Instacart and Wegmans Launch Pilot of Caper Carts to Enhance the In-Store Shopping Experience

Rhea-AI Summary

Instacart (Nasdaq: CART) has launched its AI-powered Caper Carts at Wegmans Dewitt store in Syracuse, New York, marking their first deployment with the retailer. The smart shopping carts feature automatic item recognition through cameras, digital scales, and location sensors powered by NVIDIA Jetson hardware.

The Caper Carts allow customers to track spending and check out seamlessly while shopping, with integrated Shoppers Club account access through the cart's screen. This initiative is part of Instacart's Connected Stores technology suite, expanding on the companies' partnership that began in 2017 with same-day delivery and has grown to include pickup, EBT SNAP acceptance, and loyalty program integration.

Positive

• Introduction of innovative AI-powered shopping technology to enhance customer experience
• Expansion of existing partnership with major retailer Wegmans
• Integration with Wegmans Shoppers Club loyalty program

Negative

• None.

Insights

Retail Technology Analyst

Instacart's Caper Cart deployment at Wegmans signals strategic expansion into physical retail tech, diversifying beyond delivery into high-margin in-store solutions.

This pilot program marks a significant strategic pivot for Instacart as it expands beyond its core delivery business into physical retail technology. The deployment of AI-powered Caper Carts at Wegmans represents Instacart's calculated move to diversify revenue streams by monetizing its technology stack directly with retailers.

The smart cart technology leverages computer vision, weight sensors, and NVIDIA's Jetson hardware to automatically recognize items as shoppers add them to carts. This creates a frictionless shopping experience while generating valuable in-store shopper data previously unavailable to grocers. For Instacart, this opens a high-margin technology licensing business that's less labor-intensive than its delivery operations.

What's particularly notable is how this fits into Instacart's broader "Connected Stores" strategy - creating an ecosystem of technologies that bridge online and offline shopping experiences. By embedding itself deeper into the physical retail infrastructure, Instacart is positioning to capture value across the entire grocery purchase journey, not just delivery.

The strategic partnership with Wegmans, a premium grocer known for exceptional customer experience, provides Instacart with a quality testing ground for this technology. Success here could accelerate adoption among other grocery partners, potentially establishing Instacart as an essential retail technology provider beyond its delivery platform roots.

Smart carts are now available at Wegmans Dewitt in Syracuse, offering AI-powered convenience, real-time savings, and seamless checkout

SAN FRANCISCO, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Instacart (Nasdaq: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, today announced the launch of Caper Carts – Instacart's AI-powered smart carts – at Wegmans Dewitt in Syracuse, New York. This marks the first deployment of Caper Carts at Wegmans, as part of an initial in-store program offering customers a smarter, more seamless way to shop in-store.

Caper Carts enable customers to track their spending and check out seamlessly. Caper Carts automatically recognize items as they are dropped into the cart and customers can bag as they shop, tapping signals from an array of Caper Cart cameras, digital scale, and location sensors connected to NVIDIA Jetson hardware. Wegmans customers can login to their Shoppers Club account on the cart's screen in order to shop with a Caper Cart.

"Caper Carts are transforming everyday grocery shopping into a faster, more personalized experience," said David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart. "We're excited to partner with Wegmans – known for their exceptional customer and in-store experience – to bring this technology to their store. Together, we're delivering customers a delightful and personalized shopping journey."

The companies first partnered to offer same-day delivery in 2017, and have since expanded the partnership to include pickup, EBT SNAP acceptance, loyalty program integration, and more. Caper Carts are part of Instacart Connected Stores, its suite of technologies bridging the online and in-store experience.

To learn more about Caper Cart and Instacart Connected Stores, visit www.instacart.com/company/connected-stores.

About Instacart
Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. The company partners with more than 1,800 national, regional, and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from nearly 100,000 stores across North America on the Instacart Marketplace. Instacart makes it possible for millions of people to get the groceries they need from the retailers they love, and for approximately 600,000 Instacart shoppers to earn by picking, packing and delivering orders on their own flexible schedule. The Instacart Platform offers retailers a suite of enterprise-grade technology products and services to power their e-commerce experiences, fulfill orders, digitize brick-and-mortar stores, provide advertising services, and glean insights. With Instacart Ads, thousands of CPG brands – from category leaders to emerging brands – partner with the company to connect directly with consumers online, right at the point of purchase. With Instacart Health, the company is providing tools to increase nutrition security, make healthy choices easier for consumers, and expand the role that food can play in improving health outcomes. For more information, visit www.instacart.com/company, and to start shopping, visit www.instacart.com. Maplebear Inc. is the registered corporate name of Instacart.

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SOURCE Maplebear Inc. dba Instacart

FAQ

What features do Instacart's Caper Carts offer at Wegmans?

Instacart's Caper Carts offer automatic item recognition, real-time spending tracking, seamless checkout, and Shoppers Club account integration through the cart's screen.

Where are Instacart (CART) Caper Carts first being deployed at Wegmans?

The Caper Carts are first being deployed at the Wegmans Dewitt store in Syracuse, New York.

How do Instacart's Caper Carts recognize items at Wegmans?

The Caper Carts use an array of cameras, digital scales, and location sensors connected to NVIDIA Jetson hardware to automatically recognize items as they are placed in the cart.

What is the history of Instacart's partnership with Wegmans?

The partnership began in 2017 with same-day delivery and has expanded to include pickup, EBT SNAP acceptance, loyalty program integration, and now Caper Carts.