Disruptors & Innovators in Retail 2026 Report launched
Here at Retail Insider we’re pleased to highlight the new order in the world of retail and this year everything’s gone green as Perfect Ted’s Marisa Poster is named 2026 Retail Disruptor of the Year in a new report from Retail Insider and the Retail Technology Show.
The co-founder of the matcha-tea brand Perfect Ted came out as the top disruptor & innovator in the 2026 report that showcases the retail industry’s progressive pioneers who are making a real difference in the sector and helping drive new thinking.
From challenger brands to transformative entrepreneurs and those driving seismic change in retail’s largest organisations, the report has been curated by Retail Insider and the specially selected Advisory Panel to put the spotlight on the game-changers in the retail revolution.
Top Ten 2026 Retail Disruptors
Marisa Poster, Co-Founder, Perfect Ted
Poppy Mardall (Founder) & Clare Montagu (CEO), Poppy’s Funerals
Mark Rushmore & Gyve Safavi, Co-Founders, SURI
Chamiah Dewey, Founder, Dewey
Mohsen Ghasempour, Chief AI Officer, Kingfisher
Baris Ozaydinli, Founder & CEO, Scooch
Sarah Watt, CEO, Gisou
Roger Howard, Chief Trading Director, BrandAlley
Alexandra Wilson, Sustainability & Compliance Manager, Fabacus
Florian Schroedl, Senior Brand Specialist, Amazon
Perfect Ted’s Poster was closely followed by Poppy Mardall and Clare Montagu of Poppy’s Funerals who are shaking up the funerals category with their new customer-centric approach. In third place comes Mark Rushmore and Gyve Safavi, who co-founded sustainable electric toothbrush brand SURI.
Completing the top five are Chamiah Dewey, founder of fashion brand Dewey, who is carving out a successful apparel proposition for petite and extra-petite women and driving greater awareness of sizing diversity within the sector, and Mohsen Ghasempour, chief AI officer at Kingfisher, who is recognised for his role in leading the business’ AI strategy across the B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama and Brico Dépôt brands.
Matt Bradley, founder & event director at RTS, says: “This year’s Retail Disruptors Report features the widest array of businesses and examples of retail pioneers we’ve seen yet – proof that impactful innovation comes in many guises and that the inspiration for challenging sector norms is never linear. Once again, Glynn and the Retail Insider team have showcased the breadth and depth of retail disruption, which is creating the waves of change needed to help the industry evolve and thrive.”
Many thanks to RTS for their partnership, which makes the publication of this report possible and to this year’s Advisory Panel: Laura Harricks, non-executive director; Sienne Veit, board advisor; Paddy Earnshaw, retail, property & technology director – B&Q; Andrew Xeni, founder & CEO – Fabacus + founder & chairman – Nobody’s Child; Daisy Kelly, founder – Glow For It; Rosie Bailey, co-founder & CEO – Nibble Technology; Gareth Jones, chair, NED and advisor; Charlotte Morley, founder – TheLittleLoop; Melissa Reed, managing partner – H.I. Executive Consulting (HIEC); Rebecca DeNiro, chair, NED and advisor; Sandrine Deveaux, NED and luxury sector advisor.
For more information and to download a link to the full 2026 Retail Disruptors Report, visit: https://www.retailtechnologyshow.com/disruptors-innovators-report.
To register to attend RTS, visit: Retail Technology Show 2026.