Western Beef set to expand self-checkout

Metropolitan New York grocer Western Beef is bringing self-checkout to more stores.

Following a successful pilot at two locations in New York City, the supermarket chain plans to roll out 20 Toshiba self-service systems at five other stores across New York this year, according to Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions.

The two stores have deployed four of Toshiba’s Self Checkout System 6 units and four of its Xsellrate self-service kiosks. Serving as the stores’ express lanes, the System 6 units are helping customers complete their shopping trips faster by providing them with another checkout option, Toshiba said.

Now, about 45% of the Western Beef stores’ customers are using self-checkout to make their purchases.

Western Beef employs Toshiba's kiosks and self-checkout units.

“The introduction of Toshiba’s interactive self-checkout lanes and self-service kiosks at Western Beef has reduced customer wait times, resulting in a significantly improved shopping experience for our patrons,” Thierry Sarr, chief technology officer at Ridgewood, N.Y.-based Western Beef, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Xsellrate kiosks have lifted customer satisfaction and sharpened operational efficiency at the Western Beef test stores, Toshiba reported. The interactive digital units enable customers to place deli orders, resume shopping and then receive a text message alerting them that their order is ready for pickup.

Through the Xsellrate kiosks, Western Beef customers also can locate other groceries, check out the latest store promotions and have access to relevant coupons based on past purchases. A processing station for the kiosk allows store staff to complete a purchase, while a status display updates shoppers on their progress of their order.

“Toshiba’s solutions are increasing customer engagement, while also boosting staff productivity,” Sarr added.

Systems integrators from Toshiba business partner STCR, which facilitated the agreement and technology implementation at Western Beef, are slated to help deploy self-service units at other Western Beef locations and train store personnel to optimize the systems.

“We are thrilled the adoption of our self-service systems is producing definitive results for Western Beef,” stated Bill Campbell, vice president and head of the Americas for Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. “Beyond offering more intuitive and frictionless transactions, our retail solutions are also enhancing operational efficiency, while freeing store staff to provide customers with a better shopping experience. This trend continues to transform the industry at a rapid pace.”

Western Beef operates 26 high-volume, warehouse-style supermarkets operating in New York, New Jersey and Florida. The retailer also has developed a smaller format called Western Beef Market, which offers a bigger selection of fresh products in a farmers’ market-style setting. In addition, the Western Beef Direct service provides online and mobile grocery shopping and delivery.

The chain is pursuing an aggressive expansion. Its website lists eight new stores in the pipeline for 2019 and 2020 in New York City and four stores remodels due for completion this year, including two in New York City, one in Long Island (N.Y.) and one in Boca Raton, Fla.