FairPrice Group (FPG) has announced a bold leap into the future of retail with its Store of Tomorrow (SOT) initiative — a comprehensive programme set to redefine supermarket experiences through artificial intelligence, automation, and biometric technologies.

The SOT initiative was introduced on Monday (Jun 3) at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show Asia Pacific 2025, and will first be rolled out at FairPrice Finest in the Punggol Digital District, opening in the third quarter of 2025.

Aimed at reshaping physical and digital retail, the programme will pilot over 20 new digital solutions annually for the next three years — from biometric checkout to smart carts and real-time inventory monitoring.

“The only certainty in retail is how quickly consumer needs, tastes, and preferences evolve,” said Vipul Chawla, Group CEO, FairPrice Group. “Through our Store of Tomorrow programme, we want to reimagine how innovation and technologies like GenAI and data analytics can make things easier on the wallet and experience.”

Hyperpersonalisation Meets High Tech

Anchored by a strategic AI collaboration with Google Cloud, the SOT programme seeks to turn every customer interaction into a personalised experience. Central to this effort are:

Smart Carts: Already piloted at FairPrice Finest Sengkang Grand Mall, these trolleys come with screens that guide customers through stores, offer nearby promotions, and allow for scan-and-go payments.

Vision AI: Leveraging in-store CCTV and advanced analytics, Vision AI monitors shelf stock levels, queue lengths, and safety hazards, prompting real-time interventions.

Grocer Genie: A task management platform for staff that uses AI to automate workflows — such as alerting staff to spills or long queues — and provides performance metrics in real-time across web and mobile platforms.

Biometric Checkout: Soon, customers will be able to register their palm prints and link them to their FairPrice app accounts. A simple palm scan will then suffice to pay and earn Linkpoints.

MyInfo Integration: The FPG app is also being integrated with SingPass’ MyInfo service. Eligible senior citizens and CHAS cardholders will receive automatic discounts both in-store and online without needing to carry physical cards.

Digital Price Cards: If pilot tests succeed, these will be rolled out across all 164 supermarket locations within three years, cutting paper use and streamlining price updates.

Setting a New Retail Benchmark

The Store of Tomorrow programme represents one of the most ambitious digital transformation strategies by a supermarket group in Singapore. Beyond customer experience, FPG says the initiative will free up manpower, streamline operations, and support broader sustainability goals.

Google Cloud’s Asia Pacific President Karan Bajwa said: “The sheer ambition of FairPrice Group’s vision, coupled with their relentless commitment to implementation at speed and scale, is forging the blueprint for the future of retail — not just in Singapore, but internationally.”