Coles Supermarkets is the first retailer in the Asia Pacific region to deploy Caper Carts, Instacart’s AI-powered smart trolleys. SAN FRANCISCO and MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Instacart (NASDAQ: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, and Coles Supermarkets (ASX: COL), one of Australia’s leading retailers, today announced the rollout of Caper Carts, Instacart’s AI-powered smart trolleys, at its Richmond Traders location in Melbourne. Customers can now shop smarter, bag as they shop, and pay directly on the Coles Smart Trolley for a seamless in-store shopping experience.  Customers can find the new Coles Smart Trolleys at the front entrance of the Coles Richmond Traders supermarket. Caper Carts are equipped with AI, cameras, and a built-in scale, which work together to automatically recognize items as they are added to the trolley. Caper Carts enable customers to bag as they shop and watch their running total – similar to an online shopping experience. At the end of their shopping, customers can conveniently checkout directly…

Chestnut Market’s “The Hutch” store design pairs high-tech amenities with historic charm. CStore Decisions is recognizing Chestnut Market for its revamped location at North Street and Hutchinson River Parkway in New York, known as “The Hutch,” which debuted a clean and spacious upscale design in February 2024. The new design wows with a glass-front exterior, high ceilings and an emphasis on convenience and accessibility. The c-store’s historic charm combined with a tech-forward modern experience further stands out in today’s c-store landscape. “We initially operated this store from 2011 to 2022, building a strong connection with the community and a loyal customer base,” noted Matt Hagquist, chief financial officer, Chestnut Market, which operates 75 stores in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. “When the lease for the location came up for bid with the New York Department of Transportation, we saw an opportunity to continue serving our valued customers. We submitted…

States are instructed not to incur new financial obligations until updated guidance is issued. WASHINGTON, D.C. — The future of federally funded electric vehicle (EV) charging is in question after the Trump Administration moved to halt the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, instructing states not to spend their previously allocated funding. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sent a Feb. 6 letter to state transportation directors stating it was suspending approval of annual implementation plans that states previously submitted for fiscal years 2022-2025, reported Politico. “Effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI Formula Program until the updated final NEVI Formula Program Guidance is issued and new state plans are submitted and approved,” wrote Emily Biondi, FHWA’s associate administrator for planning, environment and realty. The letter added that states will be able to receive reimbursements for existing obligations to design and build charging stations. FHWA stated it…

Card fees hit record levels, but industry says they are driving costs down. Official data on the average cost of merchant fees on debit and credit card transactions just went through the roof, directly contradicting recent industry claims that card fees are getting cheaper for small businesses. In fact, the new Reserve Bank of Australia data for debit card fees shows eftpos fees jumped 33.3% on last quarter. Visa and Mastercard jumped too. Visa was up 6.1% and Mastercard was up 7.7%. The new data is based on expanded coverage to directly include larger payment facilitators and additional acquirers most likely to be international players and fintechs, many of whom have recently increased market share and often charge high blended rates that combine debit and credit card fees. The fee surge comes in the midst of the RBA’s Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging, which is considering “whether regulatory…

Delivery platform DoorDash has secured a new partnership with Costco, which allows Australians to purchase goods without requiring a membership to the bulk-goods company. Customers simply need to search for Costco on DoorDash, where they will find a range of groceries including fruit, vegetables, meat, and other household essentials such as toilet paper. Same-day delivery is available in metropolitan areas in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane. “We are thrilled to partner with Costco to expand DoorDash’s affordable options for Australian families,” says DoorDash Vice President APAC Simon Rossi. “Through this partnership, we’re making it easier for families and small businesses to get what they need at Costco’s low prices, delivered directly to their doorstep.” “This partnership allows members improved access to the range of quality and value Costco offers, because we know that many people live busy lives and are always looking for ways to make the weekly shop…

A market research and analytics firm released new data featuring grocery stores those living in the U.S. love most. Here’s what it found. We’ve covered it here a few times, but groceries are quite the hot topic these days. Be it for increasing grocery store prices, helping you find the best deals on groceries across the United States, or for the recalls that have made headlines in the last few months. But there is a little bit of fun news in here, too, that you can debate about with your friends: Which grocery store, exactly, is America’s favorite? You don’t need to wonder too hard, as YouGov, a market research and analytics firm, recently released new data showcasing which grocery store those living in the U.S. love most. To come to its conclusion, the researchers interviewed 1,220 people in the U.S. over the months of October, November, and December of 2024…