Retail and e-commerce –June 2026
Online supermarkets maintain growth – but not all of them…
According to Rabobank (in Dutch), online grocery shopping will continue to gain market share in the coming years. However, not all providers will benefit from this. As revenue growth is set to be less robust than in the past decade, there will be a greater focus on – or rather, the lack of – profitability.
What is next for e-commerce? AI, packaging innovation and customer experience
Changing shopping habits, greater adoption and demand for AI tools and stronger sentiment than ever around the role of unboxing, the importance of sustainability and the future of packaging: these are the key findings of the Mondi Group e-commerce trend report. The results show e-commerce packaging’s role as a powerful driver of brand perception, sustainability expectations and customer loyalty. You can download the report after filling in your details.
DHL E-Commerce Trends Report 2026: Old rules don't apply in the age of AI
AI could soon choose what we buy, sustainability has shifted from nice-to-have to non-negotiable, and second-hand shopping is rapidly becoming mainstream, according to new DHL e-commerce research. The 2026 E-Commerce Trends Report (9.65 MB), based on survey findings from 29,000 online shoppers and 5,800 e-commerce businesses across 29 countries, highlights the biggest shifts retailers need to prepare for in the coming years and how best to respond to the changing e-commerce landscape.
Updates to ISTA 6‑Amazon.com‑Over Boxing
ISTA has recently updated the ISTA 6‑Amazon.com-Over Boxing: E‑Commerce Fulfillment for Parcel Delivery Shipment test procedure following a technical review conducted through ISTA’s ANSI‑accredited, consensus‑based standards development process. The updates were made to better align the procedure with current Amazon fulfillment operations and evolving order profiles.
Verpact foundation launches calculation tool to “better justify” reusables
The e-commerce sector is set to gain another tool to “better justify” a switch to reusable shipping packaging. Verpact foundation and Thuiswinkel.org (in Dutch) are the drivers. They believe their new tool is necessary because new EU packaging legislation is steering the sector towards more reusability and less waste, with a 15% reduction in waste by 2040. The calculation tool (in Dutch) enables companies to compare reusable packaging with single-use alternatives in terms of, amongst other things, CO₂ emissions, water consumption and material use.
European e-commerce operations supported by sovereign cloud gain ground rapidly
German hypermarket giant Kaufland (in German) has announced a major expansion of its digital footprint, revealing plans to launch its online marketplace in both the Netherlands and Spain by the end of summer 2026.This move is part of Kaufland's broader strategy to position itself as a major European alternative to global e-commerce giants like Amazon and eBay. Kaufland is part of the Schwarz Group that also includes Lidl. The Group recently introduced a Europe-based cloud (KPN Sovereign Cloud, powered by STACKIT) together with Dutch telecoms provider KPN. Read more here.
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