WINN-DIXIE IMPLEMENTS SELF-SCANNING AT THRIFTWAY

DEENA AMATO-McCOY

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores here is expanding its use of stationary self-scanning technology with the installation of self-checkout units in a new Thriftway Marketplace store.

Thriftway rolled out the new self-checkout units in conjunction with the opening this month of its newest store in Liberty Township, a suburb of Cincinnati.

"We are the first store to go live with the self-checkout technology in this division," said Wayne Hipple, scanning coordinator for Winn-Dixie's Midwest division. "We want this to be an additional customer service and convenience for our shoppers."

The store offers three self-checkout lanes, in addition to one express and six conventional checkout lanes. "We are not establishing these self-scanning lanes for express transactions. Customers with either large or small orders are welcome to use the self-scanning lanes," he explained.

Though he would not give a specific time frame, Hipple said Winn-Dixie plans to expand the use of the self-checkout units to other stores.

Each checkout unit is equipped with an interactive monitor, a scanner, a scale and a conveyor belt that moves groceries to the unit's bagging section. Customers follow instructions provided on the monitor, then scan their items' bar codes.

As a security measure, the scanner shuts off until the item is placed on the conveyor belt for bagging. Once the order is scanned through the unit, customers are directed to a pay station located behind the three self-checkout lanes.

Thriftway is the seventh Winn-Dixie store to use the self-scanning technology, from Productivity Solutions Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. Winn-Dixie began testing the technology in one store in December 1996, and began rolling out the system to additional stores in August 1997.

Other retailers testing stationary self-scanning units are Price Costco, a division of Costco Cos., Issaquah, Wash.; Kroger Co.'s Louisville, Ky., division; Kroger's Central Kroger Marketing Area, Indianapolis; and Denver-based King Soopers, a division of Dillon Cos., Hutchinson, Kan., a subsidiary of Kroger Co.

Retailers testing a portable self-checkout system include Safeway U.K., London; Sam's Wholesale Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark.; Kroger's Nashville KMA; Hannaford Bros., Scarborough, Maine; and the Calgary Cooperative Association, Calgary, Alberta.