Jean-Yves Gras, Colissimo: “By October 2025, we will offer photos of packages in mailboxes or at home upon delivery” Europe In an e-commerce market that is growing in volume but disrupted by the pull of out-of-home consumption, Colissimo is adopting innovative AI digital twin and package tracking technologies. The goal is to optimise delivery efficiency, reduce parcel fraud and smooth out peak loads. In an interview with mind Retail, C.E.O. Jean-Yves Gras details his tech, data and customer journey roadmap for the coming months.
Hugues Chanoine, Hygie31: “In a year, our retail media revenue jumped 25% to €1 million” Expansion of a physical network, e-commerce upgrades, developing retail media, overhaul of digital tools... With little media exposure, the Hygie31 group—which operates 1,519 pharmacies and 5 websites in 7 countries—is undergoing a major transformation of an omnichannel ecosystem. With e-commerce accounting for 3.3% of business in 2024, the M.D. of the group's digital subsidiary, Hugues Chanoine, tells mind Retail about the new projects and future ambitions.
Through the VC lens Shabir Vasram, Daphni: “We are seeing valuation anomalies in certain AI cases due to investors’ pressure” Shabir Vasram is a Partner at venture capital firm Daphni. Focusing on seed to Series A funding, Daphni backed companies such as Back Market, Stockly, Albatross and Prediko, and is rapidly expanding into retail tech. He revealed to mind Retail that investments in agentic AI will be announced soon.
Thibault Tabard, Ingka: ‘With 2 to 3 openings per year, we are aiming for 20 design studios by 2030’ As Ikea expands urban stores dedicated to project design, mind Retail wanted to understand the results. How many appointments were made last year ? What is the uplift in consumer spending ? We have an exclusive analysis from Thibault Tabard, Director of Expansion for France at Ingka, the group's first franchisee.
Interview Through the VC lens Guillaume Echaudemaison: “Seventure is investing in a retail tech company that personalises customer relations on a large scale” Europe Interviews Guillaume Echaudemaison is a Senior Investment Manager in the Digital team at venture capital firm Seventure Partners. Focusing on Series A funding, Seventure has notably supported SumUp and Talentsoft, and is rapidly expanding in the retail sector. Another investment in retail tech will soon be announced, the partner revealed to mind Retail.
Interview Reglementary Gero Furchheim, Ecommerce Europe: “The challenges posed by marketplaces, often based in Asia, are the current priority” With the General Product Safety Regulation coming into force on 13 December 2024, but with no enforcement guidelines having been published since, mind Retail spoke with Gero Furchheim, the new President of Ecommerce Europe. In an exclusive interview, he details his stance on product safety issues, customs duties, the stakeholders involved, and the technological and investment implications.
Interview Patricia Grundmann, Obi Group: “Our future adserver will be able to handle a lot of API calls and operate DOOH in-store” Patricia Grundmann, VP Media & Retail Media at German D.I.Y. retailer Obi Group Holding, told mind Retail all about her plans for the transformation of the company in 2025. This includes a launch of retail media in a 3rd European country, roll-out of video formats, extension of DOOH inventory within in-store aisles and selection of a new adserver replacing PromoteIQ.
Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, Abu Dhabi RDP: ‘The big risk is the postponement of key investments due to a lack of political visibility’ Impact of customs tariffs, continued cooling demand for luxury goods, wait-and-see attitude in terms of investments. At the NRF, Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, former C.E.O. of Emaar Malls and Executive CMO of Marks & Spencer, and currently Advisor to the Abu Dhabi Retail Development Program, shared with mind Retail his vision for retail in 2025.
