The current cost-crisis, along with labour challenges, is leading to a new wave of automation at store level. We look at three recent innovations from Japan, Poland and the US. Replenishment: tackling Japan’s labour challenge In Japan, leading convenience store chain, FamilyMart, is partnering with Telexistence to install its AI robot, TX SCARA, in 300 stores. This has been developed ...

Costco’s fourth quarter results revealed a strong finish to the year with total revenue exceeding $220 bn. We look at the factors underlying this performance and what to expect in the year ahead. Fourth quarter and full year key numbers Q4 total revenue up 15.2% to $70.8 bn, with full year revenue up 16% to $222.7 bn Comparable sales for the quarter (ex-fuel and currency impacts) up 1...

While the landscape of labour shortages and rising costs varies across the region, convenience retailers are experimenting with a range of new solutions to tackle their resource challenges. Robots employed to restock at FamilyMart FamilyMart has partnered with start-up Telexistence to introduce stock-checking robots to 300 stores in Japan. The Japan Times reports that each robot can repla...