Weis Markets is adding Instacart’s AI-powered shopping carts, Caper Carts, to select stores in Pennsylvania, bringing digital coupons, loyalty features, and repeat-purchase recommendations into the grocery aisle.
The Pennsylvania-based grocery chain is working with Instacart to deploy the smart carts, which include cameras, certified scales, location systems, and a touchscreen.
According to Instacart, Caper Carts use basket-facing camera sensors, outward-facing cameras, certified scales, and location-tracking systems to support item recognition and checkout functions. The system combines edge computing on the carts with cloud AI trained on more than 1.6 billion online grocery orders.
Shoppers can use the cart screen to monitor spending during their trip. They can also access location-based digital coupons directly from the cart.
Weis customers can sign up for a Weis Rewards account through the cart and redeem loyalty benefits while shopping. Customers who link their accounts can also use a Buy It Again feature, which shows items they have previously purchased.
Weis and Instacart already work together on online grocery services. In 2023, Weis partnered with Instacart to offer same-day delivery from 133 locations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware.
Instacart expands Caper Cart rollout
The Weis rollout adds to Instacart’s wider Caper Cart deployment. The company says the carts now span more than 100 cities across 15 states.
Caper Carts are available across more than a dozen retail banners, including Kroger, Schnucks, and Wakefern banners such as ShopRite and Fairway Market.
Earlier deployments have produced some store-level usage data. Retail Dive reported that Schnucks data showed Caper Carts handled more than 10% of sales on busy days at one store. That store had 10 Caper Carts and around 160 traditional carts, according to the report.
Greg Zeh, senior vice president and chief information officer at Weis Markets, described the carts as part of the company’s effort to improve the shopping process. He pointed to real-time spend tracking and on-cart coupons as key features.
Instacart described the partnership as an extension of Weis Markets’ use of digital tools inside stores. David McIntosh, Instacart’s chief connected stores officer, said Caper Carts bring together in-store and online data.
Weis adds AI to checkout operations
Weis has also been adding AI to self-checkout. Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions said Weis completed a chainwide deployment of its ELERA Security Suite across self-checkout lanes.
The system includes produce recognition and loss prevention tools. Toshiba says the technology uses edge AI for on-device processing.
At the time of Toshiba’s December 2025 announcement, the system was operational across self-checkout lanes in all 199 Weis locations. Weis also reported that more than 94% of customers selected the produce recognition feature at self-checkout.
Grocers test AI beyond checkout
Albertsons Companies has also introduced an AI-based quality control tool for produce inspection. The system is designed to help identify moldy or damaged fruit before it reaches store shelves.
The tool initially focuses on strawberries and red and green grapes. Albertsons says it is intended to improve quality rating consistency and support faster decision-making.
The company also says the tool expands quality data and helps align inspections with company standards.
Albertsons operates more than 2,000 stores, including Safeway, Jewel-Osco, and ACME. The system supports quality inspectors working in its distribution centres.
The quality control system uses computer vision to support produce inspections across Albertsons’ store brands. It was developed in-house by the company’s technology and supply chain teams.
Albertsons built the tool on Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise platform, including Vision AI and Gemini models. Google Cloud said it advised on the AI component used in the supply chain process.
(Photo by Franki Chamaki)
See also: Amazon brings AI shopping assistant to retailers with Kate Spade
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