Amazon to open UK’s first till-free store

Amazon is opening the UK’s first ever till-free store in London. This is the first in a mass roll-out of the concept across Europe.

The online giant had been testing the technology at its base in Seattle, with only Amazon staff allowed to buy goods there for many years while the bugs and variables were ironed out.

Customers entering the store will scan a QR code on their way in with cameras and other technology identifying the goods they have removed from the shelves. They can simply put the goods in a shopping bag and walk out with the system billing their chosen payment card through a special app on their phone when they leave.

The Amazon Fresh branded store is going to be at the Ealing Broadway shopping centre in west London and is to be the first of a series the company is rolling out in the Capital.

Matt Birch, the former Sainsbury’s executive who now leads Amazon Fresh Stores UK, said the company has strived to make grocery shopping “as convenient as possible”.

“The focus was just creating a really easy shopping experience for customers,” he said.

“We recognise that UK customers want to shop in a convenient way so we really think they will appreciate being able to walk in and walk out with the shopping they need.”

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