Latest news with #CaperCarts

Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Iconic grocery chain makes huge move to help shoppers on a budget
It's been nearly half a decade since grocery shopping was as simple as heading to the store and filling your cart with affordable staples. First, there was the major disruption of the Covid pandemic, with toilet paper nowhere to be found. And a series of other calamities have followed. From baby formula shortages to a bird flu crisis that sent the price of eggs soaring, to the inflation that resulted in the post-Covid era, Americans have been struggling for a long time to buy what they want at a price they can actually pay. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter With these challenges, many people have been forced to tighten their spending, and President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs could only serve to worsen the situation, as the U.S. buys many goods from Mexico, Canada, and countries abroad. These products could get a lot more expensive if all promised tariffs are implemented and stay in effect. Thankfully, one grocery store is rising to the challenge: Wegmans. Wegmans has more than 100 stores, most of which are found on the East Coast. The regional grocery chain has developed a cult following since opening in 1916, and it is known for offering an upscale grocery shopping experience. It's also evolved well with the times, embracing modern technologies and trends. And now, it's making a major move that will help customers stick to their grocery budget. Image source:In an early July announcement, Wegmans has taken a step toward revolutionizing grocery shopping forever. The company announced the launch within its stores of an AI smart cart powered by Instacart. The cart is called Caper Carts, and Instacart developed it to help with the advancement of technology-connected stores. Customers who choose to shop with a Caper Cart can log into their Wegmans Shoppers Club account and will see an order screen on the cart that tracks their purchases in real time. Related: Costco members angry about price increase The cart uses a combination of cameras, location sensors, and a digital scale to enable customers to put items directly into their shopping bags as they move through the store. Customers will no longer need to physically check out from the store, as they can just pay directly from the cart. While not having to go through the checkout lane can save customers a lot of time and hassle, the best part for budget-conscious shoppers is that they are going to be able to see their total in real time as they add items to their cart. No more guessing if they are sticking to their weekly budget or trying to do the math in their head as they go. Initially, Wegmans is bringing Caper Cart to a store in Syracuse, New York. However, this is just the beginning. A Wegmans representative told Food & Wine that the company is "doing smart cart test-and-learn pilots in four stores - Perinton and Pittsford in Rochester, Alberta Drive in Buffalo, and at our Dewitt store in Syracuse - with two different technology providers." Related: Costco membership decision sparks controversy Wegmans will test the customer experience and hopes to roll out the smart carts to more stores so that eventually, all customers will be able to embrace this technology to make grocery shopping faster and more budget-friendly. "Our goal is to determine if smart cart technology is a fit for the unique shopping assortment offered in our stores and if it meets the shopping needs of our customers," a Wegmans representative said. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers In the meantime, those who are shopping at the pilot stores can experience the future of grocery shopping today. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.


New York Post
14-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Popular supermarket chain adding AI ‘smart carts' in game-changer for customers: ‘Transforming everyday grocery shopping'
Wegmans is looking to the future. The popular grocery store chain is testing AI-powered smart shopping carts in four of its upstate New York locations in a bid to offer consumers a 'smarter, more seamless way to shop in-store.' Wegmans announced the launch of Caper Carts, Instacart's AI-powered smart carts, at its Dewitt location in Syracuse, New York, earlier this month. Advertisement 4 Caper Carts are Instacart's AI-powered smart carts. Instacart 'This marks the first deployment of Caper Carts at Wegmans,' the press release said. The innovation — part of the Instacart's technology Connected Stores — allows customers to track their spending while shopping. The carts will automatically recognize items as they are put into them, and customers can bag as they shop. Advertisement 4 Caper Carts allow customers to track their spending while shopping. Instacart The tech — including cameras, a digital scale and location sensors — also allows for a seamless checkout, enabling payment for items directly from a cart and eliminating having to wait in a checkout line. The tool that tracks spending as you shop could make a huge difference for shoppers on a budget, as they won't have to anxiously await the total cost at checkout. To use the wheeled tool, Wegmans shoppers can log in to their Shoppers Club account via a screen on the cart. Advertisement 4 Shoppers can also bag as they shop, allowing for a seamless checkout. Instacart 'Caper Carts are transforming everyday grocery shopping into a faster, more personalized experience,' the Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart, David McIntosh, said in a statement. While Instacart's Caper Carts are only being tested at the Syracuse location, a representative for Wegmans told Food & Wine that they are 'doing smart cart test-and-learn pilots in four stores — Perinton and Pittsford in Rochester, Alberta Drive in Buffalo, and at our Dewitt store in Syracuse — with two different technology providers,' adding that they 'are limiting the program to these stores as we gather customer feedback to drive improvements.' 4 The Caper Cart technology includes cameras, a digital scale and location sensors. Instacart Advertisement Whether the technology will expand to more Wegmans stores is dependent on how smoothly the grocery shopping process goes at the test stores. 'Our goal is to determine if smart cart technology is a fit for the unique shopping assortment offered in our stores and if it meets the shopping needs of our customers,' a Wegmans representative said.

