reta awards
Five finalists are nominated in each of the five categories and invited to the awards ceremony. During the evening event, three equally-ranked winners per category will be announced live on stage. In addition, one retailer will be honored in our yearly changing special category.
Categories

Checkout & Smart Store
Recognizing innovations that streamline the purchase process or enhance in-store experiences, such as autonomous stores and smart shelves.

Employee Empowerment
Honoring solutions that empower staff through technology, improving communication, training, and overall job satisfaction, such as Workforce Management tools, task management and gamification apps.

Artificial Intelligence
Celebrating advancements in AI technology that enhance decision-making, personalization, and efficiency in retail, such as AI-driven chatbots, GenAI applications and Predictive Analytics.

Supply Chain Excellence
Acknowledging innovations that optimize the end-to-end supply chain, improving efficiency, transparency, and sustainability, such as IoT devices and sensors or Blockchain technology.

Customer Experience
This category highlights technologies that improve how customers experience the brand and shop across all touchpoints. This includes solutions like instore navigation, mobile applications and personalized service tools.

Special Category:
MarTec Innovation
Our special category celebrates innovations in marketing technology that empower retailers to plan, target, and optimize communication and engagement, like retail media, campaign automation, loyalty platforms and customer data systems.
Applications / Terms of Condition
Who can win a reta award?
The reta awards recognise retail companies for their outstanding and innovative use of technology.
Who can participate?
Retail companies across the globe and their technology partners.
Who can submit an application?
Retailers as well as their technology partners can submit applications. Retailers are recognised with the reta award, their technology partners with the Top Supplier Retail prize.
How to apply?
Simply complete the application form and upload it to our website. Additional documents may also be provided if you wish. Participation in the competition is free of charge.
- In its assessment, the jury will pay particular attention to the degree of innovation and strategic / financial benefits of the projects
- The reta award winners are selected by a topflight international jury
Starting with the reta awards 2026, five finalists per category will be nominated and invited to the awards ceremony. The final three winners in each category will be announced live on stage during the evening event. This new format adds excitement and celebrates innovation in front of a live audience.
All finalists and winners will receive an official badge for their respective category, which they can use in their communications and marketing. Technology partners will be recognized as Top Supplier Retail 2026 –as finalists and as winners.
Applications are open! From now on you’ll be able to submit your projects free of charge via our online form and attach any additional documents you wish.
Jury
The jury, comprising representatives of industry, universities and research institutions, will select the reta award winners from the many applications received in five categories.

Andy Baldauf
Digital, Innovation & Retail Expert (CH)

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dr. h.c. Jörg Becker
ERCIS European Research Center for Information Systems, University of Münster (D)
Managing Director

Denise Klug
Lebensmittelzeitung, Frankfurt/M (D)
Head of Technology & Logistics

Miya Knights
Eagle Eye, London (UK)
Head of Industry Insight
RetailTechnology.co.uk
Publisher

Paula Macaggi
OffBounds (PRT)
Founder and Editor-in-Chief

Katharina Sieweke
EHI Retail Institute, Cologne (D)
Editor stores+shops

Scott Thompson
Retail Technology Innocation Hub, RTIH (UK)
Editor & Founder

Björn Weber
The Retail Optimiser (D)
Publisher

Ing. Mag. Rainer Will
Handelsverband | Austrian Retail Association (AT)
Managing Director

Marco Zanardi
Retail Institute Italy (ITA)
Chairman
Any questions?
You are welcome to contact me at any time.
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Imke Hahn
Project Manager Retail Technology & reta awards
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