Grocer Albertsons is to banish self-checkouts from all of its stores in a bid to increase its customer service offer. Due to the costs involved with flooring and conduits, the retailer will be removing the self-checkout lanes relatively slowly, in line with the current store remodelling programme.

In some stores, the self-checkout lanes will be replaced with express lanes, while in others, regular checkouts will be re-instated.

Albertsons director of communications Christine Wilcox commented that the company considers having express lanes where a person can have a conversation and check out their groceries to be a better approach.