News

Stop & Shop deploys robots for spill, cleanup alert work

August 12, 2019

Stop & Shop supermarkets now have a new helper for aisle cleanup: Marty, the robot.

There are 500 'Martys', according to a Newsday report, working in the chain's stores nationwide. The robots are helping to alert staff of cleanups and hazards, but are not replacing workers or spying on consumers, according to the report.

They are, however, proving to be a big win with the very young shopper who is inclined to interact with the nearly 7-foot-tall Marty with his big eyes. Right now, 30 Marty robots are working stores on Long Island with another six to join the ranks this year.

"The idea behind it really was to free up our associates to be doing other things, which is really focusing on customers," said Jennifer Brogan, spokeswoman for Quincy, Massachusetts-based Stop & Shop in Newsday.