The trial marked the first deployment of the smart trolleys by a British supermarket, offering customers a different way to shop and monitor their spending. Although the technology had been considered for wider use, Instacart’s withdrawal means Morrisons shoppers elsewhere will not see the trolleys introduced as originally anticipated.
Why Morrisons Is Ending Its AI Shopping Trolley Trial
The Caper Carts were introduced at Morrisons’ Riversway store in Preston in July 2026. Equipped with cameras, sensors, weighing scales and touchscreens, they could automatically identify products as customers placed them inside.
Fresh fruit and vegetables could be weighed directly in the trolley, removing the need to use separate scales. A touchscreen displayed a running total of the basket, allowing shoppers to keep track of their spending while moving through the store.
The technology also worked with Morrisons More Cards, displaying relevant promotions, personalised offers and product recommendations. At the end of their shop, customers received a barcode on the trolley screen, which they could scan at a dedicated checkout to complete payment.
According to The Grocer, Morrisons confirmed that the single-store trial was already approaching its planned end when Instacart announced its decision. The supermarket said the withdrawal would have no financial or operational implications for its business.
A Morrisons spokesperson explained: “The trial has given us greater insight into the continued evolution of our customers’ shopping habits and we will continue to pilot and develop solutions to meet those needs.”
When the trial began, Morrisons productivity director Gordon Macpherson said the trolleys would give customers greater visibility of their spending and immediate access to loyalty savings. The supermarket had also expressed interest in seeing how customers in Preston and across Lancashire responded to the technology.
Instacart’s Withdrawal Brings Wider Rollout Plans to an End
Instacart’s decision extends beyond Morrisons. The American technology company is winding down its entire Caper Cart operation after concluding that adoption among retailers had been slower than anticipated.
According to The Grocer, Instacart said that while Caper Carts were “a great product”, retailer adoption had not “scaled quickly enough to justify our continued investment”.
The company disclosed the decision in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, explaining that it was reallocating resources towards its strategic priorities.
The shutdown is expected to generate charges of between $55 million and $80 million during the final quarter of 2026. These cover contract terminations, asset impairments and employee termination costs. Instacart expects the global wind-down to be largely completed by the end of June 2027.
The technology had already reached more than 100 US cities and over a dozen retailers. Among them were Kroger, Wakefern and Schnucks, although the latter had recently withdrawn the trolleys from some locations.
According to the Daily Express, Instacart intends to concentrate instead on software and data tools that help retailers manage inventory, monitor store conditions and improve merchandising.
Morrisons’ wider relationship with Instacart also includes Instaleap, an in-store picking application adopted in September to help staff manage orders and fulfilment.
For Morrisons customers, the immediate outcome is straightforward: the Preston trolley trial is ending, and the planned expansion of Caper Carts across its stores will not proceed.
