The Kroger Co. (Cincinnati) has unveiled an “automated convenience store” outside one of its Columbus, Ohio, locations, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
In the C-store area, Kroger’s second of its kind in the U.S., customers can select from 150 items in a vending machine near the gas pumps and pay with cash, credit card or debit card. Although the store itself closes at 1 a.m., the vending machine is always available. Kroger is testing the concept in Columbus and expects to install two other machines in the region this year – and 10 around the country – but the company isn't saying where.
“In this fast-paced world, I think consumers are looking for us to provide them ways to speed up the process,” said Bruce Macaulay, president of Kroger's Great Lakes division.
Kroger has exclusive rights among U.S. grocery retailers to the machines, made by Shop24 (Geel, Belgium), whose units are installed in seven European countries and, according to the company, have recorded over 60 million consumer transactions in 160 locations. Shop24 is owned by VTL Group Ltd. (Auckland, New Zealand).