Wakefern is introducing Instacart’s AI-powered shopping trolleys at four ShopRite stores in the Philadelphia area.

Wakefern Food is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the USA. In May it introduced Caper Carts at the ShopRite in Hoboken, New Jersey, and customers there have embraced the technology. To date, eleven ShopRite stores have added the smart shopping carts as another option for customers, and Wakefern expects more of its members to adopt the technology over the next year.

Stores installing the carts in the last month include locations in Philadelphia and surrounding areas such as the ShopRites of Morrell Plaza, Bridge & Harbison, Brookhaven, and the ShopRite of Drexeline. The carts are also planned for a new ShopRite store expected to open in Mount Kisco, New York, later this year.

Caper Carts have an interactive screen and AI features that allow customers to scan items as they shop, manage their budget in real time and check out seamlessly. The trolley uses sensors, computer vision technology and built-in scales to scan items and weigh produce as they are placed in the cart. Shoppers can also link their ShopRite Price Plus membership to apply in-store savings and deals. To checkout, they simply scan the barcode displayed on the cart’s screen at the store’s self-checkout area.

“We’re thrilled to expand our collaboration with Wakefern as we’ve seen remarkable customer adoption of the Caper Carts in their stores,” said David McIntosh, vice president at Instacart. “Customers tell us they love the cart’s interactive features, like its coupon capabilities, lights and sounds, and kids particularly enjoy spinning the gamified coupon wheel for a chance to win discounts right before checkout. For retailers – like Wakefern’s member-owned stores – Caper Carts seamlessly plug into their operations and are uniquely customised to their brand and needs. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Wakefern to innovate the future of grocery shopping.”

Charlie McWeeney, vice president at Wakefern, added: “Shoppers are excited about the technology and embracing it in the stores that are using the Caper Carts. It’s another tool our Wakefern members can offer their customers who are looking for smart, convenient ways to shop and check out.”

ShopRite is available through Instacart’s ecommerce platform. As part of Connected Stores (instacart.com/company/connected-stores), Caper Cart is an Instacart platform technology helping grocers bridge the online and in-store shopping experience.

US firm Instacart (www.instacart.com) works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. The company partners with more than 1500 national, regional and local retailers to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 85,000 stores across North America on the Instacart Marketplace.

From a small, local cooperative that began with eight grocery store owners, Wakefern Food (www2.wakefern.com) has grown into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the USA. Founded in 1946, the cooperative comprises nearly 50 members who independently own and operate 365 supermarkets under the ShopRite, Fresh Grocer, Price Rite Marketplace, Fairway Market, Gourmet Garage and Dearborn Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Virginia.