Grocery technology firm Instacart launches AI powered Caper Carts at Weis Markets stores in America
Instacart and Weis Markets, a US food retailer, have announced the launch of Caper Carts at select Weis locations in Pennsylvania with additional roll-outs planned throughout the year.
“Weis Markets and its associates have always been committed to delivering a best-in-class shopping experience, and Caper Carts are a meaningful step forward in that journey,” says Greg Zeh, SVP, Chief Information Officer at Weis Markets. “From real-time spend tracking to on-cart coupons that make saving effortless, this technology offers our customers a convenient and frictionless shopping experience.”
“Weis Markets has spent more than 100 years delivering value, quality, and service to their communities, and we're thrilled to help them bring that commitment into the next era of grocery with Caper Carts,” says David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart. “As a leader in Physical AI, we're giving retailers like Weis Markets a competitive advantage by bringing together in-store and online data through technology like Caper Carts to help them understand and respond to their customers with a level of intelligence that simply wasn't possible before.”
With Caper Carts, Weis customers can track their spend in real-time as they shop and will have access to Caper exclusive coupons, including on-cart, location-based digital deals that customers can clip during their shopping trip. They will be able to sign up for a Weis Rewards account directly on the cart, and Weis Rewards members can also redeem loyalty benefits. Once loyalty accounts are linked, customers gain access to enhanced features including Buy It Again, which surfaces previously purchased items to help build baskets more efficiently.
Weis will also launch on-cart advertising with Caper Carts, opening up opportunities for brands to reach customers while shopping. The carts are equipped with basket facing camera sensors, weights and measures certified scales, location tracking systems, outward facing cameras, and an intuitive touchscreen.
Weis Markets joined the Instacart Marketplace in 2023. Caper Carts now span more than 100 cities across 15 states and are available across over a dozen retail banners, including Kroger, Schnucks, and Wakefern banners (ShopRite, Fairway Market), Coles in Australia, with Morrisons in the UK coming later this year.
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Smart carts will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
