Megasuper deploys AI powered ELERA Produce Recognition in Central America and Caribbean

Costa Rica's Megasuper has become the first retailer in Central America and the Caribbean to adopt the ELERA Produce Recognition solution by Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions.

This builds on the implementation of Toshiba’s self-checkout kiosks last year. More than 10% of Megasuper checkouts are now Toshiba’s MxP Self-Checkout solutions.

David Salazar, CEO at Megasuper, says: "We firmly believe that the key to growth and progress is to listen and respond to the needs of our customers. The incorporation of innovative technologies such as Toshiba’s MxP Self-Checkout and ELERA Produce Recognition is our way of thanking them for the trust and loyalty they show us every day.”

“We constantly strive to be at the forefront and offer a more comfortable, faster, and more efficient service, because we understand that our customers deserve the best. Their loyalty motivates us to improve and transform the shopping experience, and we want to continue to be your benchmark supermarket, always committed to excellence and innovation."

Powered by the AI and computer vision technology, ELERA Produce Recognition instantly identifies produce items, including non-barcoded produce, meaning that shoppers aren’t required to enter codes manually.

"Our shoppers continue to make us a leading retailer in Costa Rica, and our top priority is to provide better shopping experiences and customer service. Innovative solutions like Toshiba’s ELERA Produce Recognition are shaping the future of retail by enabling faster and more accurate produce scanning to create a seamless checkout experience that our customers truly appreciate,” says Jonathan Velasquez, CIO at Megasuper.

“Toshiba’s cutting-edge technology, trusted consulting guidance, and expert support services align with our goals to better connect with our shoppers and reaffirm us as a technology driven retail leader.”

“Toshiba is dedicated to empowering the next generation of retailers and bringing their innovation aspirations to life. As a global leader in retail technology, our ELERA Produce Recognition solution shows how AI, combined with scalable and modular design, can transform store operations,” says Eugene Shvartsman, SVP Global Sales at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions.

“We help innovative retailers like Megasuper optimise operations, reduce shrink, and deliver faster, smarter, and more seamless shopping experiences to set a new standard for the future of grocery shopping across the region.”

RTIH AI in Retail Awards

RTIH proudly presents the first edition of its AI in Retail Awards, sponsored by 3D Cloud and EdTech Innovation Hub.

This is now open for entries. Deadline for submissions is Friday, 5th December. It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

Check out categories and entry forms here.

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 29th January. This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.