Morrisons is ending its trial of the UK’s first fully integrated AI-powered shopping trolley just three months after its launch. The supermarket introduced the futuristic Caper Carts at its Riversway store in Preston in July.
The technology also connected to customers’ More Cards, allowing discounts and personalised offers to appear as they moved around the shop. Once finished, the trolley generated a barcode which could be scanned at a dedicated checkout to complete payment.
The Preston experiment made Morrisons the first British supermarket to deploy the technology. However, the trial is now ending after technology partner Instacart announced that it is winding down its entire Caper Cart operation.
Instacart said retailers had not adopted the trolleys quickly enough to justify the continued investment required to expand the business. The decision means shoppers should not expect the trolleys to be introduced across Morrisons’ wider store estate.
When the trolleys were first spotted in Preston, their unusual appearance sparked plenty of debate online. Some social media users questioned what would happen if the expensive-looking carts were stolen or pushed into rivers and canals.
One person wrote: “Trolleys with tablets on that will be left outside? Sure none of them will get stolen.” Another user said: “So what happens when they find themselves in the local river or canal?”
A third person predicted: “They’ll be stolen, broken or in the canal in a few days.”
The weatherproof carts included anti-theft features and could reportedly flash red to alert staff if someone attempted to leave without paying. Their batteries also recharged automatically when the trolleys were grouped together.
Morrisons said the single-store trial was already nearing its planned conclusion and that Instacart’s decision would have no financial or operational consequences for the supermarket. A Morrisons spokesperson told The Grocer: “The trial has given us greater insight into the continued evolution of our customers’ shopping habits and we will continue to pilot and develop solutions to meet those needs.”
Instacart expects its global Caper Cart wind-down to be largely completed by the end of June 2027.
