Amazon brings Just Walk Out tech to Whole Foods Market store

Amazon is now offering its Just Walk Out checkout experience in its Whole Foods Market division.

It has gone live with the autonomous tech at a new 21,500-sq.-ft. Whole Foods store in Washington, D.C.’s Glover Park neighbourhood.

Originally available only in Amazon Go convenience and small format grocery stores, Amazon has been deploying Just Walk Out to select Amazon Fresh locations.

It also licences the tech to third-party retailers, including WHSmith and Sainsbury’s.

Late last year the latter became the first customer outside the US.

Its SmartShop Pick & Go store opened to the public in November, after being tested out by Sainsbury’s staff members.

To enter, customers scan a QR code using their SmartShop app which is linked to a credit or debit card.

Just Walk Out automatically adds anything the customer takes off the shelf to their virtual cart and removes anything they put back on the shelf. 

The customer leaves the store by scanning the QR code to exit through the store’s automatic gates. Their linked card will be charged for the items they pick and they will then receive a receipt via email.

Staff members will be on hand in the store to assist customers and keep shelves stocked. 

Sainsbury’s said that the Holborn store was selected to use Just Walk Out technology as it is “primarily focused on offering on-the-go food and drink to busy local workers who want to complete their shopping as quickly as possible”.

Clo Moriarty, Sainsbury’s Retail and Digital Director, said: “We are always looking at new ways to make shopping easy and convenient for our customers.”

“We are excited about launching SmartShop Pick & Go, which offers contactless, checkout-free shopping to our customers and are looking forward to hearing their feedback.”