Sophie Baqué
Chief Editor of mind Retail
Most read articles by Sophie Baqué
Eric Meulien, Al Futtaim: “The next step in our roadmap is to replace the in-store POS system”
Operating in 18 countries and managing brands such as Ikea, Zara and Marks & Spencer, Emirati group Al-Futtaim (2025 revenue: US$9.7 billion, up by 6%) has a unique vantage point from which to...
- Retail
- Retailer and e-commerce
- Analysis
12 October 2026
Marketplaces: How Orange and Virgin Australia reinvent their value creation models
Looking to turn their audience into a commercial platform without having to carry the risk of holding stock, new verticals are entering the marketplace space, with new models designed to enhance...
- Retail
- Retailer and e-commerce
- News
8 October 2026
AI agents: the KPIs that led L’Oréal to scale up across its warehouses
After testing 7 AI agents in its warehouses, L’Oréal is scaling up. Deployed to coordinate picking waves, manage replenishment and handle stocktaking, Manhattan’s agents have helped cut several...
- Retail
- Retail tech
- News
20 October 2026
How Mobilier de France reduced the share of cheque payments from 80% to 50%
With an average basket of €3,500 and a payment journey that includes a financial deposit at the time of ordering, Mobilier de France shares with mind Retail its assessment of the rollout of...
- Retail
- mind Exclusive
- Retail tech
15 October 2026
Latest articles by Sophie Baqué
[mind Retail Exclusive] Constance Fouquet makes a fresh start in 2025
According to our sources, Constance Fouquet has left Maisons du Monde (9M 2024 sales: €705 million, down 11.4%). Hired in April 2022 after five years at Veepee, in a context of rapid digital...
10 January 2025
[mind Retail Exclusive] Adeo and United.b digitalise after-sales service with Platana
In the D.I.Y. and electronics sectors, Adeo and United.b are tackling the challenge of after-sales service efficiency and data exploitation head on. mind Retail details how two new retailers are...
10 January 2025
After 5 years, Alibaba sells off Sun Art supermarkets and loses €1.9 billion
Alibaba Group is continuing a withdrawal from physical retail. After Intime department stores, the giant is selling control of Sun Art supermarkets to Chinese private equity firm DCP Capital for...
- Retail
- Retailer and e-commerce
- News
9 January 2025
Mexico increases customs fees for Temu, Shein, AliExpress and others
As Donald Trump threatens to impose 25% customs duties on imports from Canada and Mexico, the Central America country is stepping up a fight against Chinese imports. On January 1, 2025, new...
- Retail
- Economy and regulators
- News brief
9 January 2025
Unibail Rodamco Westfield is increasing disposals, but wants to turn malls into media assets
While speeding up debt reduction, the property company sees retail media as a strategic asset. Two years after the creation of a dedicated advertising network called Westfield Rise, due to...
- Retail
- Property and investors
- Analysis
8 January 2025
Following the collapse of Big Lots, specialist retail concentrates in the U.S.
In a sluggish U.S. property market, discount furniture retailer Big Lots found a partial buyer. Variety Wholesalers is to take up to 400 stores.
- Retail
- Retailer and e-commerce
- News
7 January 2025
Daniel Ducrocq, NielsenIQ: “In the first half of 2025, our customers will be able to write questions in natural language in Discover”
Volume decline halted in France, continuous trade-offs from shoppers, channel dynamics, share of second-hand in online fashion... As NielsenIQ is about to integrate new AI functionalities and...
- Retail
- Economy and regulators
- Analysis
19 December 2024
The major retail and e-commerce trends of 2025
In a context of sluggish consumption, budgetary and geopolitical uncertainties (U.S.A., Middle East, Ukraine), concentration and financing tensions, retailers are prioritising efficient and...
- Retail
- Economy and regulators
- Analysis
19 December 2024
[mind Retail Exclusive] The French repair bonus to be extended to underwear and household linen
After a year's use for clothes in France, the Refashion eco-organisation is working on new territories for a repair bonus, mind Retail has learned.
13 December 2024
Black Friday : European average online spending up 14% in 2024
In Western Europe, Black Friday 2024 was characterised by an increase in spending and volumes (no inflation effect) and a massive recruitment of new e-shoppers. Although customers' participation...
- Retail
- Economy and regulators
- Analysis
13 December 2024
Which European retail start-up and scale-up raised funds in 2024?
In Western Europe, 73 retail tech start-up and scale-up raised funds in the first 9 months of 2024. Discover them in mind Retail's barometer, with data from our partner INVYO.
- Retail
- Retail tech
- Analysis
12 December 2024
[mind Retail Exclusive] With full funnel approach on Amazon Ads, L’Oréal’s Cerave brand boosts reach and conversion
For the launch of the Cerave brand on Amazon, L'Oréal opted for an advertising strategy ranging from videos on Prime Video and Twitch to search and display. Stéphane Grenier, Managing Director...
- Retail
- mind Exclusive
- Retail tech
11 December 2024
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
How retailers are reinventing the checkout
As pressure on household budgets continues, new payment methods including account-to-account (A2A) instant payments, Wero, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), loyalty points and cashback, are gaining...
- Retail
- Special Reports
2 November 2026
Julien Cailleau, Oney: “With 3 retailers, we are testing the use of Valiuz data to streamline financing approvals”
Against a backdrop of growing pressure on household budgets, the European CCD2 Directive coming into force and a new legal framework for assisted purchasing journeys, Oney is stepping up an...
- Retail
- mind Exclusive
- Retail tech
29 October 2026
Advantail signs with Formality to streamline commercial lease management
Amid an ownership shake-up following its acquisition by Evoriel, shopping centre operator Advantail has signed with Formality to digitise the management of commercial leases and contracts across...
23 October 2026
US retailers divided over the rise of autonomous shopping agents
In the US, Gap, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon and eBay are taking very different approaches to agentic commerce. While TV shopping giants QVC and HSN see these new intermediaries as an opportunity to...
- Retail
- Economy and regulators
- Analysis
21 October 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind Retail
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
US retailers divided over the rise of autonomous shopping agents
In the US, Gap, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon and eBay are taking very different approaches to agentic commerce. While TV shopping giants QVC and HSN see these new intermediaries as an opportunity to...
- Retail
- Economy and regulators
- Analysis
21 October 2026