Geissler’s Supermarkets, a seven-store Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) retailer with locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts, is rolling out smart carts from California-based retail technology company Instacart.

Caper Carts, Instacart’s AI-powered smart carts, will be in all seven Geissler’s locations across Connecticut and Massachusetts. Geissler’s is the first grocer to replace most their traditional shopping carts with Caper Carts at all locations.

Caper Carts have an interactive screen that engages shoppers, tracks spending for budget management, and provides direct access to deals and instant coupon clipping by syncing to LEF, Geissler’s loyalty programme. The screen will also surface relevant product recommendations and display offers based on where the customer is in the store. The carts reward shoppers with automatic discounts, including digital coupons, as their basket value grows.

“We’re excited to unveil Caper Carts at Geissler’s, a leap forward in retail innovation,” said Nick Nickitas, general manager at Instacart. “These carts go beyond grocery shopping; they boost sales, enhance the visibility of promotions and affordability, and create new ad revenue streams for the retailer through engaging digital displays. This technology is more than an investment in Geissler’s future, it’s a hit with customers, cementing a local independent grocer’s place in the hearts and minds of the communities they serve.”

Bob Rybick, CEO of Geissler’s Supermarkets (www.geisslers.com), added: “As a family-owned grocer for nearly four generations, our commitment to our customers and the communities we serve drives every decision we make. Introducing Caper Carts across all our stores significantly enhances the shopping experience at Geissler’s, making it personalised and more efficient. The carts make shopping more fun and interactive, while increasing basket sizes and strengthening customer loyalty through exclusive offers and digital coupons. We’re excited about the immediate benefits and what’s to come.”

Geissler’s first partnered with Instacart in 2023 to launch same-day delivery and, with the introduction of Caper Carts, it is the first retailer in Massachusetts and Connecticut to launch with the type of technology offered by Caper Carts. Caper Cart is part of Connected Stores, Instacart’s suite of in-store technologies that help grocers bridge the online and in-store shopping experience. To learn more about Caper Cart and other Connected Stores technologies, visit instacart.com/company/connected-stores.

Geissler’s Supermarkets started in 1923 with AF Geissler delivering groceries to the small village of Broad Brook in the town of East Windsor, Connecticut. The company is now owned and operated by the fourth generation, the great-grandchildren of AF Geissler. Learn more about Geissler’s Supermarkets at geisslers.com.

Instacart partners with more than 1500 national, regional and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 85,000 stores across North America on the Instacart Marketplace.

• Australian retailer Coles Supermarkets (www.colesgroup.com.au) is bringing Instacart’s Caper Carts AI-powered smart trolleys to Melbourne, starting in early 2025 with its Richmond Traders location in Victoria. This marks Instacart’s first retail partnership that brings Caper Carts to the Apac region.

• Instacart has introduced a tool powered by Advocatia (www.advocatia.io) lets people across the USA check whether they may be eligible for Snap benefits in less than 60 seconds.

The Snap, or supplemental nutrition access programme, screener is available on Instacart’s EBT Snap information page at www.instacart.com/ebt-snap. This is the first time an online grocery platform has offered a Snap screening tool to consumers, making it easier for people to check their eligibility and immediately find the resources they need to enrol.