Latest news with #DarrenSinclair
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Sainsbury's trials new SmartShop system that lets you skip checkouts entirely
Sainsbury's trials new SmartShop system that lets you skip checkouts entirely Sainsbury's is testing a new checkout-free service that allows shoppers to skip the tills and self-checkout queues entirely through their SmartShop devices Sainsbury's is set to revamp the shopping experience with a brand-new checkout-free initiative aiming to eliminate the need for customers to wait at tills or use self-service machines by utilising their innovative scan and shop technology. The cutting-edge trial is poised to launch in two Sainsbury's locations, as reported by The Grocer, with one store in Richmond and another in Kempton kick-starting the pilot programme. Under the new system patrons will be able to grab a SmartShop scanner upon entering, scanning items as they progress through their shopping. The seamless transition occurs when it's time to pay as customers can simply tap their payment card against the SmartShop scanner to pay for their bagged goods rather than queueing at a traditional checkout. For money-saving tips sign up to our Money newsletter here. Additionally shoppers will have the choice to print a receipt or get it emailed to themselves after which they return the device to the SmartShop dock and head out of the store. As this technology is still being refined reports indicate that the scanners currently cannot process staff discounts or accept physical Nectar cards, reports the Daily Star. Darren Sinclair, Sainsbury's future stores director, discussed the development with The Grocer, stating: "It's a bit more ergonomic. I think about this as trying to reduce friction, improve payment, and simplify the shopping journey as well as the future potential space." Article continues below Sainsbury's personnel may conduct spot checks on customers' baskets as part of efforts to counteract shoplifting and this SmartShop update is just a fragment of the supermarket's comprehensive checkout transformation initiated last year. In line with other innovative modifications taking place at the retailer AI-assisted video scanning technology is being trialled. These surveillance cameras have been installed in select outlets to monitor the checkout and packing zones for theft prevention. The specific locations where these cameras are operational haven't been disclosed nor has a decision been made about whether the system will be introduced across all Sainsbury's sites. Article continues below Pointing directly downwards the camera has the capability to identify unscanned items being placed into bags. Should such an event occur an alert pops up on the checkout screen advising: "Looks like that last item didn't scan. Please check that you scanned it correctly before continuing." The suite of innovations planned for the checkout overhaul is designed to "reduce friction" within the shopping environment, bolster security measures, and enhance the in-store experience for customers.
Western Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Sainsbury's introduces checkout-free payments in stores
The supermarket brand is currently running a trial that allows customers to pay for purchases using payment-enabled SmartShop handsets. Currently, the trial is being run at two stores, in Richmond and in Kempton and is in its very early test stages. The new checkout-free trial is said to 'reduce friction' for shoppers and follows a recent launch of AI cameras at self-checkouts to stop theft. Sainsbury's trials new checkout-free payment method Sainsbury's new pay with SmartShop handsets will allow customers to tap their card on the device to pay. According to The Grocer, once the payment has gone through, shoppers will be able to choose an emailed receipt or print a receipt at a physical bay. Once the payment has gone through, shoppers then just place the handsets back into the ports as they leave the store. Sainsbury's future stores director Darren Sinclair told The Grocer: 'I think about this as trying to reduce friction, improve payment and simplify the shopping journey, as well as the future potential space.' Sinclair added that he hopes the trial will encourage more people to use SmartShop, sharing that the devices allow them to see 'how people shop'. Recommended Reading Explaining: 'We don't see the physical customer, just see the heat, so we can see which ends are looked at, which screens are looked at and the flow around the store. 'That's massively insightful when we are working out store formats, or when we are doing Nectar screens for suppliers.' The new trial from Sainsbury's is still in the early stages, with shoppers only able to pay on devices and handsets unable to process colleague discounts or swipe a physical Nectar card.
South Wales Guardian
12-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Sainsbury's introduces checkout-free payments in stores
The supermarket brand is currently running a trial that allows customers to pay for purchases using payment-enabled SmartShop handsets. Currently, the trial is being run at two stores, in Richmond and in Kempton and is in its very early test stages. The new checkout-free trial is said to 'reduce friction' for shoppers and follows a recent launch of AI cameras at self-checkouts to stop theft. Sainsbury's new pay with SmartShop handsets will allow customers to tap their card on the device to pay. According to The Grocer, once the payment has gone through, shoppers will be able to choose an emailed receipt or print a receipt at a physical bay. Once the payment has gone through, shoppers then just place the handsets back into the ports as they leave the store. Sainsbury's future stores director Darren Sinclair told The Grocer: 'I think about this as trying to reduce friction, improve payment and simplify the shopping journey, as well as the future potential space.' Sinclair added that he hopes the trial will encourage more people to use SmartShop, sharing that the devices allow them to see 'how people shop'. Recommended Reading Sainsbury's shoppers slam changes at self-checkout tills Frustrated' Tesco customers threaten to 'stop shopping' over new security devices Lidl announces plans to open more than 40 new stores across the UK Explaining: 'We don't see the physical customer, just see the heat, so we can see which ends are looked at, which screens are looked at and the flow around the store. 'That's massively insightful when we are working out store formats, or when we are doing Nectar screens for suppliers.' The new trial from Sainsbury's is still in the early stages, with shoppers only able to pay on devices and handsets unable to process colleague discounts or swipe a physical Nectar card.
