Geissler's to Launch Instacart's Smart Carts in All Stores
Geissler's Supermarkets, an Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) retailer with seven stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts, has partnered with Instacart to bring Caper Carts (Instacart's artificial intelligence-powered smart carts) to all Geissler's locations. The family-owned grocer will replace a majority of its traditional shopping carts over the coming months, according to a media release.
Caper Carts use computer vision and AI to automatically identify items as they're placed in the cart, allowing shoppers to “bag” items as they shop and pay from wherever they are in the store. Shoppers will be able to use their loyalty account with the carts, giving them access to personalized promotions and savings.
"We see clearly the value that Caper Carts bring to our customers and our business, in the short and long term,” Bob Rybick, president and CEO of Geissler's Supermarkets and chairman of the IGA retailer advisory board, said in the release. “At launch, they'll reduce lines and congestion while freeing up store associates to focus more on customer support. The carts' screens help customers easily find items on their list, stay on budget and access tailored recommendations and deals as they browse the aisles. More engaging experiences drive larger basket sizes and repeat customers, and we see even more possibilities long term."
Caper Carts are part of Instacart's Connected Stores, which are a bundle of Instacart Platform technologies introduced in 2022 and designed to help grocers bridge the online and in-store shopping experience. The first Instacart Platform-powered Connected Store opened at Good Food Holdings’ Bristol Farms in Irvine, California.
"Geissler's plays a vital role in their community, and we're proud to partner with them as they create an innovative omnichannel experience that makes shopping more convenient and engaging for their customers," David McIntosh, vice president and general manager of Connected Stores at Instacart, said in the release. "Grocers know their communities best, and as their partner, we build technologies that fit their unique brand, help digitize and connect their stores, and support their overall growth."
Geissler's, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, was named "Retailer of the Year" for 2023 by the Connecticut Food Association and won IGA’s “Digital Media Pioneer Award” this year for its excellence in digital advertising optimization through the IGA Retail Media Network.
Earlier this year, Instacart expanded its focus on building more affordable technology solutions particularly for local and independent retailers. The Instacart Platform offerings were designed to help retail partners capture new ad revenue, bring more of their store online, better support store associates and offer end-to-end fulfillment.
The solutions have rolled out across North America and are being used by wholesalers, including Associated Food Stores, and retailers including New Seasons Market, Niemann Foods, The Fresh Market and Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplac.