Carrefour opens ‘next-generation’ concept store in Paris

Carrefour has opened its ‘next-generation’ convenience concept store, Flash 10/10, in Paris.

Flash 10/10 is designed to provide customers with a more straightforward and expedited shopping experience. The till-free shop is equipped with 60 high-definition (HD) cameras, almost 2,000 sensors on store shelves, a patented tablet payment system and an algorithm to interpret all recorded data.

Cameras and sensors automatically track products when consumers place the items in their shopping bags and add them to their virtual baskets.

Customers only need to have their baskets confirmed at a kiosk before paying contactlessly and receiving an electronic receipt for their purchases. The store also has an automatic checkout kiosk for customers preferring to pay with cash.

Flash 10/10 has almost 900 everyday product references and requires only four employees to open and oversee its operation. Customers are not required to download a mobile app or register beforehand.

Carrefour Group e-commerce, data and digital transformation executive director Elodie Perthuisot said: “The Flash concept checks our customers’ expectations.

“They want to be able enter the store easily, know what they are buying, pay quickly and then leave. “Compared with other existing concepts, with Carrefour Flash, customers get speed and accessibility in a unique way.”

Carrefour developed the Flash 10/10 store concept in collaboration with US-based automated retail start-up AiFi. AiFi co-founder and president Ying Zheng said: “Following our initial testing in Massy, we are proud and delighted to be launching this store with Carrefour.

“Flash is definitely one of the stores with the most advanced technology in the world.” Earlier this year, Carrefour’s Brazilian branch opened Flash Scan & Go, a store where customers can shop and pay using smartphones.

Last month, the retailer partnered with ridesharing service provider Uber to offer a rapid grocery delivery service in Paris. The Carrefour Sprint service delivers groceries within 15 minutes from a network of nine ‘dark stores’.