Schnucks brings Instacart’s Caper Carts to select stores

Schnuck Markets is continuing to expand its omnichannel relationship with Instacart by deploying smart carts in select stores.

Instacart’s Caper Carts, which automatically identify items as they are added to the cart using computer vision and artificial intelligence, allow customers to bag as they shop and skip the line through a seamless checkout experience from the cart.

Caper Carts will first roll out at select St. Louis stores this fall, with a broader rollout following the initial deployments, the companies said.

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“As a third and fourth generation, family-owned grocer, we’re always thinking about how we can best serve our customers while also driving the digital transformation of the grocery industry. As part of that effort, we’re proud to deepen our partnership with Instacart and further bridge the gap between in-store and online shopping for Schnucks customers,” said Chace MacMullan, senior director of digital experience at Schnucks. “We believe the future of grocery will lean heavily into personalization — whether it's achieved through in-store smart carts or by providing the best possible e-commerce experience for our customers. We aim to make customers feel like each shopping experience was custom-made for them, and we’re excited to take another big step forward with the rollout of this pilot of Instacart’s Caper Carts.”

Select Caper Carts will feature a bottom rack for bulky and heavy items, and the company also will be testing a Lite version where customers can manually can items before placing them in the cart.

“We’re proud to partner with Schnucks on their rollout of Instacart's Caper Carts, which bring together the best of online and in-store shopping to spearhead their digital transformation and create a truly convenient and personalized experience for customers,” said David McIntosh, vice president and general manager of connected stores at Instacart. “With this launch, Schnucks is building on their existing Instacart-powered offerings across e-commerce, ads, electronic shelf labels (ESLs), and more — redefining in-store shopping and checkout for customers. At Instacart, we’re committed to developing new and innovative technologies that help retailers seamlessly create a unified commerce experience, and are excited to work with Schnucks to reimagine the future of grocery together.”

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Lastly, customers will be able to use their Schnucks Rewards account with the Caper Cart for a more personalized experience by providing easy access to clipped coupons and the ability to view deals from the weekly circular as they shop.