Choice Market to allow automatic checkout in new convenience store

Denver-based Choice Market has announced plans for a multimodal convenience store format with autonomous checkout, to be built on the site of a former restaurant on Colfax Avenue, according to a press release. Choice combines the operating hours, store size and transaction times of a traditional convenience store with the product selection of a natural grocery and fast casual restaurant

The new format, which will open during the second half of 2019, will include a 2,700-square-foot Choice Market as well as fuel pumps, electric vehicle and scooter charging stations, a bike share terminal and solar energy collection on the canopy. Customers will have the option to skip the checkout process, order and pay ahead via the Choice mobile app, or check out as they normally would at any other store.

To enable the autonomous checkout, Choice partnered with AVA Retail, which uses artificial intelligence, computer vision and internet of things to track customer purchases within the store. The platform leverages the Microsoft Azure cloud and requires less hardware and infrastructure than traditional stores.

Choice currently has one location open in downtown Denver. A second store, currently under construction, will open in the second quarter of 2019 in south Denver. With the upcoming changes to liquor laws, Choice will also be one of the first companies in Colorado to offer delivery of prepared foods, groceries and full-strength beer in one transaction.

Source: Kiosk Marketplace