Q2 net revenue to $341.3 million, marking its second consecutive quarter of growth despite a 0.5% contraction in the broader U.S. apparel market. CEO Matt Baer credited enhancements to assortment, client experience, and new...
Consumers Spend More When Payments Are Frictionless, an NMI Study Finds
A new NMI study of 1,000 U.S. adults shows that frictionless payments boost both purchase frequency and spend. Half of respondents say they shop more often when checkout feels seamless, and 48% admit to spending more at the point of...
Rapido’s Ownly Launch Signals Food Delivery Push Amid $600-Million Fundraise
Urban mobility platform Rapido is entering India’s crowded food‑delivery space with its Ownly service, rolling out initially in Bengaluru. The launch coincides with a $550‑600 million fundraising round led by Prosus, aimed at financing diversification beyond ride‑hailing and logistics. Ownly promises...
Niceshops: ‘Revenue Increased 20% in 2025’
Austrian e‑commerce provider Niceshops reported a 20 percent revenue jump to €169 million in fiscal 2025, alongside an EBITDA increase to €8 million. After cutting 20 percent of its workforce in 2024, the firm now employs roughly 400 staff and serves 1.3 million active customers...
NutraCast: Amazon’s New Supplement Policy Could Trigger Delistings
Amazon announced a new supplement policy that will take effect on March 31, 2026, requiring every product claim on its marketplace to exactly match the information on the supplement facts panel. The enforcement will be driven by AI systems that scan...
Sitma Introduces PackHub, a Compact Automated Bagging System for Faster Order Fulfillment
Sitma unveiled PackHub, a compact automated bagging system that streamlines order fulfillment by automating bag feeding, orientation, and labeling. The unit’s 500‑bag hopper and precision friction feeder can cut packaging time by up to 50% per order while preserving a...
How Vessi Sells Waterproof Shoes
Vessi, a Canada‑based direct‑to‑consumer sneaker brand, leverages its patented Dyma‑tex fabric to sell waterproof yet breathable shoes. Director of ecommerce Ray Hua explains that Meta ads dominate customer acquisition, while TikTok and Reddit generate traffic with low conversion quality. The...
UK Brands Risk Billions as One-Third of Customers Switch Due to a Poor Digital Retail Experience
New MSQ DX research shows a widening perception gap between UK retailers and consumers, with one‑third of shoppers abandoning brands due to poor digital experiences. The gap is most acute among 25‑34‑year‑olds, where 64% switched brands in the past year....
From Bedroom Demos to Studio Dreams: Why Brands Ditch Influencers for High-Production Livestreams
Brands are abandoning low‑budget influencer livestreams in favor of high‑production, brand‑controlled video commerce. Zara’s recent five‑hour Douyin showcase, hosted by a supermodel, drew over one million viewers, illustrating the power of polished, immersive experiences. The shift is driven by the...
How Digital Asset Management Helps Retailers Scale up and Attract Customers
Retailers are still stuck with fragmented digital storage—44% use local servers and 41% rely on individual hard drives, while 51% track product details in spreadsheets. This patchwork creates version‑control issues and slows time‑to‑market. Canto’s State of Digital Content 2026 report...
DPD Opens Two New Purpose-Built Distribution Centres in South East
DPD has opened two new 60,000‑square‑foot distribution centres in Crawley and Sittingbourne, replacing older depots and adding state‑of‑the‑art automation. Each hub can process up to 80,000 parcels daily and will support more than 100 new driver routes in the South...
The Need for “Grounded AI” – Not Hype
The 2026 Retail Technology Show in London gathered senior brand leaders from River Island, Pentland Brands, Goddiva, Noble Panacea and Azzurri Group to discuss retail’s next evolution. Panelists emphasized “grounded AI” as an enabler, citing River Island’s 80% drop in...
Expressions Gift Card Kiosks Bring Personalization to Retail Gifting
Expressions Gift Card Kiosk merges personalized greeting cards with instant digital gift cards, printing on glossy stock in under 41 seconds. The self‑service unit occupies just four square feet, replacing traditional 20‑60‑foot aisles and reducing inventory valued up to $40,000...
What Makes the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show a Must-Attend Event?
The Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show (ARKI) returns Dec. 14‑16, 2026 in Miami Beach, targeting operators, brands, and technology providers. Since its 2020 debut, the event has evolved from a pure tech showcase to a deployment‑focused forum emphasizing scalability, reliability, and...
From Vending Machines to Autonomous Retail: The Evolution of Grab and Go Shopping
Physical retail is rapidly adopting autonomous, checkout‑free models that let shoppers pick items and leave without scanning. The piece traces the technology from early vending machines through digital payments, smart vending, and finally AI‑driven grab‑and‑go stores. These stores rely on...
SiriusXM VP Talks Music Impact Within the Retail Digital Signage Experience
SiriusXM’s VP of commercial music, Stuart Larking, highlighted the growing role of music in digital signage, citing its ability to increase dwell time and sales. He noted that Pandora CloudCover’s new signage features let retailers pair curated, fully licensed music...
New Balance Adds Apparel to Its Resale Platform Reconsidered
New Balance is extending its Reconsidered resale platform, originally launched two years ago, to include apparel alongside its already‑circulated 100,000 pairs of shoes. The service refurbishes returned items and sells them through a dedicated site, while consumers can trade in...
Why Payment Technology Is Now Central to the Restaurant Experience, Especially on Mother’s Day
Lloyds Merchant Services’ latest research shows contactless payments, mobile wallets and integrated point‑of‑sale systems are reshaping the restaurant experience, especially on high‑traffic days like Mother’s Day. The study found a 45% year‑over‑year rise in contactless transactions within hospitality and a...