Technology

  • Inside a grocery store, a grocery shopper browses the meat selection where a "low price" sign hangs.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Column

    The Friday Checkout: Inflation may have hit a high point, but groceries don’t seem to have noticed

    Food costs are soaring even as gas prices decline, casting a spotlight on supermarkets as the economy plods ahead.

    By Grocery Dive Staff • Aug. 12, 2022
  • Hy-Vee Grimes
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    Jeff Wells/Grocery Dive

    Hy-Vee expanding Scan & Go to more stores

    The rollout of the checkout-free technology comes as grocers and convenience stores are looking to make the shopping and payment process smoother. 

    By • Aug. 11, 2022
  • Explore the Trendline➔
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    RossHelen via Getty Images
    Trendline

    Digital transformation

    Food retailers are embracing innovation as they look to fill orders more efficiently, boost convenience — and keep up with digitally savvy shoppers.

    By Grocery Dive staff
  • Individual holding its hand under Amazon One's palm recognition payment method at a Whole Foods Market checkout counter
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    Courtesy of Sarmishta Ramesh

    Whole Foods to add Amazon One payment tech to dozens of stores in California

    After rolling out the bio-authentication and payment technology to a handful of stores earlier this year, the grocery chain will add it to 65 locations in the West Coast state.

    By • Aug. 10, 2022
  • Gopuff's new instant pay option lets delivery partners receive their earnings balance at an time
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    Retrieved from Gopuff press release.

    Gopuff invests in delivery worker benefits amid business challenges

    The instant delivery company now offers instant payment options for its workers, building on updates like an enhanced driver app and new support tools.

    By Brett Dworski • Aug. 9, 2022
  • Automated checkout device on shopping cart
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    Courtesy of Shopic

    Smart cart tech firm Shopic bags $35M in funding

    The Israeli startup plans to expand the deployment of its automated checkout technology, which attaches to standard shopping carts, among grocers in the Americas, Europe and Israel.

    By • Aug. 9, 2022
  • Tablet computer displaying Afresh interface
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    Courtesy of Afresh Technologies

    Food waste tech firm Afresh raises $115M

    The Series B funding round, which included former Whole Foods executive Walter Robb as an investor, will help scale the technology to “thousands” more stores.

    By • Aug. 8, 2022
  • 7-Eleven launches 7Now Gold Pass.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven

    7-Eleven reportedly acquires delivery startup, intends to compete with DoorDash

    The c-store giant bought Skipcart, which provides same-day and on-demand delivery, according to The Information. 

    By Brett Dworski • Aug. 8, 2022
  • The Fresh Market shoppable videos
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from The Fresh Market.

    The Fresh Market sees shoppable video, livestreaming zing

    The specialty food chain has had rapid growth in key engagement metrics as grocers explore social media, videos and shoppable content.

    By • Aug. 2, 2022
  • Worker checking inventory in a digital tablet at a supermarket
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    FG Trade via Getty Images
    Opinion

    3 questions grocers should ask before investing in tech

    Retailers need to find simple, easy-to-use solutions that give time back to workers as well as motivate them, writes Shamus Hines, CEO of Applied Data Corporation.

    By Shamus Hines • Aug. 1, 2022
  • Storefront of Amazon Fresh in Washington, D.C.
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    Kaarin Vembar/Grocery Dive
    Column

    The Friday Checkout: Amazon, not so Fresh?

    While the retail giant has embraced tech with its grocery banners, a recent review of one of its Fresh stores raises the question: What about the food?

    By Grocery Dive Staff • July 29, 2022
  • Three side-by-side images of smartphone screens showing grocery e-commerce features, like a barcode scanning tool.
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    Uber; Getty Images

    Uber is looking to change its 'frustrating' US grocery experience

    After a rough launch with Cornershop two years ago, Uber is now aiming to course-correct by adding new features on Eats for customers, workers and retailers.

    By • July 27, 2022
  • Close-up of hands holding a phone with the screen showing food items below a map
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    Courtesy of Flashfood

    Giant Eagle expanding Flashfood program chainwide

    The grocery chain plans to offer the app-based food-waste-reduction service at all of its 173 stores after introducing the program to 34 locations last year. 

