Shelf-scanning robots are becoming a regular sight in some Kroger-owned supermarkets on the US West Coast, according to reports this month in the Los Angeles Times and GeekWire. The robot, called Tally and made by Simbe Robotics, rolls slowly along the aisles using cameras and computer vision to spot products that are out of stock, misplaced or wrongly priced, then sends staff a list of tasks.
The Los Angeles Times found Tally in Ralphs stores in Los Angeles, and GeekWire saw one in a Fred Meyer in Seattle. Kroger, which owns both chains, did not say how many stores use the robots. It began piloting them in 2024, and Simbe says it has more than 3,000 units under contract worldwide. Simbe also says the robots are built to read shelves, not to identify or track people.
Grocery unions want more say in how they are used. UFCW Local 770 in Los Angeles said members should not learn about major workplace changes only once new technology appears in their store, and UFCW 3000 in the Pacific Northwest opposed using Tally at Fred Meyer, saying it could reduce hours. Kroger has said it will cut 3,000 corporate jobs over three years as it expands its use of AI, but neither report ties store job cuts to the robots.