Kroger Pilots Inventory-Scanning Robots in Midwest Stores
The Kroger Co. is piloting two different aisle-roving robots in two of its markets, including at stores in and around its hometown of Cincinnati. The autonomous robots, Tally and another dubbed “Barney” after the grocer’s founder, are being used for real-time inventory management and pricing accuracy, according to a Cincinnati Enquirer report.
Kroger confirmed that the pilot began last year and is active at 70 total stores, with the Tally deployment also extending to the Indianapolis area.
“We are always exploring new ways to create a more convenient and friendly customer experience,” Kroger told the Enquirer in a statement, also noting that utilizing the robots “means our associates can more easily and quickly identify and address shelves where products are low or out of stock.”
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According to the Enquirer report, the robots wear nametags that read: “Hi! I’m Tally. I check shelf inventory,” and “Meet your new Kroger team member! ‘Barney’ is here to improve your shopping experience by scanning shelves for missing items and to ensure correct pricing.”
The Kroger Family of Companies’ nearly 420,000 associates serve more than 11 million customers daily through a digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names. The Cincinnati-based grocer is No. 4 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2024 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. PG also named Kroger one of its Retailers of the Century.