Miami Herald
05-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Beloved supermarket chain tries to fix checkout pain point
There are some supermarkets you go to because you have to. Your fridge is empty and you need groceries, so there's no getting around it. But then there are those supermarkets you visit because they're fun to walk through. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Maybe it's the unique selection of products, or the fact that the store brand has a great reputation for quality. Related: Costco's latest price change shocks members Or maybe it's that the store carries some of the freshest produce in town, and that the people who work there are friendly and helpful. You may even like a given supermarket for its bulk candy aisle. And that's okay, even if you're a grown up. There's just something about rows and rows of candy that makes people's hearts sing a little bit. There's a reason so many people love Wegmans – and it's not just the store's famous candy aisles. Similar to Trader Joe's, Wegmans is known for its unique selection of products and outstanding customer service. Wegmans is also known as a company that gives back to its community. Related: Walmart makes bold move to compete with restaurants Not only does Wegmans support local food banks, but it treats its employees extremely well. In addition to fair wages, Wegmans offers great benefits and scholarships so employees can pursue higher education. Granted, as a consumer, you might care more about the product selection and prices than how a given grocery chain treats the people who work there. But it's easy to appreciate the fact that Wegmans is a values-based company with a strong commitment to great service. And when a company treats its employees right, it translates to a better customer experience. If there's one thing "wrong" with Wegmans, it's the store's popularity. Like Costco, you might have to wait in line to get a spot at your local Wegman's parking lot, depending on where you live and when you go. And any time you have a store that's loved by so many customers, there can be long checkout lanes to deal with. Related: Major supermarket chain closing 60 locations Wegmans is taking steps to fix that, though. The company is testing smart cart technology at four of its stores in Upstate New York. And at its store in Syracuse, it's testing Caper Carts, which are AI-powered smart carts developed by Instacart. With smart cart technology, consumers can load up on groceries, scan as they go, and avoid the hassle of having to wait in line to check out. The carts use a combination of sensors, scales, and cameras to tally up grocery prices, allowing shoppers to pay for their purchases directly from their carts. Though there may be some kinks to work out with the technology, it's a step in the right direction for Wegmans, and there's a good chance its competitors will opt to follow its lead. In addition to smart carts, Wegmans is working on upgrading to new self-checkout lanes in more of its stores. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers The goal is to streamline the checkout process and make the shopping experience easier and more efficient for consumers so there's truly nothing not to like about Wegmans. Related: Costco adds new food item members already love The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wegmans tests smart carts
This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter. Wegmans is testing smart carts from two providers at four stores in Upstate New York, the grocer told Grocery Dive in an email. The test at Wegmans Dewitt store in Syracuse is of Instacart's smart carts, marking the grocer's first deployment of Caper Carts, the grocery technology company said in a Tuesday announcement. Wegmans also confirmed that it is upgrading its self-checkout technology as part of a 'company-wide refresh cycle aimed at maintaining the most convenient checkout experience.' Wegmans began piloting smart carts years ago and is continuing to test this type of shopping and checkout solution as it evolves its in-store experience. Instacart said in the Tuesday announcement that its Caper Carts let customers track their spending in real time, log into their grocer's loyalty program account, bag as they shop and pay directly from the cart. The Wegmans Dewitt store in Syracuse is the only location offering Caper Carts, Instacart confirmed in an email. The carts use a combination of cameras, sensors and a digital scale to recognize items and are part of Instacart Connected Stores, a suite of technologies linking online and in-store experiences. Instacart noted that it first partnered with Wegmans in 2017 on same-day delivery and has since expanded the collaboration to include solutions like pickup, EBT SNAP acceptance and loyalty integration. Instacart said it does not have additional updates to share about whether it will add Caper Carts to more Wegmans stores. The grocer has over 100 stores across eight states and Washington, D.C. Wegmans is also testing smart carts at two stores in the Rochester, New York, area and one store in the greater Buffalo, New York, area, the grocer said in the email. 'We are limiting the program to these stores as we gather customer feedback to drive improvements,' Wegmans said in an emailed statement. 'Our goal is to determine if Smart Cart Technology is a fit for the unique shopping assortment offered in our stores and if it meets the shopping needs of our customers.' Self-checkout is another area where the grocer is looking to streamline its checkout experience. 