Morrisons will become the first retailer in the UK to trial Instacart’s Caper digital shopping trolley. Starting in early 2026, the retailer plans to pilot the technology in one store, with the potential for further rollout. With the Caper solution, customers can scan items as they shop, weigh fresh produce and checkout directly in the trolley. Integration with Morrisons’ loyalty programme will enable the display of personalised ads during the shopping trip.
The Caper solution is equipped with Vision Recognition technology, built-in scales and AI-powered sensors that can identify products as customers place them into the basket. A large interactive touchscreen on the trolley provides the customers with their running total in real time, displays promotions and allows them to complete checkout by scanning a barcode at the store’s self-checkout zone – removing the need to unload and reload items.
For Morrisons, the cart also acts as a new retail media channel. The screen can display personalised offers, targeted promotions and suggest product pairing as shoppers move through the aisles. “Shopping is no longer solely online or in-store – it’s a hybrid of both – and Caper Carts offer a seamless way to combine the convenience and personalisation of e-commerce with the inspiration and discovery that happens in physical stores”, says Gordon Macpherson, Productivity Director of Morrisons.
Trial at Hofer ended
Instacart has deployed the Caper technology in almost 100 cities across 15 US-states. The most important users are Kroger in the USA and the largest Canadian retailer, Sobeys. The Retail Optimiser reported. In the USA, Caper has also won Wakefern, Snucks and Shoprite (US) as customers.
In August 2024, Aldi Süd has also decided to test the digital trolley at its Austrian country unit Hofer, as reported by The Retail Optimiser. The test has ended in August of this year, as reported by Lebensmittel Zeitung. Now the retailer is evaluating the collected data and experiences. “The feedback from our customers has been extremely positive. The smart shopping trolley has been very well received and is very popular”, a spokesperson of Hofer told Lebensmittel Zeitung.
