VkusVill taps Neurus retail tech for cashierless store launch

Russian health foods brand and food tech company, VkusVill, has opened its first cashierless store in Moscow.

Located at 1 Testovskaya Street, the micro-mart has an area of 52 sqm.

It offers around 220 SKUs, including a range of prepared meals and sandwiches, groceries, pre-packed fruits and vegetables, drinks, desserts and dairy products.

The store was developed in partnership with AI-based technologies venture Neurus. It has no store assistants or cashiers – an employee only visits the store in the morning to stock the shelves with fresh products.

However, during the early stages of operation, a consultant will be on hand to greet customers and introduce them to its technical features.

To make a purchase, customers scan a QR code that appears in their VkusVill mobile app when they enter the store. They can then select the items they need and exit through a special turnstile. Payment is automatically deducted from the bank card attached to their mobile app.

In its first two weeks of operation, the location saw an average of 70 purchases per day. Checks averaged at two to three items, with the most popular purchases being sandwiches and candies.

Kirill Scherbakov, Director of Micro-Marts and head of the cashierless store project at VkusVill, says: “We’ve noticed how people’s attitudes to shopping have changed, and we want to support this trend.”

“As we’ve developed our grocery delivery service, we have observed that customers tend to avoid lines at the store, valuing speed and convenience.”

“The new store format, featuring ready-to-eat food and a contactless payment system, is becoming increasingly popular. This format appeals not only to those who value their time, but also to fans of new technologies.”

Ivan Talalaev, Chief Techology Officer at Neurus, comments: “Technologies are constantly moving forward, and automated shopping is becoming increasingly popular.”

“Perhaps it’s hard to believe, but it’s true: we have algorithms that can track a person’s movements to help them with basic things like grocery shopping. In the beginning of the 20th century, people also thought planes were excessive because we already had trains and horses.”

“But just as planes became essential to travel, advanced technologies will become increasingly common in our day-to-day lives, saving our precious time by cutting down the time we spend on routine tasks.”

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