Carrefour shelves project robostore

Carrefour had planned to open an automated store in the centre of Brussels, but technical and logistical considerations made the French retailer shelve its plans.

“Not ideal”

Last December, the chain announced a trial with a store that was supposed to be a cross-over of a large vending machine and a pick-up point for groceries ordered online. The store was supposed to be open 24/7, but the chain encountered problems too big to be resolved.

“Before we open a store, we conduct all possible tests to make sure it would be able to function perfectly. From those tests it became apparent that this store would not meet these quality demands or our customers’ needs”, spokesperson Siryn Stampouli told local news site Bruzz. It is unclear if Carrefour will pursue this store concept on another location, and the future plans for the location are also unknown.