ITAB Group: Co-creating retail experiences that connect people with brands they love

Late afternoon in a busy store: a queue is forming at the staffed checkout, while a self-checkout station is blocked pending age verification. A member of staff moves between the checkout area and the sales floor. In moments like these, customers care about one thing above all: that the shopping process runs smoothly – without unnecessary waiting times. For many retailers, this is becoming an increasing challenge. Rising costs and persistent staff shortages are putting pressure on day-to-day store operations. At the same time, technical upgrades, new concepts and refurbishments often have to be implemented while stores remain open for business. Against this backdrop, ITAB has evolved over recent decades from a traditional store fitter into an internationally active provider of integrated retail solutions. The Swedish company designs retail spaces, integrates technology and complements both with a broad range of supporting services. Today, ITAB Group supports retailers not only in setting up new stores, but throughout the entire store lifecycle – from initial concept and day-to-day operations through to modernisation and the reduction of CO₂ emissions in existing retail environments.

“Successful retail starts with a strong plan and a partner who can implement it flexibly,” says Glauco Frascaroli, Interim President and CEO of the ITAB Group. “We support retailers from the initial store fit-out far beyond daily operations – with solutions that not only keep pace with retail but actively move it forward.”

This approach shapes ITAB’s entire portfolio. Alongside classic store fitting, it includes checkout systems, retail technology, lighting and sound concepts. These are complemented by comprehensive services ranging from roll-outs and refurbishments to maintenance, servicing and the ongoing optimisation of store networks. ITAB works with companies across grocery retail, DIY, fashion, health & beauty as well as non-food and specialist retail segments.

From project-based business to a scalable retail platform

ITAB currently employs around 5,400 people and operates 24 production facilities across Europe, North and South America, Mexico and China. Annual revenue amounts to approximately €1.2 billion. Traditionally, store fitting has been viewed as a project-based business: plan, build, open. ITAB Group is systematically developing this model further. Instead of focusing on individual projects, the company is building long-term partnerships that also cover store operations, maintenance and modernisation. “A store doesn’t end with its opening,” says Frascaroli. “It has to perform every day – for customers, staff and the retailer’s profitability.”

This is why ITAB Group offers a broad, modular portfolio. It ranges from the planning and implementation of complete store design and fit-out concepts to shelving systems, lighting and sound systems, as well as checkout technology and digital solutions. The aim is to design retail spaces that are functional, efficient and aligned with the retailer’s brand – tailored to store format, size and operational processes.

A key element is flexible checkout solutions, including traditional checkout counters, self-checkout systems and hybrid concepts such as ITAB’s Vision Hybrid. All checkout families follow a consistent design principle and allow the checkout area to be flexibly adapted to different layouts, space constraints and customer volumes. The portfolio is complemented by entrance and exit gates, loss prevention solutions, energy-efficient lighting and bespoke store interior solutions for a wide range of retail formats. This combination of planning expertise, product breadth and systems know-how enables retailers to make better use of existing space, implement refurbishments efficiently and develop their stores step by step – without disrupting ongoing operations.

Technology, data and operational control in the store

When stores become busy, many decisions have to be made in a short space of time: where are queues forming? Which checkouts are under pressure? And where does shrinkage go unnoticed because staff cannot be everywhere at once? Especially during peak periods, many retailers lack a clear overview – not because of a lack of data, but because information from checkouts, gates and sensors often exists in isolated systems. This is where ITAB’s digital store platform, OnRed, comes into play. It connects devices, software and services, and centrally aggregates data from networked systems such as checkouts, entrance and exit gates and sensor technology. Instead of isolated snapshots, retailers gain a real-time, holistic overview of their stores.

Combined with AI-based loss prevention solutions, critical situations in the checkout area can be identified at an early stage. Tools such as the “Signatrix Fraud Detection Suite” – a retail AI application developed jointly with our tech start-up brand, Signatrix – analyse movement patterns and transactions in real time, identifying anomalies without disrupting normal operations. This enables retailers to reduce losses, target staff deployment more effectively and maintain consistently high checkout throughput, with minimal manual intervention.

Services across the entire store lifecycle

For many retailers today, the focus is less on new store openings and more on refurbishing, adapting and optimising existing locations. Stores need to be maintained, upgraded or remodelled while operations continue – often under time pressure and with limited resources. At the same time, rising energy and material costs and new regulatory requirements are increasing demands on technology, materials and processes. This is precisely where ITAB supports its customers. One example is the long-standing partnership with Italian retailer Conad. For more than 20 years, ITAB has supported the grocery group with over 3,800 stores – from concept development and technology to lighting, logistics, installation and after-sales services. “Our goal is to support retailers throughout the entire lifecycle of their stores,” says Frascaroli.

“Today, many investments are directed towards modernising existing locations. Our ambition is to measurably get more out of existing space – economically, environmentally and operationally.”

As the focus shifts towards existing assets, an area that was long seen as an add-on is gaining greater importance: sustainability. Economic pressure and rising operating costs are changing the commercial framework conditions in retail. ITAB responds with service and solution concepts designed to increase efficiency, reduce CO₂ emissions and extend the service life of store fittings and equipment.

ITAB and HMY: combined expertise for international retail concepts

ITAB’s roots date back to the 1930s. What began as a Swedish company specialising in lighting and electronic solutions gradually developed into an all-round retail specialist. By focusing on store fitting, checkout systems and technology – and divesting other business areas – ITAB expanded beyond Scandinavia. Since the 1990s, the company has pursued a clear international strategy, supported by targeted acquisitions that strengthened both regional presence and technological expertise.

A major milestone in ITAB’s recent history was the acquisition of the HMY Group, completed in early 2025. Founded in 1960, HMY has grown into an international provider of store fittings, store design and project delivery for major retail brands. With locations across Europe and South America, HMY brings extensive manufacturing capabilities and experience in large-scale retail programmes. For ITAB, the merger represents far more than a geographical expansion. With HMY, ITAB Group gains additional expertise in store and retail design, brand staging, engineering and the delivery of complex international roll-out programmes. Particularly in large-format, brand-driven concepts, HMY contributes experience in planning, industrialisation and cross-border implementation. Together, ITAB and HMY combine 117 years of market, technology and design expertise in international retail. “HMY fits seamlessly into our portfolio and enhances it with the right competencies: design excellence, brand leadership and international project strength,” says Frascaroli. “Together, we deliver integrated retail concepts from a single source – scalable, international and future-proof.”

Exhibitor Data Sheet