US supermarket chain Schnuck Markets is deploying smart shopping trolleys from California-based Instacart in select stores.

The companies are expanding their omnichannel partnership by deploying Caper Carts, Instacart’s smart carts that automatically identify items as they are added to the trolley using computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI).

This allows customers to bag as they shop, skip the queue and seamlessly checkout on the cart from anywhere in the store.

Caper Carts will first roll out at select Schnucks St Louis stores this autumn, with a broader planned rollout later this year following successful initial deployments.

“As a third and fourth generation, family-owned grocer, we’re always thinking about how we can best serve our customers while also driving the digital transformation of the grocery industry,” said Chace MacMullan, senior director at Schnucks. “As part of that effort, we’re proud to deepen our partnership with Instacart and further bridge the gap between in-store and online shopping for Schnucks customers. We believe the future of grocery will lean heavily into personalisation, whether it’s achieved through in-store smart carts or by providing the best possible ecommerce experience for our customers. We aim to make customers feel like each shopping experience was custom-made for them, and we’re excited to take another big step forward with the rollout of this pilot of Instacart’s Caper Carts.”

For the first time, select Caper Carts will feature a bottom rack for bulky and heavy items. In addition to carts that automatically detect items as they are placed in the cart, Schnucks will also be testing a Lite version, where customers manually scan items before placing them in the cart. Caper Carts can be wirelessly upgraded with features and offer stacked charging so they do not have to be plugged in individually or undergo labour intensive battery swaps.

Shoppers will also be able to use their Schnucks Rewards account with the Caper Cart to get a more convenient, personalised experience, giving them easy access to clipped promotions and allowing them to view deals from the weekly circular as they browse the aisles.

“We’re proud to partner with Schnucks on their rollout of Instacart’s Caper Carts, which bring together the best of online and in-store shopping to spearhead their digital transformation and create a truly convenient and personalised experience for customers,” said David McIntosh, vice president at Instacart. “With this launch, Schnucks is building on their existing Instacart-powered offerings across ecommerce, ads, electronic shelf labels and more, redefining in-store shopping and checkout for customers.”

Schnucks has long partnered with Instacart to bring its omnichannel strategy to life, and the debut of Caper Carts is the next step in their efforts to connect the online and in-store shopping experience. Schnucks first partnered with Instacart in 2017 to introduce same-day delivery, and has since deployed a number of Instacart technologies to digitise its stores and serve its customers.

Schnucks customers can shop online through the Instacart app or Schnucks owned-and-operated ecommerce properties, powered by Carrot Connect. They can shop in various ways, including for same-day delivery, pickup or delivery in minutes with Schnucks Now from the Instacart app, Schnucks web site or Schnucks Rewards mobile app. Available on the Instacart app, shoppers can also use their EBT Snap benefits online, and Instacart+ members can use their membership on either storefront to get free delivery and reduced service fees.

With Carrot Ads, Schnucks is using its ecommerce presence to create revenue streams and highlight consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands to more customers. CPG brands can connect with customers as they shop at Schnucks online, showing relevant ads to customers at multiple points in their shopping journey.

By digitising its operations, Schnucks can use Instacart’s Eversight pricing and promotions to optimise in-store pricing in response to real-time conditions and deliver more valuable promotions. Powered by AI, Eversight’s robust data and technology help retailers make better decisions that deliver affordability to customers while still growing their business. Schnucks is also piloting Eversight on its online storefronts.

With Carrot Tags’ pick-to-light functionality, order pickers tap an item on their mobile phone to have the corresponding ESL flash, making it easier to find items on the shelf and improving found rates and efficiency. Carrot Tags will roll out to Schnucks stores in the coming months.

Founded in St Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets is a third and fourth generation, family-owned grocery retailer with 115 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. It employs 12,000 people.

Instacart partners with more than 1200 national, regional and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 80,000 stores across North America.