Retail Gazette

When a restaurant’s success depends on speed, service, and seamless experiences, even a moment of downtime can spell utter disaster.

That's why, in this episode of the Retail Gazette Unpacked podcast, we're exploring how the iconic brand Nando’s UK partnered with Ericsson to build a failover connectivity solution that keeps its restaurants cooking, no matter what.

Discover how one of Britain’s most beloved dining brands turned network resilience into a true competitive edge, and gain un-matched insight into the process from both the Nando’s and Hitachi points of view.

In this edition of the Retail Gazette Unpacked podcast, host Kieran Howells sits down with Liz Warren and Tim Johnson from Mer, alongside Chantal Beaudoin of Knight Frank Investment Management, to explore how EV charging hubs are becoming a powerful commercial and sustainability lever for the retail sector. 

With transport now responsible for 29 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions and the countdown to the 2035 ICE ban underway, the conversation examines why retail parks and shopping destinations are poised to play a pivotal role in expanding the UK’s charging network.

Across the discussion, the trio break down the dual value creation emerging for landlords, from measurable ESG gains to increased asset value, footfall and tenant spend driven by EV drivers’ longer dwell times. 

They’re candid about the complexities too, from long-term legal agreements to tenant consent and power availability, while offering a grounded perspective on what retailers should realistically expect when installing charging infrastructure. 

Warren also brings in the driver’s view, sharing new customer research revealing that convenience, rapid charging and high-quality amenities are now essential factors shaping EV driver behaviour, and a clear opportunity for retail destinations.

Check out the full conversation to get practical insight into the future of EV charging in retail. 

Store consumables. They may not be the most invigorating part of the retail equation, but they are utterly essential. Each element of your consumables budget contributes to that vital employee experience, keeping stores running, keeping them clean and tidy, and ensuring that your staff have all that they need to thrive. 

They're necessary, to say the least, but if we're honest, they can also be a hassle. Every store has a different set of requirements. Order too much, and you're taking up valuable space. Order too little, and you're leaving staff in a huge predicament they may not be prepared to handle. "I once had a store go out and buy a brand new vacuum cleaner, when all they needed to do was change the bag!" laughs Mark Swinden, Operations Manager at Aldo.

So, what if we told you that with one fundamental decision, you could completely transform antiquated supplier processes, take control of your likely spiralling consumables budget, up the quality of those products and reduce your environmental impact?

It sounds too good to be true, but today we’re sitting down with Terry Gardner, Retail Consultant and Account Director at Acopia, and Aldo's Mark Swinden to explore how the global footwear brand has done just that through smarter, more strategic partnerships.

Casting his eyes back over the fruits of the relationship Aldo cultivated with Acopia, Swinden has only this to say: “Honestly, looking back, I just wish we’d made the move sooner.”

From tackling inefficiencies in in-store consumables to building supplier relationships rooted in trust, the conversation digs into how Aldo has sharpened its agility, reduced costs and set itself up for true sustainable long-term success.

By listening, you’ll gain valuable insight into what makes a partnership work, the red flags to watch out for, and why getting supplier relationships right can be a game-changer for retail operations.

This is a very special episode of Retail Gazette Unpacked, recorded inside the brand new Aldo store on London's iconic Oxford Street. We hope you enjoy.

To learn more about what Acopia can do for you (and gain the efficiencies Mark himself has benefitted from), reach out to Terry and the Acopia team today. 

Every year, the famed (and for some dreaded) golden quarter makes or breaks retailers. From Black Friday through to Christmas, demand spikes, operations strain, and customer expectations soar. But what really determines whether retailers thrive or stumble is what happens behind the scenes, in the warehouses, fulfilment centres and logistics networks that power every purchase.

In this episode of Retail Unpacked, we sit down with Clare Davies, managing director at logistics experts GXO, to uncover how retailers can build smarter, more resilient supply chains for peak 2025. 

In our conversation, we’ll explore the role of automation, AI, workforce planning, and scalable warehousing, as well as the crucial factor of collaboration between retailers and logistics partners. Whether you’re a category leader or a challenger brand, this conversation will give you practical insights on how to approach the golden quarter with confidence, not chaos.

In this fascinating episode, we sit down with Izabela (Iza) Komuda, project coordinator at Elavon, to unpack the hidden complexity behind the systems that make modern retail payments so fast, secure, and invisible to the everyday shopper. 

From the cutting edge of AI, biometrics, and transaction risk analysis to the evolving world of fraud prevention and compliance, Iza reveals what really happens behind the scenes when retailers modernise their payment infrastructure, and why the best partnerships are built on transparency, trust, and ongoing collaboration.

She offers a rare insider view into where the most exciting innovation is happening across the payments chain today, the technical realities of implementing advanced tools like Transaction Risk Analysis (TRA), and the gaps that still persist even among Europe’s largest retailers. Iza also breaks down the impact of emerging payment methods like account-to-account transfers, digital wallets, and even crypto, explaining how they’re reshaping both opportunity and risk in retail.

