Meet Wayne Swallow.
The man behind the Yeti.

Blue Yeti Consulting is built around my experience of running retail technology, leading businesses and getting difficult projects moving.

With more than 30 years across convenience retail, food and fuel, wholesale, supply chain and technology, I combine board-level experience with an understanding of what a system needs to do for the people using it every day.

Experience that earns its keep

As IT Director at Nisa, I reported to the CEO and led technology supporting more than 3,000 users across wholesale, distribution and retail. My responsibilities covered investment planning, enterprise systems, EPOS, eCommerce and operational support. I recruited and developed a team of approximately 160 permanent and contract staff.

My Nisa work included leading bespoke EPOS development with an offshore Indian team and rollout to more than 500 stores, a three-year Oracle Retail programme, integrated online ordering and data systems, and distribution-system deployments using voice and radio-frequency technology. This was experience of connecting a business end to end: the shop, the warehouse, finance and the information flowing between them.

As Managing Director at HTEC, I led a £21 million retail technology, EPOS and payments business with 250 employees. My remit covered company strategy, product management and development, commercial performance, service delivery and organisational structure.

Before becoming Managing Director, I led HTEC’s sales and marketing function. That experience of major accounts, tenders, pricing and pipeline management continues to inform my consultancy: I understand how suppliers build and sell solutions, as well as how retailers buy and operate them.

My leadership experience also includes the chairmanship of PLM Global and managing director work with Data Xchange, connecting commercial strategy with retail hardware, supply chain and data integration.

Retail projects with real operational detail

CK’s Foodstores: Supporting a broad technology programme spanning finance and warehouse transformation, Business Central, EPOS and data integration, loyalty, wallets, electronic shelf-label pilots and pricing analysis. My contribution includes requirements and supplier evaluation, coordination between store systems and finance, data preparation, test planning and reporting the decisions needed from the business. Warehouse work considers goods flow, picking and stock control before configuration. Customer and trading workstreams connect loyalty adoption and offers with operational execution. Implementation and pilots are assessed against acceptance evidence and measured results.

Greens Retail: Technology strategy and structured EPOS selection, translating head-office and store needs into requirements, demonstrations, reference checks and commercial evaluation. The detail covers different store formats, central and store ordering, ranges, prices, promotions and stock control, alongside wholesaler feeds and integration dependencies. It gives the leadership team a clearer basis for comparing suppliers and understanding what delivery involves.

Moto: A full RFI/RFP programme for fuel and convenience solutions across UK operations. I brought forecourt and retail knowledge into the requirements and supplier assessment, helping structure a complex procurement around the needs of a live trading operation.

Market insight and commercial strategy

For MADIC and Henderson Technology, I carried out detailed market and competitor analysis, market segmentation and sales strategy work. My Henderson experience also includes technology strategy and leadership support.

For ITS and MSP, my assignments covered market reviews and competitor analysis. This supplier-side experience complements my understanding of how retailers assess and invest in systems.

Helping a startup build, sell and grow

As Commercial Director of Ubamarket/Ubacart, I play a hands-on leadership role in building the business. I lead most sales activity and commercial discussions, working with retailers and EPOS partners to shape propositions and move opportunities towards rollout.

I also provide substantial guidance on app development, bringing retailer needs into decisions about features, priorities and the customer experience. Ubacart’s proposition extends beyond traditional loyalty, connecting personalised offers, repeat-visit rewards, shopper insight and digital customer engagement.

Making AI useful in retail

I advise PriceEasy on the UK retail market, supporting retailer engagement and EPOS integration discussions. My work connects pricing and margin analysis with practical questions about promotions, ranging and availability, followed by controlled trials and commercial measurement. Even a Yeti wants to see the numbers.

Conference hosting, panel moderation and speaking

A good event needs more than someone reading the running order. It needs a host who understands the subject, makes speakers feel comfortable and gives the audience a reason to stay involved.

I offer MC and conference hosting, panel moderation and speaking engagements across retail, wholesale, supply chain and technology. I combine senior industry experience with an approachable style, clear questions and humour that fits the room.

MC and conference hosting: Setting the scene, introducing speakers, linking sessions and keeping the programme moving. I prepare with organisers and the production team, understand the event’s purpose and handle changes calmly when the day takes an unexpected turn.

Panel moderation: Preparing discussion themes and informed questions, briefing contributors, drawing out different perspectives and bringing the audience into the conversation. The aim is a useful discussion with room for challenge and practical takeaways.

Speaking engagements: Talks on retail technology, leadership, digital transformation and the realities of making systems work. Content is tailored to the audience and the brief, connecting strategic choices with what happens in stores, head office and the supply chain.

Audience engagement: Questions, live polls and relevant observations help make the event a conversation. Expect warmth, energy and a little Yorkshire humour — with the focus firmly on the purpose of the day.

I work with organisers on the format, running order, speaker introductions, timings and key messages before the event. Hosting, moderation and speaking can be booked individually or combined within one brief.

Tell me about your next conference, panel or speaking opportunity.

How I work — find the value first

Understand the business first. Ask useful questions. Challenge the options. Build a plan people can deliver. I start with the systems, supplier relationships and processes already in place, looking for unused capability, duplicated work and gaps in control before recommending another purchase.

You work directly with me and get clear advice, practical support and a bit of humour along the way. Where I have a commercial role or supplier relationship relevant to your project, it will be made clear.

Talk to me about your business — or your next event.

A proposition shaped around your business

I tailor my briefings and presentations to each business: its estate, operating model, current systems and commercial priorities. The conversation might start with fuel margin, shop ranging, repeat visits, manual administration or the amount of supplier management landing on the leadership team’s desk.

From there, I set out the questions worth answering, the information needed and a manageable first step. A focused review or pilot can establish whether an opportunity deserves wider investment. The aim is a short list of practical actions with ownership, dependencies and a clear decision route.

Profile and project experience updated October 2026.