Circus announces launch of its autonomous AI robotics system CA-1 in REWE Group supermarkets

Circus SE reports the launch of Fresh & Smart, a new REWE Region West segment, powered by Circus’ autonomous AI robotics system CA-1.

REWE Region West, the part of the REWE Group responsible for Western Germany, is among the global launch partners of the CA-1 Series 4.

The first Fresh & Smart location opens this week in Düsseldorf Heerdt, with the pair laying claim to the world’s first integration of AI powered autonomous cooking robotics inside a supermarket. Additional locations are in the works and under construction.

Customers are promised restaurant quality meals prepared live and on-demand by Circus’ CA-1 Series 4, the company’s first serially produced autonomous cooking robot. Main dishes are available from €6 and accessible to all customers in-store.

“With the use of fully autonomous AI robots, we are showing what innovation in food retail truly means today: being close to customer needs, leading in technology, and maintaining the highest standards of quality,” says Lars Klein, Chairman of the Management Board at REWE Region West. “We combine efficiency with enjoyment – turning grocery shopping into an experience of the future.”

“Our launch with REWE marks the first real-world deployment of physical AI applied in retail environments,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, CEO and Founder at Circus. “With Fresh & Smart, autonomous robotics becomes part of everyday life - enabling fresh, high quality food access through technology that’s both scalable and sustainable.”

The launch marks one of three pilot locations, with the next to follow within the next few days.

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