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The Journal
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
There are robots working in SuperValu (and they're coming to a supermarket near you)
Tally the robot in Supervalu in Rathborne, Dublin 15. ROBOT WORKERS ARE gliding around the aisles of two branches of SuperValu, and will soon be arriving in more stores. The Irish supermarket chain's Tally robots are able to check shelves are full and that prices are correct, and can even order additional stock if a product has run out. Staff in the Swords Pavilions and Rathborne, Dublin 15 branches of SuperValu, where the robots are being trialled, are worried. Mandate trade union and its shop stewards have raised workers' concerns about the longer term implications of the robots with the company. The Journal / YouTube How do the robots work? SuperValu told The Journal the robots travel around the store three times a day to identify what's missing from the shelves. They do this using cameras and by performing AI analysis of images. Any images of people in the background are automatically blurred out for GDPR reasons. If a product is in the back storeroom, Tally alerts human workers that it's time to re-stock. If a product is out of stock, the robot orders more. Customers at Rathborne SuperValu seemed to be already well used to shopping alongside a robot when The Journal visited in recent days. Shoppers paid little attention to Tally's blinking lights as it silently glided down the bread aisle. Certainly no-one in the supermarket, except The Journal's reporter, was following the robot around, agog, taking photos and videos. Luckily, the robot is very nimble when it comes to gliding around any obstacles in its way, such as gawping journalists. SuperValu confirmed that robots are 'programmed to navigate around obstacles and stop immediately if there is a person in close proximity'. The devices have been fitted with heavy bases so they won't tip over. Advertisement Tally is watching you (so it doesn't bang into you). Valerie Flynn / The Journal Valerie Flynn / The Journal / The Journal Worker concerns Keith Pollard of Mandate said the trade union has received assurances from SuperValu that the robots are not a replacement for workers. The company's promises included that there will not be a reduction in headcount or working hours at the two stores where the Tally system is being trialled. 'Not surprisingly – despite the company's strong assurances – our members in both stores were obviously worried about the introduction of Tally and its longer-term implications,' Pollard said. 'We're determined to protect the terms and conditions of our members in SuperValu so we'll be keenly observing the outcome of the Tally trial and where it goes to next,' he added. Barry Minnock, who is in charge of data, AI and emerging technology at Musgrave, SuperValu's parent company, said workers' roles 'are not and will not be impacted'. 'The reason we are investing in Tally is to further enhance on-shelf availability and service to our customers, complementing the fantastic work of our staff,' Minnock said. Recent decades have seen a trend towards supermarkets reducing the number of staff needed, including through the introduction self-service checkouts and with the replacement of fish and butchers' counters with pre-packaged products. Fashion and homeware retailers have recently followed suit with the introduction of self-service tills. The introduction of coin slots in trolleys – nudging customers to return their own trolley – reduced the need for supermarket car park trolley collectors, while it is many years since any Irish supermarkets paid staff to pack customers' bags at the tills. It's been reported in the UK that electronic shelf labels could be one of the next innovations to reduce supermarket staff costs. British supermarket chain Morrisons is also trialling Tally, the first UK supermarket to do so, trade magazine The Grocer reported last month. Time magazine named Tally 3.0, from Californian company Simbe Robotics, one of the top 200 innovations of 2023. Further roll-out Minnock said the trial which got underway in two SuperValu stores in October has been 'very successful' at keeping shelves stocked. The trial is now in its second phase, which has more fully integrated the robots into other systems and processes within the supermarkets. 'Subject to trial results, we will roll out to further SuperValu stores,' Minnock said. However, the robots are not suitable for stores with tight aisles, Minnock added. That may mean robots are unlikely to be coming to Centra – also owned by Musgrave – any time soon. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Journal Media shortlisted for 17 Justice Media Awards
JOURNAL MEDIA HAS been shortlisted for 17 Justice Media Awards across a number of its publications and podcasts. In total, 16 journalists were shortlisted for awards across eight different categories. A total of ten nominations are for The Journal and seven are for The Journal Investigates . The Justice Media Awards are held annually by the Law Society of Ireland. This year, the awards received a record-breaking 495 entries across 16 award categories. In total, 140 entries were shortlisted across 16 award categories. Organisers said the awards recognise 'outstanding print, broadcast and online journalism that contributes to the public's understanding' of justice, the legal system and access to justice issues. Assistant news editor Valerie Flynn was shortlisted for two awards, including in the Print/Online Journalism (daily) category for her work on why the Conor McGregor case was heard in a civil court, and for her work with News Editor Daragh Brophy on what's driving the surge in road deaths . Reporter Muiris Ó Cearbhaill was nominated in the Print/Online Journalism (daily) category for his articles going behind the headlines and decisions from the courts – ranging from the reasons why a man with no previous convictions was jailed for six years , to the minuscule number of sex offenders taking part in rehabilitation programmes . Shane Raymond , a member of the FactCheck unit, was nominated in the International Justice Reporting category for his piece on why exactly far-right activist Tommy Robinson was jailed , amid claims by tech billionaire Elon Musk. The Explainer Podcast team of Nicky Ryan, Laura Byrne & Sinead O'Carroll were nominated twice, for their episode examining how does sentencing work in Ireland ih the Broadcast Journalism (podcast) category. The Explainer was also nominated in the Court Reporting (broadcast) category for its edition featuring The Journal reporter and fellow nominee Eoghan Dalton looking at the State inquiry into the Bill Kenneally case . Advertisement The Journal Investigates team received seven nominations in total. Reporter Patricia Devlin was nominated for three awards, including in the Environmental Law/Climate Justice Reporting category for her work on the underground wildlife trade. She was also nominated alongside The Journal Investigates Editor Maria Delaney for coverage on a gap in data on gendered violence and on migrant children arriving alone into Ireland . Also for The Journal Investigates , Conor O'Carroll & Pablo Jiménez Arandia were nominated in the Environmental Law/Climate Justice Reporting category for their coverage on how Ireland's data centres were turning to fossil fuels . Conor O'Carroll was also nominated for Newcomer of the Year, one of two nominations for Journal Media in the category – The Journal reporter Mairead Maguire also picked up a nod. Cormac Fitzgerald was nominated in the Human Rights/Social Justice Reporting (print/online) for his coverage on declassified papers into the 1979 Glen of Imaal blast that killed three boys . Reporter Peter McGuire was nominated in the same category for his article on children being subjected to controversial 'immersion therapy ' by court-appointed experts after they were removed from the family home. Freelance reporter Hannah McCarthy was nominated in the International Justice Reporting category for her coverage on human rights breaches during war in the Middle East. Editor of The Journal Investigates Maria Delaney said it was an honour for the team to be recognised for this year's awards. 'Holding power to account is a cornerstone of our mission at The Journal Investigates and the justice system is central to this,' Delaney said. 'It is an honour that our coverage of human rights and environment injustices has been recognised as our team has always strived to spotlight issues and unheard voices that don't get the attention they deserve. It is thanks to our supporters who fund our investigations through our readers' fund that allow us to undertake this important work.' Winners are announced at an awards ceremony on 25 June. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
