"Self-checkouts on wheels" are coming to a supermarket near you, says one of the country's largest supermarket operator.
High-tech trolleys with barcode scanners built into the handlebar and tablet screens displaying items and the checkout prices in real-time show a glimpse of what's to come for grocery shopping, tipped to increasingly become digital and online-based in coming years, says Foodstuffs chief executive Chris Quin. These trolleys, which Quin says are effectively self-checkouts on wheels, will be rolled out early next year for the first time in Foodstuffs' newest store, its Pukekohe New World supermarket in Auckland, which opened this morning. Shoppers can use the trolleys as they normally would, with the technology designed to streamline the checkout process and avoid waiting in queues. At the end of a shop a barcode will be generated which a checkout operator will scan and the payment can be made manually, or payment can be approved instantly through the supermarket's app. Quin says the supermarket operator would trial the high-tech trolleys it calls "Zoom trolleys" at the Pukekohe store, with the intention being to roll them out to its network of supermarkets next year. The intention is to replace traditional trolleys with the tech-savvy equivalent. Foodstuffs plans to start rolling the trolleys out to its 99 New World stores before rolling them out to Pak'nSave and Four Square stores."It is going to be a progressive roll out from just after the busy summer period," Quin told the Herald. "We're going to start with New World and see what we learn and make sure customers love it then we'll go from there. "We have a feeling that customers are going to want this to happen relatively quickly." The trolleys were inspired by the self-checkout experience and have been under development for 18 months. The trolleys will be able to send alerts to staff about items in customers' trolleys that need age identification, and enable staff and shoppers to communicate through the tablet, Quin said. "We'll be able to communicate with customers through the tablet screen to say 'here's something you may be interested in' or 'you've bought two but you might want three because there is a deal', interaction with the customer that doesn't happen today." He was unable to say how much Foodstuffs had invested in the technology. With time, the supermarket would establish areas for "Zoom trolley checkout", he said.
Foodstuffs built the technology
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Quin told the supermarket operator had built the technology in the trolleys itself over a period of 18 months "in a classic little dark room" in its Mt Roskill headquarters. "The first version, they were pretty horrible," he said. "They were made using 3D printers, basically prototyping. "The hardware itself that sits on the trolley is in many ways the easiest part of this ... making it work with our SAP system, which is the software we use at the core of our stores, and making it so that the customer is effectively shopping as if they were using a self-checkout being wheeled around the store - that's where the clever work has been." Foodstuffs previously had a partnership with New Zealand grocery software start-up Imagr, trialling similar technology, though focused on stored photographic images of products instead of barcode readers. "We felt that barcode reading was something very familiar and works really well and very trusted in our industry at the moment which is where we decided to start." High-tech trolleys were a glimpse of what was to come in the grocery sector, Quin said. "There's no doubt that online shopping is going to grow but I think when it comes to food, we have a personal relationship with food, and people like to choose their fresh product themselves ... I still think stores are going to be a place people are going to want to come to, to be inspired and engage with their shopping, and making that as frictionless as possible is really important." The trolleys have electronic location trackers and Quin said he did not expect the trolleys to be stolen from stores once they become widely available.
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The Gospel’s Relevance Today**
The Gospel, meaning ‘good news’, is the cornerstone of the message contained in the Bible’s first four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. While these records were written approximately 2,000 years ago, a natural question arises: why is this Gospel still relevant and vital for us today? This analysis seeks to explore what the Bible itself defines as the Gospel and to understand its enduring significance.
**Defining the Gospel: Core Biblical References**
The Gospel is not a vague concept; Scripture provides clear descriptions of its content and focus.
* **The Gospel of the Kingdom:** In Matthew 4:23, as Jesus begins his ministry, he is described as “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” This immediately establishes that the good news is centrally about a kingdom—the Kingdom of God. His accompanying miracles served to validate the authority of this message.
* **The Gospel of Jesus Christ:** Mark 1:1 opens with, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Here, “Christ” is a title meaning ‘anointed one’. Thus, the good news is intrinsically about Jesus: his identity as the Anointed One and his unique status as the Son of God.
* **The Gospel of God’s Grace:** In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul speaks of his mission to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Grace signifies an undeserved gift. This reveals that the Gospel involves a gift from God, offered not because it is merited, but out of His benevolence.
* **The Gospel of Salvation and Peace:** Romans 1:16 declares the Gospel is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile (Greek). Furthermore, Romans 10:15 calls it the “gospel of peace,” pointing to a future state of peace brought about by this message.
* **The Gospel Summarised:** 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a foundational summary. Paul reminds believers of the gospel he preached, “by which also you are saved.” He then states its core historical facts: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” The Gospel is therefore rooted in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.
In synthesis, the Gospel is the good news of **salvation and future peace in the Kingdom of God**, made possible by **the grace of God** and **the obedient sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ**, and offered to all who believe.
**Old Testament Foundations: The Gospel Preached to Abraham**
A crucial question is whether the Gospel is confined to the New Testament. Scripture shows its foundations were laid much earlier. Galatians 3:8 states explicitly that “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’”
This reference points back to Genesis 12:1-3, where God made profound promises to Abraham: to make him a great nation, to bless those who blessed him, and that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” These promises—later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob—form the bedrock of the Gospel hope. The good news of salvation through Christ is the fulfillment of how **all nations** would be blessed through Abraham’s “seed.”
**The Gospel’s Personal Relevance: Good News for You Today**
How does this ancient message become “good news for you” today? The application is clearly outlined in Galatians 3.
* **Access through Faith in Christ:** Galatians 3:26 declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The promise made to Abraham is now extended to anyone with faith in Jesus.
* **The Role of Baptism:** Verse 27 explains, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is the God-appointed act of faith that identifies a believer with Christ’s death and resurrection.
* **Unity and Inheritance:** Verses 28-29 reveal the glorious outcome: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Through the Gospel, all barriers are removed; believers become spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs to the promises of the Kingdom.
This Gospel was once a mystery hidden in God’s purpose (Ephesians 3:3-9). Now, it has been revealed: the unsearchable riches of Christ, offering salvation to all who heed the call, believe the message, and are baptised into him.
**Conclusion: An Enduring and Open Invitation**
The Gospel is far more than a historical account; it is the living, powerful good news of God’s plan for salvation. It is rooted in promises to Abraham, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and open to all people without distinction. It offers a tangible hope—the hope of resurrection, peace, and an inheritance in the coming Kingdom of God. This is why the Gospel remains profoundly relevant. It is an invitation to listen, believe, and stand firm in this hope, linking our lives today to the eternal purpose of God.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.5% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.8% Critical thinking
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29.6% Resilience and adaptability
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3.1% Other - I will share below!
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