'Many of our stores already have the new self-checkouts and others will be gradually upgraded,' the grocer said in the email. The new machines do not accept cash, have an upgraded processing power and feature a new light pole to signal availability to consumers, according to the Democrat and Chronicle, a newspaper serving the Rochester market. Wegmans has adjusted and tested checkout technology over the last several years. Last fall, the grocer piloted smart carts at three stores, including Perinton and Pittsford in New York, where the grocer confirmed it is currently testing smart carts, the Democrat & Chronicle reported. In 2023, Wegmans started testing smart cart technology from Shopic at two stores. The year prior, the grocer ended its popular scan-and-go option due to unspecified 'losses.' Meanwhile, Instacart has continually added features to its smart carts as it looks to make the shopping and checkout solution available at more of its retail partners. Recently, Instacart has launched shoppable displays and started testing online delivery offers for customers checking out on the smart carts. The company said in October that it had equipped the carts with technology from NVIDIA's Jetson platform to better recognize items in real-time with lower latency. Instacart told shareholders in February that it plans to test store-shelf scanning from the carts in the 'future.' Last year, Instacart added gamified quests, location-based coupons and aisle-aware advertising formats to the smart carts. Instacart continues to grow the roster of retailers using Caper Carts, with recent sign-ons including Heritage Grocers Group, Weis Markets, Geisslers, Kroger, Schnuck Markets and Wakefern Food. Recommended Reading Wegmans rolls out smart cart pilot Sign in to access your portfolio

Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Wegmans tests smart carts
Dive Brief: Wegmans is testing smart carts from two providers at four stores in Upstate New York, the grocer told Grocery Dive in an email. The test at Wegmans Dewitt store in Syracuse is of Instacart's smart carts, marking the grocer's first deployment of Caper Carts, the grocery technology company said in a Tuesday also confirmed that it is upgrading its self-checkout technology as part of a "company-wide refresh cycle aimed at maintaining the most convenient checkout experience." Dive Insight: Wegmans began piloting smart carts years ago and is continuing to test this type of shopping and checkout solution as it evolves its in-store experience. Instacart said in the Tuesday announcement that its Caper Carts let customers track their spending in real time, log into their grocer's loyalty program account, bag as they shop and pay directly from the cart. The Wegmans Dewitt store in Syracuse is the only location offering Caper Carts, Instacart confirmed in an email. The carts use a combination of cameras, sensors and a digital scale to recognize items and are part of Instacart Connected Stores, a suite of technologies linking online and in-store experiences. Instacart noted that it first partnered with Wegmans in 2017 on same-day delivery and has since expanded the collaboration to include solutions like pickup, EBT SNAP acceptance and loyalty integration. Instacart said it does not have additional updates to share about whether it will add Caper Carts to more Wegmans stores. The grocer has over 100 stores across eight states and Washington, D.C. Wegmans is also testing smart carts at two stores in the Rochester, New York, area and one store in the greater Buffalo, New York, area, the grocer said in the email. "We are limiting the program to these stores as we gather customer feedback to drive improvements," Wegmans said in an emailed statement. "Our goal is to determine if Smart Cart Technology is a fit for the unique shopping assortment offered in our stores and if it meets the shopping needs of our customers." Self-checkout is another area where the grocer is looking to streamline its checkout experience. "Many of our stores already have the new self-checkouts and others will be gradually upgraded," the grocer said in the email. The new machines do not accept cash, have an upgraded processing power and feature a new light pole to signal availability to consumers, according to the Democrat and Chronicle, a newspaper serving the Rochester market. Wegmans has adjusted and tested checkout technology over the last several years. Last fall, the grocer piloted smart carts at three stores, including Perinton and Pittsford in New York, where the grocer confirmed it is currently testing smart carts, the Democrat & Chronicle reported. In 2023, Wegmans started testing smart cart technology from Shopic at two stores. The year prior, the grocer ended its popular scan-and-go option due to unspecified "losses." Meanwhile, Instacart has continually added features to its smart carts as it looks to make the shopping and checkout solution available at more of its retail partners. Recently, Instacart has launched shoppable displays and started testing online delivery offers for customers checking out on the smart carts. The company said in October that it had equipped the carts with technology from NVIDIA's Jetson platform to better recognize items in real-time with lower latency. Instacart told shareholders in February that it plans to test store-shelf scanning from the carts in the "future." Last year, Instacart added gamified quests, location-based coupons and aisle-aware advertising formats to the smart carts. Instacart continues to grow the roster of retailers using Caper Carts, with recent sign-ons including Heritage Grocers Group, Weis Markets, Geisslers, Kroger, Schnuck Markets and Wakefern Food. Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.