Aldi's checkout free Shop&Go store is going hybrid, shifting from a tap-in only format to include a manual checkout scanning system.

The company opened its first Shop&Go store in Greenwich, London, in 2022.

With the move, the retailer said it seeks to elevate the customer experience by bringing the concept closer to the traditional Aldi shopping experience.

Before the hybrid upgrade, customers had to scan a QR code at the entrance using the Aldi Shop&Go app, register a payment method before entering, and pass-through turnstiles to start shopping.

Customers at the checkout can now choose to use their app or tap system in the fast lane system or use Aldi's self-checkout terminals.

It first introduced Tap-In to Shop&Go to the store in December 2023.

The store uses smart sensors that can identify items purchased by customers and generate a receipt after they leave the store.

Customers can scan their Shop&Go app or tap their contactless card to exit the store.

“From now on, customers shopping at Shop&Go stores will simply walk in, just like at any other Aldi store,” explained Lennart Hoffman, chief engineer of seamless stores at Aldi DX, in a post on LinkedIn.

These terminals allow customers to manually scan their items or use the AiFi Inc. checkout system.

The system uses a combination of AI-based computer vision and machine learning to track what shoppers pick up and put back, with the aim of making the checkout experience more seamless.

Hoffman said that this development reflects the retailer's commitment to understanding and responding to its customers' needs.

“We’re offering more flexibility to suit different shopping preferences while maintaining speed and convenience,” he added.

In August, Aldi announced that it will open an average of one new supermarket every week for the remainder of 2025, reinforcing its presence as the UK’s fourth-largest grocery chain and expanding its reach into new communities.

The discount retailer’s latest expansion will see new stores open in locations across the country, including Fulham Broadway and Shoreditch in London, Deeside in Wales, Eastbourne in East Sussex, Meadowfield in Durham, Waterbrook in Kent, Market Harborough in Leicestershire, and Chesterfield.

Each new store is set to offer Aldi’s trademark low prices, fresh British produce, and its well-known Specialbuys range.

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