Aldi has launched its first checkout-free store in the Greenwich, Southeast London.

The budget supermarket’s new store will enable customers to put items in a bag and walk out of the store, without scanning the items or using a checkout first.

Customers will need to install the Aldi Shop&Go mobile app to enter the store.

The new store uses technology from California-based retail technology company AiFi and uses cameras to detect which products customers have picked up. Aldi then charges their account when they exit the store.

In addition, the new outlet will use facial age estimation technology, provided by London-based firm Yoti, to verify which customers are over the age of 25 when buying prohibited items such as alcohol and cigarettes.

The store opened today at 7am.

The news comes as Aldi continues to attract new customers; it was the only major supermarket in the UK to see its sales grow during the three months to 26 December according to Kantar figures.

The supermarket said it had its best Christmas on record last year, attracting over half a million new customers from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons.

Increasing numbers of retailers are launching checkout-free stores. Amazon recently launched three new London stores which use its cashierless “Just Walk Out” technology.

The new Amazon Fresh stores, in Chingford, Euston, and Wandsworth, brought the retail giant’s total portfolio of UK grocery stores to 15.

“Today is the culmination of months of work, not least from the team here in Greenwich and I’m looking forward to seeing how customers react to our trial,” said chief executive at Aldi UK and Ireland Giles Hurley. “This store utilises the very latest in retail technology offering Aldi’s award-winning products and unbeatable prices to customers in a new and innovative way.”

He added: “The team are really excited about seeing customers come in and experience Aldi Shop&Go.”

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