NEWS FEATURE
17 OCTOBER 2025 ASIAN TRADER 17
rom forecasting orders to flagging
potential shoplifters, AI has entered
the aisles of British convenience stores,
forcing retailers to upgrade and adapt but also
to weigh its promise of progress against the
price of trust.
For years, British convenience stores were
run with intuition and the fruits of experi
ence. Pearls of wisdom passed on from
generations and real-world experience gained
behind the till gave retailers a kind of sixth
sense, a different kind of
intelligence that helped them
navigate supply issues,
compliance and safety, and
enabled shrewd guesses at
changing consumer habits.
Now, a different kind of
intelligence is entering the
store, one powered by
algorithms, sensors, and silent
cameras that claim to see
what human eyes might miss.
Convenience retail might
look old-school, but innova
tion has never been far
behind. Today, a wave of AI
tools claims to fix almost every pain point
the retailer ever faces.
Like, new-age AI-powered electronic point
of sale (EPOS) systems that trigger automatic
reorders when stock levels run low, removing
the need for manual checks. Tools from
companies like Trax use AI image recognition
on shelf cameras to monitor product
availability and ensure proper placement in
real time.
MHouse claims to analyse historical sales
data, seasonal trends, and even external
factors such as weather or local events to
forecast demand accurately, ensuring the
right products are stocked at the right time.
Voice-driven assistants like Vox act as Siri
for retail, letting store owners ask for pricing,
promotions or range advice and receiving
instant, evidence-based suggestions.
Some classic examples are seen being used
by bigger cousins as well. Sainsbury’s has
invested in AI forecasting as part of its £1
billion cost-saving plan. Waitrose uses AI to
schedule deliveries and track food trends;
even Tesco now relies on AI to optimise
Artificial intelligence has started sweeping
through the convenience sector, although
it has yet to prove its cost-effectiveness,
Pooja Shrivastava discovers.
use forecasting models built off our EPOS data
provided by Epositive from Nisa retail. They
help predict demand for key lines by factoring
in seasons, events and even weather trends,
so our orders are more accurate and shelves
stay full.
“We also run pricing and range reviews
through AI to highlight slow movers and
suggest better-value substitutes.
“Customer insight has been another plus,
we can see which products are often bought
together and use that for better displays or
promotions. AI also pulls daily sales summa
ries so the team gets a quick view of what’s
performing or running low,” Selvaratnam
said.
No area of retail has embraced AI faster
than security. As shop theft and violence
surge across the UK, demand for smart
surveillance has exploded.
AI-enabled systems now watch live CCTV
feeds, detect concealment, scan body
language and alert staff in real time. Names
like Veesion, x-Hoppers and Retail AI are fast
becoming familiar.
Both Vekaria and Razaq vouch for Retail
AI, both for in-store audio as well as anti-theft
alerts.
Vekaria shared, “On the
security front, our store uses
Retail AI, which uses facial
recognition, behavioural
analysis, and automatic
number plate recognition to
identify suspicious activity
in real time.
“When it detects
potential theft, it triggers
smart audio deterrents and
logs the incident with
multi-angle video evidence,
including footage of the
theft, discarded stock, and
The age of artificial retail
deliveries and inform buying
decisions.
For independents, the same
tech is starting to trickle down,
offering a chance to level the
playing field without the
corporate budget.
Real-time users
For Manchester-based One Stop retailer
Priyesh Vekaria, AI is now very much an
integral part of how he
operates his business.
“We use a range of
artificial intelligence-driven
systems across multiple
aspects of our store opera
tions, and they have become
central to how we manage
security, compliance,
availability, and customer
engagement.
“These are not surface-
level tools. They are fully
integrated into our opera
tional model, and the impact
has been significant.
“The single biggest game changer has been
the smart audio network. This system allows
us to run bespoke audio across the store, from
branded promotional campaigns to retailer
messaging and security deterrents, all
controlled through a single dashboard,”
Vekaria told Asian Trader.
AI also helps him identify fast-moving
lines, forecast demand surges and monitor
promotions. Even age-restricted sales are
assisted by AI at the till.
“It supports compliance
quickly and accurately,
especially during late-night
trading,” he adds.
Meanwhile in south
London, retailer Benedict
Selvaratnam has also started
to rely heavily on AI.
He said, “We have started
using a few AI tools at
Freshfields Market to make
day-to-day operations a bit
sharper.
“For buying and stock, we
Priyesh Vekaria
Benedict Selvaratnam