Perhaps most importantly, she makes a powerful call for open communication between retailers and their payments partners:

“Provide your payments provider with feedback. Be connected with us and tell us what you like and what you don’t like. Let us know what you think and keep that feedback going because we can work with that. The teams that support our customers, they’re great resources who are there to support that feedback loop.” — Izabela Komuda, Elavon

Whether you’re a retail leader rethinking your payment strategy, or simply curious about how technology is redefining the checkout experience, this episode is packed with practical insights, strategic takeaways, and a clear message, the future of payments is about partnership as much as it is about technology.

In this eye-opening episode, Candice Pressinger of Elavon takes us behind the curtain of payment security, demystifying the complex systems, technologies, and human expertise that keep billions in retail transactions safe every day.

With decades of experience at the cutting edge of fraud prevention and compliance, Candice reveals what even the biggest retailers still get wrong about protecting revenue and maintaining PCI-DSS compliance and the very real financial consequences of treating security as a box-ticking exercise. 

She breaks down how AI-powered Transaction Risk Analysis (TRA) and biometric verification are transforming fraud control, explaining in plain, accessible terms how these innovations boost approval rates while reducing false declines.

Candice also lifts the lid on the evolving fraud landscape, from synthetic identities to coordinated cyberattacks, and offers clear, practical guidance on where retailers should focus their security investments for maximum protection and minimal disruption. With AI now embedded across most modern fraud systems, she provides a grounded take on its risks, limitations, and blind spots, and how to balance automation with human oversight.

Drawing on her experience managing PCI security at scale for BT, Candice highlights the importance of building a culture of security. One that empowers teams across every level of an organisation to take ownership, act decisively, and maintain resilience in the face of new threats.

As she puts it: “If fraudsters were a country, they’d have the third largest GDP, around £10 trillion, just behind the USA and China. They’re working hard to grow and innovate.” — Candice Pressinger, Elavon

Whether you’re a CISO, a payments lead, or a retail executive responsible for customer trust, this episode offers a rare, expert-led masterclass in what truly effective payments security looks like, and how to make it a competitive advantage, not just a compliance requirement.

In this insight-packed conversation, Scott Frisby of Elavon takes us inside the fast-evolving world of retail payments and issues a challenge to retailers everywhere. Stop treating payments as a backend cost and start seeing them as a strategic growth lever.

Scott draws on years of experience shaping payment strategy to explore where inefficiencies are still hiding in plain sight, from hidden fees and fragmented providers to outdated processes that quietly erode profitability. He offers a refreshingly pragmatic view on how retailers can reclaim control of their payment stack, negotiate smarter, and unlock real value by aligning systems with both business goals and customer expectations.

As new payment methods like digital wallets, account-to-account (A2A) transfers, and BNPL reshape the landscape, Scott discusses how to strike the right balance between innovation and simplicity, keeping customer experience frictionless while maintaining operational efficiency. He also tackles one of retail’s biggest roadblocks: cultural resistance to change, sharing practical steps leaders can take to drive transformation without disruption.

At the heart of the discussion is a simple truth: success starts with understanding what customers really want from their payment experience.

“The customer is always right. Listen to what they want, and you’ll always keep your payment stack clean and aligned with your customer base if you figure out what is really important to them.” — Scott Frisby, Elavon

Whether you’re a CFO, Head of Operations, or retail innovator, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to turn payments from a cost centre into a competitive advantage. It’s about clarity, confidence, and putting the customer, quite literally, at the centre of every transaction.

In this compelling conversation, old friend of the podcast Eric Horgan of Elavon shares an insider’s perspective on how retailers can unlock far greater value from their payments partnerships and why the smartest businesses are now treating payments as critical infrastructure, not just another operational process.

With retail under mounting pressure from rising fraud, shrinking margins, and escalating customer expectations, Eric pulls no punches in addressing the most common blind spots he sees in payment strategy today. He offers practical, data-driven advice on tackling the 40 per cent surge in chargeback volumes expected by 2026, improving approval rates through Transaction Risk Analysis (TRA), and identifying the overlooked inefficiencies that could deliver immediate financial gains if fixed.

Drawing on his dual experience as both a revenue leader and product executive, Eric highlights the opportunity retailers miss when they focus solely on cutting costs rather than exploring payment-driven revenue growth. He also delves into the growing shift toward consolidated payment providers, weighing the benefits of efficiency against the risks of over-reliance, and offers measured strategies for building resilience into modern payment ecosystems.

Above all, Eric emphasises partnership, proactivity, and continuous improvement as the foundations of success in a fast-evolving landscape:

“It’s tough out there for retailers, and it’s on us, the payments providers, to be a true partner to you and help you optimise. It’s our job to make sure your solutions are running as efficiently as possible.” — Eric Horgan, Elavon

Packed with actionable insights and forward-thinking perspective, this episode is essential listening for retail leaders who want to protect against disruption, eliminate hidden costs, and ensure their payments strategy is working as hard as they are.