Wakefern Food Corp. is testing an autonomous convenience shop for employees at its company offices in Edison, New Jersey.
Wakefern Members and executives joined representatives from Israel-based startup Trigo Vision to cut the ribbon on “The Pantry,” a convenience shop that uses AI-based technology to let employees shop and check out themselves. The Pantry is open only to employees from Wakefern office buildings and will serve as a learning environment as it explores Trigo technology for potential future use.
The digital store uses Trigo computer vision with a series of cameras and shelf sensors that identify products selected by employees. Wakefern workers can download and use an app linked to their ShopRite Price Plus account to shop the office Pantry for items, such as snacks, salads, pantry staples, groceries and prepared foods.
Wakefern is the first U.S. company to test Trigo’s technology, which is deployed in several locations around Europe and the U.K. Frictionless checkout technology is being used in smaller formats to create a store within a store or convenience markets. It hopes to learn more about the technology as employees shop the Pantry.
“Our Wakefern associates can shop The Pantry at work for groceries they need at home while simultaneously providing helpful feedback for us on the technology,” said Charles McWeeney, VP of technology, innovation and strategy at Wakefern.
“The chance to evolve in the self-service space at retail is important and we hope to learn more about frictionless checkout and how we can potentially provide this cutting-edge and convenient technology to Wakefern Member-owned businesses.”
Founded in 1946, Wakefern Food Corp. comprises about 50 member families who independently own and operate hundreds of supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, and Fairway Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
For more information, visit wakefern.com.
