Supermarket chain Aldi has opened its first checkout-free store in London.

The Aldi Shop&Go concept store, which is located on Greenwich High Street, opened its doors for public testing yesterday morning, having been tested by Aldi colleagues in recent months.

The new trial store enables customers to complete their shop without scanning  products, or passing through a checkout. Customers can download the Aldi Shop&Go app, which will allow them to enter the store, pick up their items, and then walk out when they have completed their shop. Once a customer leaves the store they will be automatically charged for their shopping via their selected payment method and a receipt will appear in the app.

The system, provided by technology firm AiFi, uses specially positioned cameras to detect which products customers have picked up, before charging them to their Aldi Shop&Go account when they leave the store.

Customers wishing to buy alcohol, or other Challenge 25 products, will be able to use facial age estimation technology to authorise their purchase. This technology, provided by Yoti, enables customers to confirm their age within seconds via the Aldi Shop&Go app. Those who opt to not use the system will instead be age-verified by a store colleague.

“Today is the culmination of months of work, not least from the team here in Greenwich and I’m looking forward to seeing how customers react to our trial,” said Aldi UK and Ireland CEO, Giles Hurley. “This store utilises the very latest in retail technolog,y offering Aldi’s award-winning products and unbeatable prices to customers in a new and innovative way. The team are really excited about seeing customers come in and experience Aldi Shop&Go.”