FMCG / Automated convenience store – offering everything from a small bag of chips to a half-gallon of milk

Shop24 Global LLC convenience stores operate similar to a vending machine, but they offer everything from a small bag of chips to a half-gallon of milk. The stores offer up to 180 items that range in weight from an ounce to 8 pounds.

“We are PC-based,” said Jason Santoro, vice president of sales for Shop24. “Meaning there is a computer inside the store, so that’s what separates us from a vending machine. That technology allows us to take all payment options — cash, credit cards, debit cards and university meal plan cards.”

The computer, along with the store’s seven cameras, allows the store to be self-automated. An on-site operator takes care of refilling the machine and ensuring products are not past their expiration dates.

“Our stores are online. We’re constantly ‘pinging’ them,” Santoro said. “The stores self-diagnose any issues. If there is a jam or the temperature goes above 38 degrees, it will send an alert to our operator in Columbus, Ohio. … There is a robot inside the store that fetches the products. We can control that robot remotely from Columbus, Ohio, so we can fix the majority of those issues remotely.”