Tesco to open its first check-free store in central London

LONDON, Oct 19 Reuters - Britain's biggest retailer Tesco will open its first checkbook-free store in central London on Tuesday, allowing customers to shop and pay without scanning a product or engaging with a cashier.

Tesco's move follows similar trials by rivals, including Amazon, Aldi and Morrisons.

The rollout of GetGo to the Tesco Express store in High Holborn follows a successful trial at a staff area at Welwyn Garden City, north of London, which has been on the supplier's corporate campus since 2019 and has been in place since 2019, the firm said.

The High Holborn store has been open since opening in 2018 and cashless since.

Customers with the Tesco.com app will be able to pick up groceries at the store, check-in (they don't need it) and walk straight out without visiting a checkout counter.

A combination of cameras and weightsensors will measure what customers picked up and charge them directly via the app for products when they leave the store.

Customers will receive a receipt on their smartphone within a few minutes of leaving the store.

Trigo has said Tesco is partnering with the company to roll out the technology.