Wales Online
12-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Sainsbury's makes huge checkout change so shoppers can 'skip queues'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Sainsbury's has made a huge change to allow shoppers to 'skip the queues' at the tills. The supermarket giant has introduced a checkout-free experience at some stores. SmartShop allows customers scan as they shop and then bypass the traditional till area by simply tap their payment card on the provided device at the end. They can then choose whether to print a receipt or having it emailed. READ MORE: 'A school-run mum blocked my drive - her face was priceless when I took revenge' A recent report by The Grocer revealed the service was being trialled at two Sainsbury's stores - Richmond and Kempton. Darren Sinclair, Sainsbury's future stores director, told the publication: "It's a bit more ergonomic, I think about this as trying to reduce friction, improve payment and simplify the shopping journey, as well as the future potential space." Shoppers have had the chance to use the retailer's SmartShop app on their mobile phones since 2022, however the supermarket's research found people preferred using a physical scanner to conserve their phone's battery life. The current trial run by Sainsbury's is aimed at refining the concept to make it is as "user-friendly" as possible. However, the newly-introduced self-pay scanners were not yet able to process staff discounts or recognise physical Nectar cards, the Mirror reports. To minimise thefts, Sainsbury's said store staff would also occasionally carry out inspections to see what customers had in their baskets. It has also started implementing AI-powered video scanning systems in a few stores, with the anti-theft cameras focused on the checkout and packing areas. If an item was placed in a bag without being scanned, the video capturing this would then be played on the screen to the customer with a message stating: "Looks like that last item didn't scan. Please check you scanned it correctly before continuing." Sainsbury's has confirmed the use of these cameras in a small number of locations, however it has kept the specific stores under wraps. A supermarket spokeswoman told The Grocer: "We regularly review the security measures in our stores and our decisions to implement them are based on a range of factors, including offering our customers a smooth checkout experience."
Scottish Sun
11-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Sainsbury's confirms popular range of desserts has been discontinued leaving shoppers gutted
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHOPPERS are disappointed after Sainsbury's quietly scrapped a beloved range of British desserts. The supermarket chain has confirmed that its Patisserie Valerie cake slices are no longer available in stores. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Sainbury's has discontinued its range of Patisserie Valerie cake slices Credit: Sainbury's Responding to a shopper on social media platform X, the chain wrote: 'Unfortunately this range has been discontinued.' Patisserie Valerie is a British café and bakery chain dating back to 1926, famous for its handcrafted cakes, pastries and continental-style desserts. The cake slices - once sold at 400 Sainsbury's locations – promised to bring high street café luxury to supermarket shelves. The company was bought by Irish private equity firm Causeway Capital Partners in 2019 after it faced financial difficulties. Patisserie Valerie now runs standalone cafés and delivers cakes across the UK through its online service. It is unclear why Sainsbury's decided to ditch the range. No official statement has been made by Patisserie Valerie. It comes as Sainsbury's is rolling out major changes in stores, aimed at streamlining the shopping experience – including upgrades to its SmartShop system. SmartShop allows customers to scan products as they go through stores via a physical handset or app on their phone. But now, the supermarket is trialling brand-new handsets at two locations – Richmond, London, and Kempston, Bedfordshire – that allow users to pay directly on the device by tapping their card, removing the need to queue at all. SAVE AT SAINSBURY'S Once payment is complete, customers can either print a receipt at a designated bay or choose to have one emailed. Darren Sinclair, director of future stores and customer experience at Sainsbury's, said the trial was launched in response to customer feedback, with many shoppers preferring to use a physical handset to save phone battery. Sinclair told The Grocer: "I think about this as trying to reduce friction, improve payment and simplify the shopping journey, as well as the future potential space." He added that wider adoption of SmartShop helps the supermarket better understand customer behaviour. "From a heatmapping perspective we can see how people shop. "We don't see the physical customer, just see the heat, so we can see which ends are looked at, which screens are looked at and the flow around the store."