    By • July 26, 2022
  • Kroger Ocado
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    Courtesy of Kroger
    Tracker

    Tracking the development of Kroger’s automated e-commerce center network

    The grocer has returned to San Antonio, a market it left in the early ‘90s, with delivery-only service from a spoke site in the city, per a local news report.

    Updated Aug. 5, 2022
  • Sign on cart in grocery story that says "Shop online and we'll push this cart for you.'
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    Katie Logan, ECRS

    Sponsored by ECRS

    Customer profile: Building a loyal customer base with CATAPULT® WebCart™

    Learn how Adams Fairacre Farms is using CATAPULT® WebCart™, ECRS’ e-Commerce solution, to build a loyal customer base and an unforgettable shopping experience.

    July 25, 2022
  • Hand holding phone that has ice cream ordering on the screen.
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    Photo Illustration: Uber; Getty Images

    Uber ramping up grocery service with new features on Eats app

    Offering more items, improved barcode scanning and order scheduling when stores are closed are a few ways the company is “betting in a huge way on grocery,” said Oskar Hjertonsson, Uber’s global head of grocery and retail. 

    By • July 21, 2022
  • An Amazon Prime delivery van sits parked near a Walmart store on September 3, 2020 in Richmond, California.
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images

    Walmart's electric vehicle deal blocks Amazon as rivalry expands

    The agreement prevents Canoo from making EVs for the e-commerce giant. One expert said Amazon is likely "more amused than anything."

    By Max Garland • July 20, 2022
  • Fabric
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    Courtesy of Fabric

    Fabric lays off 40% of its workforce, names new leader

    CEO and co-founder Elram Goren has stepped aside as the micro-fulfillment technology company shifts from a service- and network-oriented business strategy to focusing on selling hardware and software.

    By • July 15, 2022
  • Amazon's latest version of the Dash Cart
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    Courtesy of Amazon

    Amazon bringing new and improved Dash Carts to Whole Foods

    Amazon will trial the carts, which have double the carrying capacity of the earlier version, at a store in Massachusetts before bringing them to additional locations along with “many” more Fresh stores.

    By • July 12, 2022
  • In the foreground, a hand holds a phone with SideChef shoppable recipe content. In the background, a QR code is shown on a computer screen.
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    Catherine Douglas Moran/Grocery Dive

    Tyson Foods adds shoppable content to Target, Walmart sites

    In connection to a partnership between the meat processor and recipe platform SideChef, specific items now have shoppable QR codes on Walmart’s site and app. 

    By • July 11, 2022
  • Chowbotics salad-making robot, Sally, at Ferris State University in Michigan
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    Courtesy of Chowbotics

    DoorDash will shutter Chowbotics 18 months after acquisition

    The food delivery service acquired the robotics firm, which builds salad-making robots dubbed “Sally,” in February 2021. 

    By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 8, 2022
  • Image of four mobile screens showing features of Instacart's Cart Star program.
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    Courtesy of Instacart

    Instacart launches rewards program for its 'star' workers

    The three-tiered Cart Star program, which is tied to the number of points workers earn by completing orders, offers cash back on gas, discounts on car maintenance and, for certain members, service from Care.com.

    By • July 7, 2022
  • Grocery delivery worker in kitchen
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    Courtesy of Walmart

    Walmart merges in-home grocery delivery service with Walmart+

    The retailer has also expanded InHome to cities including Miami, Dallas and San Francisco, in a move that almost doubles the geographic reach of the service.

    By • July 7, 2022
  • A person holding a shopping cart stands in front of a row of refrigerators stocked with food at a grocery store.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images

    6 consumer trends for grocers to watch

    How shoppers are approaching health claims, premiumization and meal prep are some of the areas the Food Industry Association wants grocers to pay attention to. 

    By • July 6, 2022
  • Products and a box from Misfits Market
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    Courtesy of Misfits Market

    Misfits Market introduces autocart tool, loyalty program

    The e-grocer has added a feature that pre-fills customers’ carts with products on a weekly basis and launched Misfits Perks, said Chief Strategy Officer Kai Selterman.

    By • July 1, 2022
  • Autonomous delivery vehicles from Starship Technologies outside a Lucky California supermarket
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    Courtesy of Save Mart

    Save Mart's robotic delivery pilot reportedly ends as tech partner reorganizes

    Starship Technologies, which powered the small delivery bots at two California stores, announced layoffs and closures at “select locations,” citing challenges among global markets and investors.

    By • June 30, 2022