Whole Foods Market preps Just Walk Out tech at two stores
After launching in Go stores and then larger Fresh supermarkets, Amazon’s cashierless Just Walk Out technology is set to be deployed in two Whole Foods locations Stateside.
The service is coming to Washington DC and Sherman Oaks, California next year.
“We launched the technology first in Amazon Go several years ago and, since then, we’ve gotten a lot of great feedback from customers who love being able to quickly and easily shop and skip the checkout line,” says Dilip Kumar, Vice President, Physical Retail and Technology.
He adds: “In these upcoming Whole Foods Market locations, we expanded our computer vision algorithms to support all of the Whole Foods Market selection people have come to love with the added benefits of Just Walk Out technology.”
For example, customers will be able to shop stations with self-service fresh squeezed orange juice and mochi ice cream, while still tapping the Just Walk Out experience and without adjusting any of their habits.
“We also integrated with Whole Foods Market’s checkout and payment processing systems to accommodate customers who want to either shop with Just Walk Out technology or via the store’s self-checkout lanes,” Kumar says.
Meanwhile, over in the UK…
Amazon has today opened an Amazon Fresh location in Dalston, London.
Situated at 28-31 Kingsland High Street, it is the sixth such UK convenience store to feature Just Walk Out tech.
The other five are in Camden, Ealing, Wembley Park, White City and Canary Wharf. Opening hours are from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, seven days a week.
Customers use the Amazon app to enter and put their phone away and shop for what they need. At the end of their visit, they can head for the exit, with no need to stand in a queue or check out.
Amazon is planning further openings in the greater London area, with reports suggesting Bankside could be next, although it has not revealed exact numbers or locations.
