Marks and Spencer rolls out self-checkouts with a difference

When the self-checkout was first rolled out it was largely confined to smaller shops, with just baskets and a smaller number of items. While some retailers have introduced larger self-checkouts, but there's still one crucial difference from the old-fashioned tills.

Now Marks & Spencer is rolling out a new kind of self-checkout machine in some of its stores. There are also plans to install more of the devices in shops across the UK in the future.

But there's one thing about the new checkouts which distinguishes them from other kinds of self-checkout. It is hoped that this will make them more suitable for customers with more shopping, including in trolleys, the Mirror reports.

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Following a trial at the M&S store in London Colney in 2022, the retailer is now introducing self checkouts which have a conveyor belt for several of its stores. A spokesperson for M&S said that customers will still have the option to use staffed checkouts if they wish.

Self-checkouts have proven controversial, with campaigners and charities warning about the impact they could have on elderly and disabled customers. An M&S spokesperson told The Grocer: "We help our customers shop when, where, and how they want by providing a choice of manned checkouts and self-service tills. We always have a colleague on hand to help customers with their shopping."

It comes as businesses are hit with higher national insurance rates following the Budget. Stuart Machin, chief executive of M&S, said the group intends to do “everything we can” to avoid passing on the extra costs to customers, but conceded that there will be challenges ahead.

Mr Machin said: “We’ll do everything we can to make sure that cost is not passed on to consumers. It’s not easy but that’s our ambition.” M&S reported underlying pre-tax profits up 17.2% to £407.8million for the six months to September 28. Like-for-like sales rose 7.5% across its food business and increased 5.3% in its clothing and home division, after a bounce back in demand for fashion ranges in the second quarter thanks to more seasonal weather.

M&S said: “During the first half of the year, cost inflation has continued to be elevated, running well ahead of price inflation and the consumer environment has been uncertain. Despite this, the business has traded well, growing volume and value market share. As we enter the second half, we expect this backdrop to persist.”