Today in Restaurant and Grocery Tech: Starbucks Eyes Frictionless Checkout; Walmart Leans on Automation

Today in restaurant and grocery tech news, Starbucks considers utilizing Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology for checkout-free stores, and Walmart moves further into automated grocery fulfillment. Plus, Deglin Kenealy, founder, CEO and chairman of automated pizza kitchen creator Basil Street Pizza, predicts the vending machine-powered future of quick-service restaurants (QSRs).

Starbucks Eyes Cashierless Stores With Help From Amazon

Starbucks has been in talks with Amazon to make a new kind of coffee shop with Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology, allowing customers to purchase items without going through a regular checkout, GeekWire reported. However, the document, first reported by Insider on Tuesday (Oct. 19), says the partnership is not yet guaranteed.

Grocers Aim to Escape eCommerce Labor Bind With Automated Fulfillment

With the rise of online orders demanding more labor from grocery workers, such as picking and packing, at a time when the industry is experiencing a staffing shortage, many grocers are turning to microfulfillment and other automated solutions. On Monday (Oct. 20), Walmart, the world’s largest grocer, announced the details of its next automated grocery distribution center.

Deliveroo Doubles Premium Membership Through Amazon Prime Partnership

As restaurant aggregators hack it out to gain consumers’ loyalty amid growing desire for on-demand delivery, one contender is going back to the source. Many attribute the growth of the on-demand economy to the rise of Amazon, and United Kingdom-based restaurant and grocery delivery service Deliveroo is tapping Amazon’s convenience-seeking customer base to grow its premium member base.

Automated Kiosks Out-Quick-Service the QSRs

With restaurants struggling to staff their stores, automation is coming in to meet consumer demand. Deglin Kenealy, founder, CEO and chairman of automated pizza kitchen creator Basil Street Pizza, predicts to PYMNTS that, by 2031, robotic vending machines will be meeting consumers’ need for quick and convenient dining.