‘Disruptors & Innovators in Retail 2024’ Top 30 report launches
Retail Insider is pleased to launch the ‘Retail Disruptors & Innovators 2024 Top 30’ report in partnership with the Retail Technology Show.
The Retail Disruptors & Innovators report is an annual report which champions progressive individuals from across the sector, who are fundamentally impacting the constantly changing retail landscape. From industry veterans to rising stars and high achievers, the report highlights the best examples of individuals whose disruptive approaches are redefining retail.
The list has been curated by an Advisory Panel of experienced individuals from across the retail eco-system who have considered a strong array of candidates for this year’s Top 30 before collectively concluding that Adam Jay, CEO of Vinted, is worthy of being named 2024’s top retail disruptor.
He is recognised for his work accelerating the second-hand marketplace’s first-mover advantage during his two-year tenure as CEO. Under his stewardship, despite many competitors entering the pre-loved space and other circular-retail formats emerging, Jay has ensured Vinted’s offer has remained relevant and compelling, so that it still has traction with consumers of all ages.
Taking second place, Olivia Ferdi, the Co-Founder of Trip, was recognised for her role in the growth of the CBD-infused drinks and oils brand, while the Founder & CEO of Skin +Me, Horatio Carey, took third spot, having broken the mould with the retailer’s personalised skincare subscription service.
2024’s Top 10 retail disruptors
- Adam Jay, CEO, Vinted
- Olivia Ferdi, Co-Founder of Trip
- Horatio Carey, Founder & CEO, Skin +Me
- Tash Grossman, Co-Founder & CEO, Slip
- Eshita Kabra, Founder & CEO, and Maruta Velsa, Senior Brand Manager, By Rotation
- Edzard Van Der Wyck, Co-Founder & CEO, Sheep Included
- Matt Hiscock, CEO, Wild Nutrition
- Ben Gallagher, Founder, Luxe Collective
- Hyrum Cook, Founder, Adanola
- Chantelle Kennedy, Hop Retail Director, Deliveroo
Sustainability once again emerged as a key theme amongst the Top 10 disruptors in the report, with retail rental and re-sale platform pioneers recognised in the top 10 ‘Hall of Fame’. These include fifth placed Eshita Kabra, Founder & CEO of By Rotation, a rental service launched during Covid-19 as a way to allow shoppers to rent clothing and accessories as well as offering items for purchase at discounted rates, and pre-loved marketplace Luxe Collective’s Founder Ben Gallagher, who came in at number eight having used social media to drive the brand’s significant growth.
Meanwhile, Edzard Van Der Wyck, Co-Founder & CEO of Sheep Included, the first carbon-negative fashion brand which uses Connected Dot NFC tags to allow the wearer to track the journey of a garment’s lifecycle – from origin and sourcing to production and supply chain impact – was featured in sixth spot.
There is no doubt these are difficult times with geopolitical risks, inflation, the cost-of-living crisis and new ground-breaking technologies, such as AI, all posing challenges but this has not held back the stars in this year’s report. We like to find the rising stars in our industry who might well be below the radar, which gives us the opportunity to shine the spotlight on them and show the rest of the sector their accomplishments. This year’s Top 30 again includes an incredibly broad mix of people – from traditional retailers such as Tesco, online marketplaces such as Luxe Collective, FMCG brands like Trip, and circular economy operators, including By Rotation.
Matt Bradley, event director at the Retail Technology Show, says: “This year’s retail disruptors have once again delivered a masterclass in how innovation, combined with progressive thinking and game-changing technology, can underpin positive change in retail. Once again, Glynn and his Retail Insider Advisory Board have sought out the very best examples of disruptors and innovators shifting the dial within the sector, reimagining new retail formats, leveraging new channels and customer engagement strategies and launching new and creative products that keep product offerings fresh and compelling for customers.”
Glynn Davis, editor, Retail Insider