Amazon Invites Sainsbury Shoppers to ‘Just Walk Out’

Amazon and the U.K. grocery chain Sainsbury’s have collaborated to offer consumers checkout-free shopping at a London supermarket.

According to Amazon, the announcement on Monday (Nov. 29) makes Sainsbury’s the first international business customer to use its Just Walk Out technology, and also marks the first time Amazon has retrofitted a store with the technology.

“Here’s how the store works,” Amazon said in its announcement. “First, Sainsbury’s shoppers open or download the Sainsbury’s SmartShop app and select the Holborn Circus location to generate a QR code on their phone. They then scan the QR code at the entry gate, take what they need from the shelves and shop like normal. It’s that simple.”

Learn more: London Opens First Market Outside US to Use Amazon’s Cashierless Tech

The store has no lines or checkout lanes and doesn’t require shoppers to scan products as they remove them from shelves. When shoppers exit the store, they scan their SmartShop app and their credit or debit card will be charged. According to Amazon, this is also the first time the company has let a business customer use their own app to manage store entry, exit, payments and receipts.

“The integration enables Sainsbury’s to leverage existing systems, and their shoppers are able to use the Sainsbury’s app they’re already accustomed to,” the company said.

The store offers a selection of food, candy, dairy, packaged meats and fresh produce, as well as beer, wine and spirits. (Employees will be on hand to check IDs.)

Read more: Cashierless Tech, Starbucks Deal Put Amazon in QSR Business

Monday’s announcement comes less than two weeks after Starbucks said it was adding Just Walk Out technology to a store in midtown Manhattan, allowing customers to check into the store by inserting a credit card, scan a code in Amazon’s app, get their items and leave, with their purchases automatically charged to their card or bank account.

Amazon’s first Go store opened at the company’s headquarters in Seattle in 2018. Now, there are two dozen stores in the U.S. using the Just Walk Out technology, which is also installed at some Amazon Fresh grocery stores in the U.S. and is due to arrive at some Whole Foods locations.