Wakefern Food Corp. opens AI store pilot

A year after announcing a pilot with Israel-based AI firm Trigo, Wakefern Food Corp. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its concept, “The Pantry.”

The Pantry is a frictionless store concept featuring Trigo’s technology that allows shoppers to skip the checkout line. Wakefern is testing the concept at its Edison, N.J.-based campus.

For Trigo, which operates other frictionless retail concepts in Europe, this is the first trial for stores in the U.S.

“Our Wakefern associates can shop The Pantry at work for groceries they need at home while simultaneously providing helpful feedback for us on the technology,” said Charles MCWeeney vice president of technology, in a news release. “The chance to evolve in the self-service space at retail is important and we hope to learn more about frictionless checkout and how we can potentially provide this cutting-edge and convenient technology to Wakefern member-owned businesses.”