EU Retail in Focus: Smart Checkouts, Summer Sales Slump & Brand Resilience

From AI-powered supermarket lanes to shifting consumer habits, Alexandra Boisson & The Retail Podcast team unpack Europe’s retail trends.In this Five Things Friday – EU Edition, Alexandra Boisson and Alex from The Retail Podcast dive into the latest shifts in the European retail market.We cover:Colruyt’s Easy Checkout: AI-powered cameras speeding up lanes by 70% (via RTL.be).French Summer Sales Decline: Only 39% of shoppers participated vs. 43% last year, with fewer purchases and smaller spends (via Actu-Retail).Birkenstock: Profit beats expectations despite trade tensions (via Reuters).Douglas Beauty: Strong sales in Germany and CEE offset French softness (Douglas).Carlsberg: Modest growth, cautious outlook for the second half (Carlsberg Group).