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Żabka Group showcases autonomous stores at NRF 2023

Żabka Group operates the largest network of autonomous stores in Europe.

Polish retailer Żabka Group this week joined Microsoft in New York at NRF 2023 to showcase Żabka Nano, an autonomous store concept that has been developed by Żabka Future over the past 18 months.

NRF: Retail’s Big Show is one of the retail industry’s most important events and provides a platform for the exchange of information and experiences related to the latest trends affecting the development of the global retail industry.

This year, the event featured over 175 sessions, 350+ speakers, and more than 800 exhibitors.

“Participation in this prestigious event is not only an opportunity for us to establish new partnerships but also an opportunity to present Żabka as one of the world’s most innovative companies in the retail industry,” said Tomasz Blicharski, managing director of Żabka Future.

“Warsaw, thanks to our concept, has become the world capital of autonomous stores, so I am glad that we have the opportunity to present this project to a global audience. We want to show you how our new technologies, created in cooperation with our partners, make life easier and free up our customers’ time.”

Żabka Nano is a unique project that combines a physical and digital store. The innovative concept, allowing for quick shopping without checkout clerks, queues, and cash, is adapted to the nature of the location and the profile of customers.

Stores operate in several formats, such as standalone container vending machines, traditional brick-and-mortar outlets, or store-in -store. Each uses technology developed in close cooperation with American technology company AiFi and leverages Microsoft Azure.

The first Żabka Nano store was established in June 2021 in Poznań, and there are currently more than 50 across Europe, making Żabka Group the largest chain of autonomous stores on the continent.

“Having recently surpassed more than 50 AiFi-powered Żabka stores recently, the demand for autonomous checkout in convenience stores is quickly rising, and we’re proud to have proven our ability to deploy autonomous stores at record speed in partnership with Żabka,” added Steve Carlin, CEO of AiFi.

According to Shelley Bransten, Microsoft’s global corporate vice president for retail and consumer goods industries, “digital technology that enables experiences like autonomous stores is what will make the difference between retailers that thrive and those that get left behind.”

“In collaboration with Microsoft partner AiFi, we’re pleased to bring the Żabka Nano store checkout-free solution to life at NRF 2023 and to show the global retail industry what’s possible for autonomous stores through Żabka’s successful deployment.”


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