Robots in Aisle Two: Supermarket Survival Means Matching Amazon

At a Stop & Shop supermarket near Hartford, Connecticut, one of the nation's first micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs for short) opened at the end of last year. Ahold Delhaize, Stop & Shop's Dutch-Belgian parent, carved out 12,000 square feet from the store during a recent remodel to make room for the MFC, which is operated by the retailer and with support from Takeoff Technologies. Through a glass window in a corner of the store, curious shoppers can get a glimpse at the automated mini-warehouse, where robots whoosh around grabbing cereal and soup. The system can handle up to 3,500 orders a week, although it's nowhere near that level yet. Stop & Shop's not alone: Walmart, Albertsons and others are also testing MFCs.