Save Mart Companies debuts autonomous delivery at Lucky California location
California-based Save Mart Companies is launching a new way for shoppers at one of its locations to order its growing own brand selection for delivery. The Lucky California store in Pleasanton, CA will launch an autonomous delivery program featuring robots powered by Starship Technologies.
Save Mart Companies is the largest family-owned grocer in California, and operates 206 traditional and price impact stores under the banners of Save Mart, Lucky, Lucky California, FoodMaxx, and Maxx Value Foods.
The new launch at the Pleasanton store follows Save Mart Companies’ launch of an AI pilot program to manage produce. Other retailers, including Kroger, have started autonomous delivery programs of their own.
“The launch of our new robotic grocery delivery service with Starship Technologies is an additional offering that our shoppers will value and enjoy, especially as the service area will progressively expand over time,” said Mario Guerrero, store director at Lucky California Pleasanton. “Lucky California shoppers appreciate our diverse assortment of products and fresh, quality groceries and during these challenging times, they can count on us to serve our community as the one-stop shopping location, working hard to keep prices low and shelves stocked.”
The robots can each carry up to 20 pounds of groceries, or roughly three shopping bags worth. Shoppers can access the ‘Starship – Food Delivery’ app (iOS and Android) to choose from a range of groceries and drop a pin where they want their purchases delivered. Once an order is submitted, Lucky California team members gather the delivery items and carefully place them in a clean robot.
Shoppers can then watch, via an interactive map, as the robot makes its journey from the store to them. Once the robot arrives, they receive an alert, and then meet and unlock it through their mobile device. The delivery will typically take just a matter of minutes, depending on the items ordered and the distance the robot must travel.
“We are very pleased to bring the benefits of autonomous delivery to Pleasanton, in partnership with Lucky California,” said Ryan Tuohy, SVP of sales and business development at Starship Technologies. “We think the residents of Pleasanton will appreciate the convenience and positive environmental impact of autonomous delivery and embrace our robots similar to every other community where they operate. We fully expect the service area to quickly expand to more households.”