Swedish ICA Group is testing a robot from start-up Cota Robotics, which is designed to restock shelves autonomously. ICA’s Innovation Division is conducting initial live trials at retailer Peter Dinehage’s ICA Nära Roslagstull store in Stockholm. The robot is set to work overnight for the project, so that the shelves are already stocked when the store opens.
The device is designed to take on the heavy, repetitive tasks, thereby relieving staff so they can focus on serving customers instead. ”We think it’s incredibly exciting now to be able to be on site in the store and explore how the robot can create value for the staff,” writes Emma Lindahl, Head of Innovation and New Business Areas at ICA, in a LinkedIn post.
The trial is still at an early stage. The project partners wish to evaluate which tasks the robot can actually handle and how it performs in day-to-day operations. Where does it deliver the greatest benefit for the retailer, its staff and customers? For ICA’s Managing Director, Eric Lundberg, the focus is on fostering a culture in which the company can test and learn, whilst embracing new ideas. “It is important that we work on innovations to ensure we always remain at the forefront,” he explains.
Physical AI places products correctly on shelves
Engineers from the aerospace and robotics industries founded Cora Robotics in Stockholm in 2025 with the aim of developing a turnkey solution using robots in retail stores. These were designed to carry out time-consuming, repetitive tasks without the need for any alterations to the store layout.
The start-up reports that the AI-controlled systems are already capable of carrying out the following tasks: they transport roll containers from the loading bay to the next stage in the workflow. They can then take the goods to the correct shelf and place them in their respective positions.
Further functions under development
In future, Cora robots are set to be able to take on significantly more tasks. The company is already working on enabling the systems to independently cross-check incoming goods against the order. Furthermore, they should be able to group products according to the store layout. Its development team is also working on autonomous order fulfilment.
Additionally, the robots will later be able to prepare the fronting of shelves, carry out tidying tasks and clear away packaging materials. Stock-taking at shelves is also part of the development roadmap.
Digital twin created as a by-product
Cota Robotics highlights that, whilst working, the system generates a 3D model of the store, thereby creating an up-to-date model of every aisle and shelf. Stock levels, prices and compliance with planograms are also to be monitored during each cycle.
This video from Cota Robotics explains how their robots work.
