If you’re one of those who throw up their hands in disgust after rounding the last corner and heading for the supermarket checkout line due to the sheer volume of people in line ahead of you, you’re a likely candidate for the new Meijer streamlined shopping checkout program they call “Shop & Scan.”
Originally revealed back in April, the trial balloon that started in just seven stores last winter has now more than quadrupled to 31 West Michigan Meijer stores including the company’s supermarket in South Haven. The program will be in place at both the Benton Harbor and Stevensville Meijer stores by the end of the summer if plans go according to schedule.
The program provides customers yet another way to shop and save time. The “Shop & Scan” system enables users to scan bar codes on items as they shop and bag their groceries while they move through the store, dramatically decreasing checkout time.
Terry Ledbetter is Chief Information Officer at Meijer. Lebetter says, “Shop & Scan will make the Meijer experience dramatically faster and more convenient for our customers,” and adds, “This technology joins our curbside pickup and home delivery programs to provide yet another option for Meijer customers to personalize their shopping experience.”
The Shop & Scan technology works with Meijer’s popular mPerks program by way of a free phone app that customers can download through the App store. Once a customer has completed their shopping, they simply scan their phone at a self-checkout lane and pay, making the checkout experience quick and easy. All Meijer Apps can be found by searching for “Meijer” in the Apple or Android app stores.
Meijer launched the pilot of the Shop & Scan service in November at Grand Rapids area stores in Standale, Rockford, Walker, Grandville, and Jenison, and two stores in Holland. By April, more than 12,000 Meijer customers had downloaded the app.
The Shop & Scan program now begins rolling out in other Meijer stores, and will be available at all 239 Meijer stores, including Benton Harbor and Stevensville, by the end of the summer.
Meijer is based in Grand Rapids and operates 239 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the “one-stop shopping” concept and has evolved through the years to included expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, pet departments, garden centers, toys and electronics. For additional information on Meijer, you can visit online at www.meijer.com.
Shop & Scan Photo courtesy of Meijer, Inc.
