Aldi checkout-free store ‘cost £1.8m to refit’

Aldi’s cashierless store in the capital reportedly cost £1.8 million for the budget supermarket to refit.

Earlier this week, the retailer announced it was trialling its first checkout-free store in London.

On Friday, The Mirror spoke to an anonymous Aldi worker who told the newspaper that the discounter’s autonomous store could be rolled out across the country.

Technology being tested by the retailer will enable customers to scan a smartphone app to enter the store, pick up their shopping, and walk out of the store without the need to pay at the till.

The employee said that while the technology works, it still makes mistakes when scanning a basket of items.

Aldi has not revealed the exact location of the trial store, but the unnamed member of staff said that it was in Greenwich.

They also claimed that the no-checkout site would need as many staff members as a non-autonomous store.

"The way things are going, in a few years’ time all shops will have it, and fewer staff will be needed - but I don't think that's the way forward," they told The Mirror.

Retail Systems has reached out to Aldi for comment.

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