Albert Heijn opens supermarket with self-scan check-outs only

Albert Heijn has opened a new supermarket in Amsterdam where customers have to scan their shopping and pay the bill without the intervention of a shop worker.

The supermarket chain already operates some smaller AH to Go outlets with self-scanning only but has now decided to take the concept to a major store.

Shopping can be scanned using the AH scanner or via a special mobile phone app. The new supermarket does not accept cash and alcohol purchases have to be approved by an assistant.

‘We are extremely curious about how customers will react,’ spokeswoman Anoesjka Aspeslagh told broadcaster Nos. ‘We know our customers like using the self-scans which is why we have taken this approach.’

Scrapping the old-fashioned check-outs also increases the amount of space available for products.

The supermarket group says the aim of self-scanning is not to cut costs and that check-out staff are still on hand to answer questions and help customers.

The check-out free supermarket is on the city’s Weteringschans and is the 77th Albert Heijn supermarket in the capital.