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Bloom Launches New Cart Technology

A Bloom store in Fort Mill, S.C., on Thursday launched a new cart-mounted technology system known as PAT (personal assistant technology) that allows shoppers to locate products, view a digital sales flier, look up recipes and access online shopping lists.

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

March 20, 2009

1 Min Read

JON SPRINGER

FORT MILL, S.C. — A Bloom store here on Thursday launched a new cart-mounted technology system known as PAT (personal assistant technology) that allows shoppers to locate products, view a digital sales flier, look up recipes and access online shopping lists.

The touch-screen device is being supplied through a previously disclosed partnership with Springboard Retail Networks, Toronto. The device includes a global positioning system (GPS) that alerts shoppers to price specials in their vicinity as they travel the store, and also has a built-in barcode scanner.

Officials for Bloom, a division of Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion, said they intent to roll the product out to other locations over time. Bloom and Springboard had announced plans to introduce the new technology last November.

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About the Author

Jon Springer

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

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