Aldi rolls out self-serve checkout trial in NSW
Discount grocer Aldi is rolling out a limited trial of self-serve checkouts in its stores in a bid to increase convenience for shoppers.
Famous for the speed of its operator-manned checkouts, the self-serve checkout trial will be rolled out in ten NSW stores with each store to have six to eight machines installed at each.
An inner-Sydney store in Darlinghurst was the first to receive the machines, which accept card payments only.
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Aldi's self-serve checkouts will only accept card payments. Aldi
An Aldi spokesperson told 9news.com.au that the decision to roll out the machines nationally will depend heavily upon the results of the trial.
"We make business decisions in line with our low-cost model so we can consistently provide high-quality groceries at the lowest prices," an Aldi spokesperson said.
"Since self-serve checkouts entered the Australian grocery sector we've been watching with keen interest the value and efficiencies they drive for business as well as the convenience they provide customers."
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The discount grocer is famous for its speedy checkout process. Getty
Robert Eichfeld, store operations director at ALDI Australia, said early indications were positive.
"Anecdotal feedback from the first day of the trial was overwhelmingly positive with more than half of our customers opting to use the new self-checkouts," Mr Eichfeld said.
"Shoppers also commented that they enjoyed the choice and appreciated the convenience of having a quick and easy option when only shopping for a few items."
To help facilitate smaller shops, Aldi will also be introducing handheld baskets to stores to complement larger-sized trolleys.
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Aldi's "special buys" aisle have become a part of Aussie grocery folklore. Facebook
Mr Eichfeld said Aldi was deliberately not the first supermarket to jump on the self-serve checkout bandwagon.
"We are not first to market with our self-checkout offering, rather we are well-known for taking our time to make carefully considered business decisions to ensure we never compromise on our low-cost business model. This allows us to consistently provide our customers with high-quality groceries at incredibly low prices," Mr Eichfeld said.
"After carefully assessing and considering the trial results, there is potential that self-checkouts will be rolled out to more ALDI stores nationally."
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