Jumbo, “the world’s first supermarket” to introduce a children’s handheld scanner

Jumbo is introducing a children’s handheld scanner that lets customers’ children explore the supermarket in a playful way. All stores in the Netherlands and Belgium will be equipped with it. According to the retailer, this is a world first.

Jumbo does not store any data

The children’s handheld scanner gives kids an active role during their shopping trip. Through fun challenges, they search for ingredients that go well with different dishes and learn more about nutrition along the way. The game was developed for children ages 3 to 8 who go grocery shopping with their parents. Children do not need to register; no data is stored, and there are no leaderboards, scores, or winners. The scanner is also completely separate from the purchasing process: children do not add anything to a shopping cart.

Jumbo tested the handheld scanners in two supermarkets in Schijndel and one in Bakel. Starting today, the children’s handheld scanner is available in approximately 100 stores in the Netherlands and Belgium. By November, that number will rise to 300, and by the end of the first quarter of 2027, all Jumbo stores in the Netherlands and Belgium are expected to have the children’s handheld scanner.

“We’re making it a party”

“For many parents, grocery shopping with young children can be quite challenging. With the kids’ handheld scanner, we’re making grocery shopping more fun for both children and their parents. We’re turning it into a party,” says Fleur van der Pijl, who is responsible for this launch at Jumbo Supermarkets.

“Children have something fun and educational to do, while parents can shop with greater peace of mind. It’s truly something that benefits the whole family—which, as a family-owned business, is a perfect fit for us.”

According to the press release, Jumbo is, as far as is known, the first supermarket chain in the world to use a handheld scanner in this way.