“Independent grocers have always been passionate about the communities they serve and now they’re leading the charge in retail innovation to give their customers a more seamless, easy, and affordable shopping experience,” said Nick Nickitas, general manager of independent grocery and mid-market retail partnerships at Instacart. “Instacart empowers grocers to deliver the best experience possible for their guests while streamlining operations, driving incremental revenue and strengthening their competitive edge both in-store and online.”

Big Bunny Market in Massachusetts and Stewart’s Marketplace in Utah are the latest to roll out Caper Carts. Caper Carts enhance the in-store experience by letting customers track their spending and check out seamlessly directly on the cart. Using NVIDIA Jetson technology, the carts feature AI-powered sensors that guide customers as they scan and place items into the basket. As items are scanned in, they identify them instantly, helping customers stay aware of their total as they shop.  

Retailers using Caper Carts are seeing meaningful improvements in customer engagement, coupon redemption and omnichannel conversion. One retailer reported 40 percent of customers redeeming a discount offer presented on the smart cart to use on a retailer’s online storefront, and over half of customers using at least one coupon during checkout. 

“We’ve served our community for generations, and Caper Carts are a great way to bring convenience to our aisles,” said Jonathan Cournoyer, owner at Big Bunny Market. “Our customers will love how the carts make it enjoyable to shop and save money. It’s a win-win for our team and our customers.”

“Here at Stewart’s, we’re constantly exploring new ways to improve our customers’ shopping experience and help them save on groceries,” said Frank Shaw, manager of marketing at Stewart’s Marketplace. “By introducing the Caper Carts, we’re giving our customers the option to use smart technology to speed up and enhance their shopping trips while saving money each time.” 

This new wave of Caper Cart launches builds on the momentum from successful rollouts at other independent grocers, including Davis Food & Drug and Soelberg’s Market. Over the past year, the number of stores with Caper Carts has nearly tripled, and they now span nearly 100 cities across 15 states.

In California, Luke’s Local Grocery is leveraging FoodStorm, the Instacart order management system, to streamline their deli made-to-order business, while S&C Foods in Tennessee is enhancing its digital footprint with Storefront Pro.