RetailDetail EU
Europe - EN
  • België - NL
  • Belgique - FR
  • Nederland - NL
  • Europe - EN
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Sign in user
  • News
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Electronics
    • Beauty/Care
    • DIY/Garden
    • Leisure
    • General
  • Events
  • Hunts
  • RetailHub
  • Advertising & Partnerships
    • Online advertising
    • Print advertising
    • Event partnerships
RetailDetail EU
Europe - EN
  • België - NL
  • Belgique - FR
  • Nederland - NL
  • Europe - EN
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Sign in user
  • News
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Electronics
    • Beauty/Care
    • DIY/Garden
    • Leisure
    • General
  • Events
  • Hunts
  • RetailHub
  • Advertising & Partnerships
    • Online advertising
    • Print advertising
    • Event partnerships
thumb
Written by Stefan Van Rompaey
In this article
  • Companies Aldi
  • Topics In picturesInnovationStore concept
  • Geography Netherlands
Share article
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • email

In pictures: Aldi opens Dutch cashless Shop&Go

iconFood19 July, 2022

After months of testing, Aldi will open its first cashless Shop&Go on the European continent to the public on Wednesday. This is a pilot, the retailer emphasises: a roll-out is still a long way off.

No hybrid model

Customers of the Shop&Go in Utrecht do not have to queue at the cash register: there is none. This is the first “app-only” Aldi on the European mainland: shoppers have to download the app and add their credit card details. To enter the shop, they have to enter a QR code, akin to the entry procedure at Amazon Go. Aldi did not choose for a hybrid model: without an app you do not get in.

You can then take the products you want, as 475 cameras and 450 scales register your purchases. To walk out of the shop, you scan a QR code again. Payment follows automatically. “We want to make the shopping experience for our customers as simple as possible”, Jan Oostvogels says. The Belgian has been CEO of Aldi Netherlands since 2020, and is thrilled with the trial: “This project fits perfectly within our core values.”

The project started fourteen months ago. As Aldi Nord does not have the knowledge in-house, the retailer contracted technology partner Trigo Vision. Utrecht, located centrally in the Netherlands, was chosen because of the need for a high traffic location, and because the Dutch have an affinity with technology.

Privacy before everything

This is a pilot project, Oostvogels emphasises. “You will not see a completely finished product here. It is a self-learning system, based on artificial intelligence. We have tested it extensively for teething problems and are going to make this smarter together with our customers by adding more data.”

The big challenges for Aldi are security and privacy. “For example: how do you guarantee that a minor cannot buy alcohol here? We put wine and beer in a separate part of the shop, behind an extra gate where we check your age.”

Because Aldi uses cameras, privacy is paramount, Oostvogels said. “We do not do personal identification in any way. Nor do we use facial recognition or eye scans. The cameras only follow the movement of people and articles. All data disappear again after the shopping trip.”

Easiest shopping anywhere

“Nowhere can you do your shopping so easily”, the CEO claims. While that is absolutely true, although it feels a little awkward that you can not see while shopping what the system has registered in terms of purchases – so you can not keep an eye on your budget like you would with a classic self-scan either. “We are working on that”, the retailer says. Other payment options than the credit card will also be added.

Aldi had already announced the plans for a cashless shop in Utrecht on 1 October 2021. Normally, the shop would open its doors in early 2022, but testing took more time. “We have stepped into this project without a clear timeline, so there is no question of delay”, Oostvogels told RetailDetail. He does not want to rush the evaluation: “We are going to see what we can do with this in the long run in the rest of our shops.”

Following Amazon

Since the first Amazon Go opened in 2018, more retailers have been testing cashless or unmanned shop concepts. In this way, they hope to offer consumers a seamless shopping experience, combined with extended opening hours. After all, shoppers’ expectations are getting higher, but retailers are struggling with staff shortages and high labour costs.

In the United Kingdom, Aldi Süd already has a very similar cashless Shop&Go shop. It was initially only open to employees, but opened to the general public in January in London. “We went there to have a look, of course, but our project is independent of what the colleagues at Aldi Süd are doing.”

Also in Britan, Tesco and Sainsbury have also opened cashless shops. Tesco uses Trigo’s technology, as do Netto and Rewe in Germany. Sainsbury uses Amazon Go technology. In the Netherlands, Albert Heijn used AiFi technology for its cashless AH to go container shop. In Paris, Carrefour opened Flash 10/10, where shoppers only need ten seconds to shop, and another ten seconds to pay. And in Ghent, Colruyt is testing an unmanned shop called Okay Direct. The Belgian retailer developed the technology for this itself.

Stay up-to-date

Receive our free newsletters and do not miss out on the latest retail news.

Subscribe
logo

After months of testing, the first cashless Aldi Shop&Go on the European continent opened to the public on Wednesday. A pilot project, the retailer emphasises, and a roll-out is still a long way off.

More on Food
See more
  • iconFood12 August, 2022
    Consumers gobble up price increases at Lotus Bakeries

    Biscuit manufacturer Lotus Bakeries sold significantly more biscuits in the first half of the year. Only in the Netherlands did consumers not appreciate the price increases. The company is now investing in additional capacity.

  • iconFood11 August, 2022
    Metro takes hit from Belgian branch

    Wholesaler Metro sold over a quarter more in the last three months, thanks to the upturn in the hospitality sector. However, the quarter ended in the red, not least due to Belgium.

  • iconFood10 August, 2022
    Ahold Delhaize to buy US competitor Albertsons?

    Ahold Delhaize is reportedly in takeover negotiations with Albertsons, one of the largest supermarket groups in the US. There are several clues, including a couple of mysterious planes…

Events
  • 14
    Sep
    Captains of Retail 2022
  • 22
    Sep
    RetailDetail Day 2022
  • 13
    Oct
    Human Resources & People Congress
  • 20
    Oct
    Trade & Shopper Marketing Congress
  • 24
    Nov
    RetailDetail Night 2022
Most read
  • iconFood10 August, 2022
    Ahold Delhaize to buy US competitor Albertsons?
  • iconFashion18 July, 2022
    In pictures: Nike launches two new store concepts
  • iconFashion15 July, 2022
    Uniqlo aims for record profit
  • iconFashion5 August, 2022
    China and Russia hold Adidas back
Follow RetailDetail
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • linkedIn
footer-logo
RetailDetail, the leading b2b-retailcommunity in the Benelux, keeps retail professionals up-to-date by means of online & offline publications, retail events, inspiring retail hunts and the unique co-creation platform retailhub, where retailers and their suppliers can experience the future of shopping.
RetailDetail Mailing Address:
Kolveniersstraat 7, bus 26 
2000 Antwerp
Visiting address:
Stadsfeestzaal – Meir 78 
2000 Antwerp
How to reach us:
Directions
© 2022 RetailDetail
general conditions | privacy policy
+32 3 500 89 59 info@retaildetail.be
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Accept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT