Amazon is to open more of its cashierless ‘just walk out’ stores in the US.
Amazon is targeting Chicago and San Francisco for openings, following the debut of the first Go store in the etailer’s hometown of Seattle at the start of this year.
The proposed openings, first reported by The Seattle Times, have been confirmed by Amazon, according to CNN, but no opening dates have been revealed.
Amazon Go deploys technological innovations such as cameras and sensors similar to those used in driverless cars to allow customers to pick up what they want from the shelves and leave the store without queuing to pay.
Customers use a dedicated app to get into the shop and their accounts are automatically charged when they exit.
Similar approaches are also being taken in China, where tech giants such as Alibaba have developed cashierless store technology and store formats.
Amazon Go is the latest push by the online giant into food retail, a market in which it has increasingly complemented its digital prowess with a bricks-and-mortar presence.
Last year Amazon bought specialist grocer Whole Foods for $13.7bn.
In the UK, Amazon has a supply deal with Morrisons. Following Sainsbury’s proposed merger with Asda, there is speculation that Amazon may bid for a British supermarket group as the food retail sector consolidates.
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