Amazon's cashierless tech to power Sainsbury market in London

Seattle

J SAINSBURY is preparing to open a cashierless market in London in late November using Amazon.com's system of people-tracking cameras, the first known customer outside the US for technology that powers Amazon Go stores.

The grocer's pocket market in the High Holborn district is already open to Sainsbury employees. A visit to the store on Monday (Nov 15) showed a fully stocked small grocery, with stations on the way in for shoppers to scan a mobile phone. Angled cameras suspended from the ceiling track what shoppers pick from the shelves, and they are charged upon exit.

An employee said the store at 123 Holborn Street will open to customers on Nov 29.

The relationship is significant because Sainsbury and Amazon, the largest online retailer, are direct competitors. Rival developers of cashierless shopping technology say some retailers won't consider doing business with Amazon, and even encourage their suppliers to avoid dealing with the Amazon Web Services cloud-computing group. BLOOMBERG