Amazon opens cashier-less grocery store in London

Amazon launched its first cashier-less physical grocery store outside of the U.S. in London on Thursday as it expands using its contactless technology abroad. 

The e-commerce giant opened Amazon Fresh in Ealing, West London, that will utilize its “Just Walk Out Technology” that the company uses in 26 cashier-less stores in the U.S. under the brand Amazon Go. 

The technology permits customers into the store once they use the phone application to scan a QR code. Then, consumers can fill their shopping bags and leave the store without waiting in line for checkout, as sensors and cameras track what items were chosen. 

After they leave the store, customers receive an emailed receipt once their Amazon account is charged. 

“Once you’ve scanned the QR code on the Amazon app over the scanner, you can put your phone away and shop like normal,” Amazon said on its website.  

The tech giant also released its food brand “by Amazon” in conjunction with the London store, which will include fresh fruit and vegetables, “responsibly sourced British fresh” meat and prepared sandwiches and meals.

Amazon Go first opened a cashier-less store in 2018. But in recent years, U.K. supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s and Tesco, have made attempts to use the same technology, CNBC reported. 

The London store is opening a week after U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared that coronavirus restrictions will be loosened in the upcoming months, aiming for a full economic reopening by June 21.