ALDI launches checkout-free grocery shopping powered by Grabango

Grabango, a leading provider of checkout-free technology for large-scale chains, announced it has partnered with ALDI to launch ALDIgo checkout-free shopping at a Chicago-area grocery store. According to the announcement, ALDI is the first major U.S. grocery retailer to deploy checkout-free technology in an existing, full-size store. The technology, which ALDI deployed at one Chicago suburban location, allows shoppers to skip the line and save time.

“The launch of ALDIgo is a pivotal moment for the grocery industry,” Will Glaser, CEO of Grabango, said in the announcement. “Although more challenging, it was important to us to launch this technology in a typical store and not one purpose-built for us. ALDI is one of the most innovative retailers in the world, and we are honored to partner with them to give their shoppers an exciting new way to shop the store.”

The Grabango system was added to an existing ALDI store without the need to make any changes to the store’s planogram or product displays. The technology, which uses computer vision to identify and keep track of every item in the store, allows shoppers to exit the store without waiting in line or scanning items.

“It’s exciting to see a checkout-free capability live in one of our stores," Eric Traxler, vice president of IT at ALDI, said in the announcement. “ALDI is continuously looking for new ways to be innovative and provide a best-in-class experience for our shoppers, and ALDIgo is a great example of that in action.”

The ALDIgo store is open to the public at 2275 West Galena Blvd., Aurora, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.

To use ALDIgo, customers shop at ALDI as they normally do for their weekly groceries including fresh meat and seafood, organic produce, pantry staples and ALDI Finds. There are no special shelves, carts or gates at the entrance. When done, shoppers can pay with either their credit or debit card, or with the Grabango app, at the Grabango pay station near the exit. Alternatively, shoppers still have the option to check out with a traditional cashier.