Joachim Pinhammer

Australian supermarket chain Woolworth is planning its first online fulfilment centre in Auburn, in Western Sydney. The new logistics site will deploy automation technology from Austrian supplier Knapp and is scheduled to begin operations in 2024.

Australian supermarket chain Coles has centralised planning for its fresh produce assortments on the Living Retail platform from US specialist Relex. The solution integrates with the retailer’s in-house developed forecasting software and automates replenishment in order to streamline supply chain processes.

Japan's Aeon Group will open an autonomous supermarket in Tokyo this summer. A store of its Daiei sales line in the Koto district will be equipped with camera and sensor technology from Chinese start-up Cloudpick.

Kaufland customers can cash in surplus coins for vouchers at Coinstar machines. A growing number of Edeka and Rewe stores is also offering the service.

British drugstore chain Boots is digitising its store processes with the Yoobic task management solution. Supported by an app, store staff can work more efficiently and offer customers a better shopping experience.

Netto Stavenhagen is expanding its cooperation with the Too Good To Go network Germany-wide. From 3 May 2021, consumers will be able to buy grocery bags of leftover food at a special price via the Too Good To Go app in all Salling Group’s discount stores in Germany.

The Netherlands-based franchise organisation of the national Spar retailer organisations has reached an agreement with UK platform operator Gander that will enable its members to market food products via the app shortly before they reach their best-before date. The project aims to help curb food waste.

Jumbo is testing acceptance and sensible usecases of smart shopping trolleys. At Jumbo food market in Veghel, the Dutch retailer is piloting a Shop & Go solution of Israeli start-up Walkout.

Russian retailer X5 has introduced contactless payment via facial recognition in partnership with Visa and Sberbank. The solution is based on computer vision technology from Visionlabs and in-house developments.

Dutch start-up Wundermart is equipping its unattended convenience stores with computer vision technology from AiFi. The AI-based solution Oasis from the US specialist enables customers to shop without the need to scan the goods.