Shopping trips are about to feel a lot different at some ShopRite stores in New Jersey. The grocery chain is introducing smart shopping carts powered by artificial intelligence, and the goal is simple: to help you shop faster, track what you spend, and check out right from the cart. Sounds quite interesting
What are shoprite’s smart carts?
ShopRite is rolling out what is called a Caper Cart. These are high-tech shopping carts designed by Instacart and powered by AI. They look like a regular cart, but they come with built-in technology that changes the way you shop.
Here is what the carts can do:
- Scan items as you place them in the cart
- Weigh produce and other loose items
- Show you your spending in real time on a screen
- Let you check out directly from the cart without standing in line
- Connect with your ShopRite Price Plus Club card for savings
This means you can skip the usual checkout process and head straight out the door once you are done shopping.
Which shoprite locations have smart carts?
The smart carts are being introduced at three ShopRite locations in New Jersey:
- ShopRite of Flemington
- ShopRite of Clinton
- ShopRite of Greenwich
Two of these stores already have the carts, while the Clinton store is scheduled to launch them on September 29 at 11 a.m. Across the three stores, there will be about 100 Caper Carts in total.
Why shoprite is adding AI technology
For ShopRite, this is about making your shopping trip more convenient. According to Sam Colalillo of ShopRite of Hunterdon County, who is part of a third-generation grocery family, technology like this is about giving customers more control and saving them time.
In his words: “We are excited to introduce Caper Carts to our ShopRite stores in Flemington, Clinton and Greenwich. Our customers now have a smarter, faster way to shop, with tools to track spending, find savings and check out directly from the cart using a saved payment method. It is a game-changer for convenience and we are proud to bring this innovation to our stores.”
The Colalillo family has also introduced the same carts in their ShopRite stores in Pennsylvania, showing that this is part of a bigger push to blend technology with everyday grocery shopping.
How customers benefit from smart carts
If you shop at one of these locations, the smart carts can make your trip easier in several ways:
- Faster checkout: No need to wait in line.
- Better control of spending: You see what you are spending as you shop.
- Easier shopping for families: The built-in screen keeps track for you.
- Convenience with savings: You can sync your loyalty card for discounts.
This is especially helpful if you are busy or if you shop with kids and want to move through the store quickly.
What this means for the future of grocery shopping
The move by ShopRite is part of a larger trend where grocery stores are using AI to improve the customer experience. If the carts are popular in New Jersey, you might start seeing them in more locations across the country.
It is another sign that the way we shop for groceries is changing. From self-checkout lanes to online delivery, and now AI-powered smart carts, stores are finding new ways to make shopping more convenient for you.
