Retailers and consumers may not see eye-to-eye on the benefits of self-checkout. But here’s one thing they can both agree on: Scanning a cartload of products at the machines is a pain.

To combat theft and speed up the checkout process, retailers are paring down the number of items shoppers can bring into self-checkout areas. Late last year, Target began limiting the number of items allowed to 10 in some of its stores. This week, Schnuck Markets joined the bullseye-sporting retailer by implementing that same limit at all of its stores.

Many grocers had already set item limits on self-checkout. Last year, Giant Food restricted customers to 20 items or less. But the recent moves by Target and Schnucks indicate that the do-it-yourself experience is best suited for just a basket of several items.

Enforcing this rule could be difficult. Self-checkout areas often have just one staff member present to watch over numerous machines, and that individual may not catch shoppers who come in with 12 or (gasp!) 15 items in a basket, especially at peak times. A spokesperson for Schnucks said any shoppers who enter self-checkout with more than 10 items will be “redirected to our staffed checkout lanes,” but didn’t specify who would handle this task. 

The Schnucks spokesperson also said the 10-item rule is meant to improve efficiency and level-set customer expectations for self-checkout.

“When self-checkouts were first introduced, they were intended for smaller orders,” the spokesperson wrote in an email. “Over time, larger orders began moving through self-checkouts, and we are hoping to address that concern.”

Imposing item limits is one of the many growing pains retailers and tech providers are experiencing in self-checkout. Kroger, which opened a self-checkout-only store during the pandemic, decided to revert back to staffed registers at that location, The Dallas Morning-News reported.

In case you missed it

Meijer shows support for Black-owned brands

As Black History Month kicks off, the retailer spotlighted Thursday that it has grown its selection of Black-owned brands by nearly 35% since 2021. Along with carrying Black-owned brands year-round, Meijer said it is “prominently” displaying a curated selection, which includes frozen plant-based food from Mushroom Angel Company and canned beans and vegetables from Goode Foods, throughout February. 

The retailer noted that its Meijer Grow Academy helps diverse businesses develop brand strategy, marketing, product packaging, operating processes and distribution capabilities, among other topics.

Costco Business Center makes its Alaska debu

The club retailer recently opened a business center, which allows businesses like restaurants, hotels and offices to buy bulk products, in Anchorage, Alaska, — the first of its kind in the state, The Anchorage Daily News reported. The 162,000-square-foot location will offer two-day grocery delivery but won’t have a food court, vision center, tire shop, hot dogs nor snack samples, the paper said. 

The retailer has four warehouse stores in Alaska with one in Fairbanks, two in Anchorage and one in Juneau, according to its website. 

Costco told the paper that the Anchorage business center will be the chain’s 27th. A Costco Business Center also recently opened in Southfield, Michigan.

UNFI continues supply chain transformation

This week the wholesaler and distributor announced plans to bring Symbotic’s AI-powered robotic automation system to its soon-to-be-completed distribution center in Manchester, Pennsylvania, marking its second facility installation with Symbotic. Once installed, UNFI said it expects the system to improve quality and service to customers, increase capacity within its facilities and lower overall order fulfillment costs.

Last spring, UNFI unveiled plans to add Symbotic’s AI technology to its facility in Centralia, Washington, as part of its four-part transformation to improve supply chain capabilities.

Number of the week: 150

That’s the number of stores Walmart plans to build or convert over the next five years as part of its latest growth initiative. All stores will reflect the retailer’s “Store of the Future” concept, which includes improved layouts, expanded product selections and innovative technology to support associates as well as make shopping trips more convenient.

What’s ahead

Natural Grocers publishes earnings

The specialty grocer is scheduled to release its first quarter fiscal year 2024 financial results on Thursday. Following the release, Natural Grocers will host a conference call with financial analysts and investors. 

Impulse find

Publix is comin’ in hot

If you’re a resident of Wesley Chapel, Florida, you may be enjoying the new Publix store that opened last week. But did you catch the giant shopping cart cruising around your neighborhood?

Well if you missed it — which seems hard to believe — one of your neighbors caught the rogue cart on video.

Fixed atop a vehicle, the enormous Publix shopping cart was seen rolling through a residential Florida neighborhood and blasting Poison’s “Nothin’ But a Good Time” to celebrate the store’s grand opening. A sign on the cart reminded residents of the store’s opening date, which was Jan. 25.

Publix promotes a new store opening by driving a giant shopping cart around surrounding neighborhoods with Poison’s “Nothin’ But a Good Time” blasting.#BecauseFlorida

via https://t.co/lWv29i6xV3 pic.twitter.com/RTHhKKEpux

— SFDB (@sfdb) January 27, 2024