Marisa Poster, the Co-Founder of matcha-tea brand Perfect Ted, has been named as the industry’s top innovator in the 2026 Retail Disruptors Report, released by Retail Insider in partnership with the Retail Technology Show (RTS).
Now in its fourth year, the annual report champions progressive pioneers who are blazing a trail of innovation, shaking up the sector status quo and driving the industry forward with new thinking. From challenger brands to transformative entrepreneurs and those driving seismic change in retail’s largest organisations, the report – curated by Retail Insider’s Glynn Davis and his Advisory Panel – spotlights the vanguards of retail revolution.
Poster co-founded Perfect Ted in 2021. Since then, the Steven Bartlett-backed matcha tea business, which is best known for its vivid green branding and personality-packed collabs, has grown into Europe’s largest matcha brand with forecasted revenues of £30million. Having rapidly scaled, its products are now stocked in tens of thousands of stores across more than 50 countries, while also operating a sizeable DTC channel online.
From green tea to green retailing, retail’s sustainability champions were also honoured in the 2026 Retail Disruptors Report. Mark Rushmore and Gyve Safavi, who co-founded sustainable electric toothbrush brand SURI, were recognised for prompting a complete category-wide rethink whilst growing significantly across the UK, U.S. and ANZ. Meanwhile, Alexandra Wilson, Sustainability & Compliance Manager at Fabacus, a tech firm specialising in Digital Product Passports (DPPs), has transformed source tracing capabilities within the sector.
Fashion also had a prominent place in this year’s 2026 Retail Disruptors line-up. The BrandAlley Group’s Chief Trading Officer, Roger Howard, received recognition for his role in reshaping the management of serial returners through innovation. Chamiah Dewey, Founder of eponymous fashion brand Dewey, was also named a top disruptor for carving out a successful apparel proposition for petite and extra-petite women, driving greater awareness of sizing diversity within the sector.
Progressive changemakers at the heart of retail’s largest organisations were also highlighted. Amazon’s Senior Brand Specialist, Florian Schroedl, was recognised for his work revolutionising the online retail giant’s product listing and product data processes. International home improvement company Kingfisher’s Chief AI Officer, Mohsen Ghasempour, also made the top ten for his role in leading the business’ AI strategy across the B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama and Brico Dépôt brands.
“It has been another exciting year, with continued innovation being shown across the dynamic retail sector, which despite the challenges is still a vibrant environment,” said Retail Insider’s Glynn Davis. “Amid an ever-changing backdrop, this annual publication remains true to its original cause – to seek out those individuals who are having an impact… and highlight the latest stars who continue to light up the sector.”
“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,” said Matt Bradley, Founder & Event Director at RTS. “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.”
Retail professionals attending RTS 2026 will be able to hear from Poster, who will speak on the Spark Stage (23 April, 1.55pm) in a fireside chat which will explore the power behind the brand, its rise from start-up to hyper-growth and its vision for the future.
She will join 125+ industry luminaries, including M&S Chairman Archie Norman, TALA-founder Grace Beverley and Dragon’s Den investor Touker Suleyman on the RTS conference programme. RTS will also see brands – from Currys to Frasers Group and Aroma Zone – take to the stage over the two-day event to discuss sector-shaping topics and hot debates.
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 2026, visit: Retail Technology Show 2026.
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