10 October 2007

Technology experts have designed an “intelligent” trolley that alerts shoppers when junk-food items are placed into the trolley. Barcodes on foods high in fat, sugar and salt will trigger red warning lights on an interactive screen. Eventually, barcode information may even be sent to mobile phones.

The trolleys are also seen as progress in campaign to cut down on food packaging. In the future, nearly all product information will appear on the computer screen attached to the trolley. Besides nutrition and country of origin, the screen will say if the packaging could be recycled. Essential information about contents that trigger allergies, such as nuts, will remain on the packaging.

The new trolley concept is to be unveiled in London tomorrow by the Institute for Grocery Distribution (IGD) at its annual conference on the future of retailing in Britain. A trial is already under way using “intelligent” trolleys at Stop & Shop stores in the United States.

The technology does not yet help shoppers to choose a healthy diet. However, the trolleys will point the shopper to best buys of their favourite items or promotions that suit their lifestyle, and even give directions around the store to locate an item.

The trolley is primed by information on a shopper’s loyalty card. Once the card is scanned, the touch-screen reader on the trolley knows whether the shopper is a single person or someone doing the big weekly shop. It may also know if there is a diabetic or dieters in the family. With a record of favourite and previous purchases, it could then direct the shopper to best buys and deals suited to individual taste.

The barcode of each item going into the trolley must be scanned for a shopper to have access to the information. Touch-screen icons will then appear and the shopper will decide if the information is required.

Sion Roberts, director of consumer industries and retail at EDS, the technology company, is confident that these trolleys could play an important role in helping people to choose healthier foods and to resolve the issue of waste packaging.


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