Do you like numbers? Do you like retail systems news? Then this is the article for you. Including AO, Yango Deli UK, Scandit, Shopware, and Dickies.

$8.2 million…UK-based e-commerce startup Hullabalook has secured $8.2 million in a funding round led by Nauta Capital and supported by existing investors Conviction VC and Passion Capital. 

£19.6 billion…UK retailers are bracing for an additional £19.6 billion of online home deliveries by 2025 as a result of the Covid pandemic, according to new research from Metapack and Retail Economics. 

250…A2Z Smart Technologies Corp. has launched a pilot for its Cust2Mate smart carts with Mexican retailer Chedraui, which operates more than 250 stores as well as locations in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada under the name El Super.

The first smart carts have arrived at Chedraui's flagship store in Mexico City. 

A2Z's Cust2Mate solution recognises every purchased item and enables in-cart payment so that shoppers skip lines, while also allowing grocers to direct shoppers to discounted products and in-store promotions.

£7.1 billion…UK retailers have cancelled £7.1 billion in contracts across the last 12 months with suppliers that don’t meet stringent ethical and sustainable standards, a new report from Barclays reveals.

42% of online retailers are failing to measure checkout conversion rates, according to new research from Fetchify.

$150 million and $1 billion…Smart data capture specialist, Scandit, has announced a Series D funding round of $150 million at a valuation in excess of $1 billion. 

This was led by Warburg Pincus, and included participation from Scandit’s existing shareholder base, including Atomico, Forestay Capital, G2VP, GV, Kreos, NGP Capital, Schneider Electric, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV and Swisscom Ventures.

94%…Online retailer Very.co.uk, which is operated by The Very Group, has expanded its range of beauty and self-care brands by 94% since the start of the Covid pandemic.

Since January 2020, it has added 77 new beauty and personal care brands, taking the category total to 159.

Recent launches include premium vitamin producer, Hello Day; beauty gel and mask maker, Patchology; sustainable, natural and vegan beauty brand, Beauty Kitchen; skincare provider, Caudalie; and sleep wellness specialist, Feather & Down.

10…Waitrose is gearing up to trial the Deliveroo Hop rapid delivery service which launched in September 2021.

The first Hop delivery only store, in partnership with Waitrose, will open in Bermondsey, London later this month. It will give access from 8am-midnight each day to products in as little as ten minutes.

$100 million…Shopware, a digital commerce software solutions provider in the DACH region, has raised $100 million in funding from Carlyle and PayPal.

This is the first outside funding that Shopware has ever raised, the venture having been bootstrapped since it was founded in 2000.

94%…Dickies reports a 94% increase in conversions since implementing 3DLOOK’s AI powered size and fit recommendations widget on Alibaba Group’s Tmall global platform in China.

The workwear and apparel brand was also able to drive up satisfaction rates and its Net Promoter Score (NPS).

Five million…Online electricals retailer AO says that it has recycled over five million household appliances since it first opened its AO Recycling facility five years ago. 

Based in Telford, UK, this focuses on large appliances, including fridges, washing machines, tumble driers, cookers and dishwashers.

€4 million…Robotic catering startup Bolk has raised €4 million in a first funding round that involved the likes of Kima Ventures.

15…Yango Deli UK, the rapid grocery delivery arm of Russian tech giant Yandex, is offering Londoners a range of Valentine’s Day treats, brought to their doors within 15 minutes. 

Through a new Valentine’s Day section on the venture’s app, London customers can order the likes of a dozen red roses, champagne, and truffles.