Tesco opens first stores with no tills TODAY – here’s what to expect

TESCO has opened its first store with no tills – where customers can walk out without going to a checkout. 

The launch of the GetGo store in central London makes Tesco the first of the major supermarkets to offer the checkout-free service. 

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But it trails US giant Amazon, which launched its first Fresh checkout-free store in March and now has a total of six.

Customers check-in to the Tesco store on an app, pick up the groceries they need and can walk straight out without visiting a checkout. 

Cameras and weight-sensors on shelves detect what customers pick up, and add items to a virtual basket in the Tesco phone app. 

Tesco was keen to point out it doesn’t use facial recognition, instead building a skeleton outline of customers to track them.

The rollout of this technology to the High Holborn store in Central London follows a successful trial at a staff-only branch in Welwyn Garden City, which has been in place since 2019.

Kevin Tindall, managing director of  Tesco Convenience, said: “This is a really exciting moment as we launch GetGo with customers. 

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve the shopping experience and our latest innovation offers a seamless checkout for customers on the go, helping them to save a bit more time. 

“This is currently just a one-store trial but we’re looking forward to seeing how our customers respond.”

For age-restricted goods like alcohol there will be a separate exit where staff will check ID.

Tesco has worked with Israeli-based firm Trigo that specialises in check-out free technology.

How does the Tesco shop work?

Customers will need to use their Tesco.com app. If they don’t have this already, they will need to download it and create an account before using this store.

You check in at the store entrance and then shop as normal, bagging your items as you go.

Cameras and technology in the store will detect which items customers put in their basket to purchase.

When you’re done, simply walk out with your purchases.

You will be charged through the Tesco.com app after leaving the store and will receive a receipt on your phone within a few minutes of exiting.

While Tesco is the first major supermarket to trial this technology, it is not the first brand to do so.

Amazon opened its first physical store in the UK earlier this year, offering customers the chance to shop with no tills.

The Amazon Fresh Store also uses cameras and sensors to track what customers pick up, meaning shoppers don’t need to scan their items.

The first Amazon store was opened in Ealing Broadway, West London and there are now six shops in total across the UK.

You might still have to go through the checkouts at other supermarkets, but there are still savings to had by shopping elsewhere.

We rounded up the full list of supermarket Christmas saver schemes, for those wanting to cut costs this year.

We’ve also looked at the best and worst supermarket loyalty schemes available to shoppers.

And for those concerned about rising prices, here are six ways to cut your grocery bill.

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk