Sainsbury's pilots checkout-less scan-and-go payments

The supermarket giant is trialling the new technology at its Clapham North station c-store.

Shoppers using Sainsbury’s SmartShop app will be able to scan their groceries as they shop and pay for them through the app using Apple Pay before exiting the store.

The grocer, which is in the process of merging with Asda in a £13bn deal, claims the technology is a “UK supermarket first”.

However, big four rival Tesco and convenience specialist the Co-op are both trialling similar technologies in Welwyn Garden City and Manchester respectively that allow shoppers to scan and pay for items using their smartphones.

Sainsbury’s pilot is an evolution of its existing SmartShop proposition, which lets customers in 68 stores across the UK scan their items as they shop using handheld devices, before paying at a designated till point.

It already registers more than 100,000 SmartShop transactions every week.

The retailer said taking the technology “to the next level” will make the checkout process “even faster” for customers by allowing them to pay from anywhere in-store.

Sainsbury’s chief digital officer Clodagh Moriarty said: “Technology and changing customer shopping habits have transformed the way people buy their groceries.

“Our teams are constantly working hard to bring new convenient shopping experiences to customers and we’re delighted to be the first grocery retailer in the UK to offer customers the ability to shop checkout-free.

“The latest version of SmartShop, with its new payment feature, will make it super-quick for customers to get in and out of the store for those that want to scan, pay and go.”