Grocer Morrisons has launched an Innovation Den in a bid to improve its adoption of new technologies.

The initiative forms part of Morrisons’ strategic push on technology. Last month chief executive Dalton Philips said the grocer’s systems were “firmly stuck in the 20th century” and revealed Morrisons will have invested £310m in IT by the end of the year.

The Dragons’ Den-style project began last month and involves IT suppliers pitching innovative technology to a panel
of staff from the business department that would use it.

If chosen, the supplier works with Morrisons staff to develop a formal pitch for the grocer’s IT leadership team.

The first event involved five suppliers including Wincor Nixdorf and Fujitsu, and the aim is to run the den quarterly.

Morrisons emerging technologies manager Chris Allen said the grocer felt “empowered” to push the button on IT advances because consumers are more accepting of new technology.

He said there is an impetus at Morrisons to innovate more. “The business has always wanted to innovate and been interested in new things,” he added.

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