Currys, B&Q and McDonald's UK & Ireland are among finalists for the RG Retail Excellence Awards 2026. Winners will be announced Oct. 14 in London. The shortlists highlight how retailers use digital tools to cut costs and improve customer experience.
Alpha Score of 48 reflects weak overall profile with weak momentum, weak value, moderate quality, moderate sentiment.
Retail Gazette named the finalists for its 2026 Retail Excellence Awards on Tuesday, with winners to be announced Oct. 14 at The Underglobe in London. The shortlists span three categories: Fashion Retailer of the Year, Digital Team of the Year and Digital Initiative of the Year.
Eight projects are in the running for Digital Initiative of the Year. Currys' Video Diagnostics tool lets technicians see customers' appliances remotely, cutting the need for home visits. B&Q's FoundIt! project uses in-store mapping to help shoppers find products. Both initiatives address specific operational pain points. Remote diagnostics can reduce truck rolls and improve first-time fix rates. In-store navigation tools shorten the time customers spend searching, which tends to lift basket conversion.
Other finalists include Paul Smith, Ann Summers, AllSaints, Footasylum and The Very Group. McDonald's UK & Ireland also made the list. The projects show how retailers across apparel, home improvement and quick-service food are using digital tools to unify online and physical channels. Rather than treating ecommerce and stores as separate operations, the shortlisted initiatives focus on creating faster, simpler experiences that span both.
Five retailers are shortlisted for Fashion Retailer of the Year, though their names were not disclosed. The category covers digital-first brands, established names and independent platforms. The selection spans activewear, occasionwear and lifestyle clothing, plus platforms that support independent designers. Fashion retailers are increasingly competing on community building and customer loyalty, not just product assortment.
Six teams compete for Digital Team of the Year. The shortlist includes teams from large retailers alongside smaller, emerging businesses. The category recognizes collaboration across ecommerce, technology, marketing, data and customer experience. Retailers that break down silos between these functions tend to respond faster to customer needs and deliver more consistent experiences across websites, apps, stores and service channels.
McDonald's UK & Ireland, a finalist for Digital Initiative of the Year, operates roughly 1,450 restaurants in the region. The parent company, McDonald's Corp., carries an Alpha Score of 49 out of 100, a Mixed rating, according to the MCD stock page. The score reflects the company's position in the Consumer Discretionary sector, where digital investments are increasingly measured by customer engagement metrics rather than direct sales lift alone.
Digital capabilities now influence more than the online checkout. Retailers use technology to communicate with store teams, manage inventory, handle deliveries, solve customer problems and build loyalty over time. The awards shortlist reflects that shift: projects range from store navigation to remote support to internal communication tools.
The ceremony on Oct. 14 will include a drinks reception, a three-course dinner and live entertainment, followed by networking. Retail Gazette organized the event. No financial details of the awards or sponsor contributions were disclosed.
The finalists represent a cross-section of UK retail investing in technology to stay competitive. The winners will be announced at The Underglobe on Oct. 14.
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