More Caper Carts Come to ShopRite

Wakefern Food Corp. will be adding more Instacart Caper Carts to four ShopRite stores in the Philadelphia area.

In May 2024, the AI-powered shopping carts arrived at the ShopRite in Hoboken, New Jersey, and customers there have embraced the technology. To date, 11 ShopRite stores have added the smart shopping carts as another option for customers, and Wakefern expects more of its members to adopt the technology over the next year.

Stores installing the carts in June 2024 include locations in Philadelphia and surrounding areas such as the ShopRites of Morrell Plaza, Bridge & Harbison, Brookhaven, and the ShopRite of Drexeline. The carts are also planned for a new ShopRite store expected to open in Mount Kisco, New York, later this year.

Caper Carts feature an interactive screen and AI features that allow customers to scan items as they shop, manage their budget in real-time, and check out. The smart cart uses sensors, computer vision technology and built-in scales to scan items and weigh produce as they are placed in the cart. The cart also allows customers to link their ShopRite Price Plus membership to apply in-store savings and deals. To checkout, customers simply scan the barcode displayed on the cart's screen at the store's self-checkout area.

"Shoppers are excited about the technology and embracing it in the stores that are using the Caper Carts. It's another tool our Wakefern members can offer their customers who are looking for smart, convenient ways to shop and check out," said Charlie McWeeney, vice president of technology, digital, and retail at Wakefern, in a statement.