Scaling Retail Without Limits - A Conversation with Giada of LS Retail

Written by Bennie Randall for Vonoi Magazine, photos by Vonoi Magazine

Vonoi Magazine sits down with Giada of LS Retail at NRF conference to discuss how modern point of sale software is quietly powering some of the world’s most complex retail and hospitality operations from global brands like Adidas to fast growing regional chains preparing for international expansion.

Q: For readers who may not be familiar, tell us about LS Retail and what your software actually does?

LS Retail is a global software company headquartered in Iceland, but we operate in 157 countries worldwide. We build modern point of sale, front of house, and back office software for retail businesses, hospitality groups, hotels, pharmacies, gas stations, and more.

Today, over 110,000 locations globally use our software. What makes us unique is that our solution is fully localized languages, fiscal requirements, and country-specific regulations are all built in.

Q: Is LS Retail a white label solution?

Yes, absolutely. Our software can be fully white labeled, meaning companies can run it under their own brand. It’s built on Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, but it can also integrate seamlessly with other ERPs. For example, Adidas one of our largest customers uses our software across thousands of locations worldwide, fully integrated with SAP. The customer never sees LS Retail on the front end it feels like a proprietary system.

Q: What type of companies is LS Retail best suited for?

We’re especially popular with companies that have complex or expanding requirements. If you’re running a very basic, single store retail operation with no plans to grow, there are simpler tools out there

But if you’re a business that needs:

• Advanced promotions
• Integration with scales, electronic shelf labels, or pricing automation
• Real-time inventory and demand-based pricing
• Multi-brand or multi-format operations

That’s where LS Retail really shines.

Q: Can you give a real world example of that flexibility?

Take a grocery store, for example. Many of them are no longer just grocery stores. They might have:

• A deli
• A bakery
• Ready-made meals
• Even food production or private-label items

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Our software is modular, meaning businesses can start with what they need and add new modules as they grow without rebuilding their system or managing multiple databases.
Everything stays aligned:

• One data source
• One loyalty program
• One customer profile across all brands and formats

It removes the friction that usually comes with growth.

Q: Is this software only for large enterprises, or can growing businesses use it too?

Most of our customers typically start around 20 to 30 locations and scale from there but we also work with startups. The key question isn’t size. It’s ambition.
If you’re a founder saying, “I have five stores today, but I want 500 in five years,” then you need a system that won’t limit you. LS Retail is designed to grow with you, not hold you back.

Q: What about insights and data how real-time is the system?

Everything is real time. You don’t have to wait until the end of the month to understand what worked and what didn’t.

You can immediately see:

• What’s selling
• What isn’t
• Where margins are strong
• Where adjustments need to be made

That kind of visibility changes how leaders make decisions.

Q: Let’s talk about the origins of the company. How did LS Retail begin?

LS Retail was founded about 40 years ago in Iceland. The original opportunity came from a duty free store at the airport that needed a more sophisticated retail system.
Duty free retail isn’t simple you’re dealing with regulations, traveler eligibility, restricted goods, and complex workflows. The founders saw that existing systems couldn’t handle those nuances, so they built something better. From there, the company expanded across Northern Europe, then the rest of Europe, and eventually worldwide.

Q: How global is LS Retail today in terms of support and implementation?

We have offices around the world and work with over 120 certified partners and implementers globally. So whether you’re in Peru, Malaysia, Dubai, France, Colombia, or Thailand, you’ll always have local, certified support. That’s something very few software companies can truly offer.

Q: Are there any limitations businesses should be aware of?

Like any solution, it depends on your needs. LS Retail is not designed for very small businesses that don’t plan to grow. We also don’t handle warehousing before retail—that would typically be managed by another system. But once products enter the retail environment, that’s where we’re incredibly strong. Our customer retention rate is 95%, which speaks volumes. Most businesses stay with us because the software continues to deliver value as they scale.

Q: What about updates and system upgrades?

Everything is cloud-based and SaaS. Updates are pushed automatically no major upgrades, no downtime, no on site installations. The system evolves continuously, which means customers always have access to the latest capabilities without disruption.

Q: Finally, where can readers learn more about LS Retail?
You can visit LSRetail.com to explore our solutions, industries, and global presence.

Our Takeaway

In an era where retail complexity is increasing not shrinking LS Retail is positioning itself as the quiet infrastructure behind some of the world’s most ambitious brands. For founders and executives thinking globally, flexibility, scalability, and real-time intelligence are no longer optional they’re essential.
And LS Retail is built for exactly that future.

Vonoi Magazine