Aldi has opened its first checkout-free supermarket in Greenwich, London, as part of a trial that allows customers to shop without scanning items. Shoppers can download the Aldi Shop&Go app, which automatically charges them for purchases when they leave the store.
The store uses hi-tech cameras to track customers and bill them upon exit. For alcohol purchases, facial-age estimation technology checks if customers appear over 25, with staff available for manual verification. Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said the trial uses the 'very latest in retail technology' and he is 'looking forward to seeing how customers react'.
Aldi follows similar moves by Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Amazon, which pioneered the 'grab-and-go' concept. Retail expert Natalie Berg of NBK Retail said till-free shopping 'is only going to grow', noting that Amazon was the catalyst and the pandemic accelerated the trend. She added that Aldi's adoption is interesting given discounters typically avoid cost-adding technologies, but it could reduce labour costs long-term.
Separately, Aldi reported its 'best ever' Christmas with a 0.4% sales increase in December 2021 compared to the previous year. The supermarket sold over 43 million mince pies and 118 million Brussels sprouts. Hurley committed to offering the lowest grocery prices in 2022 amid rising living costs.
