So there you are, minding your own business as you inspect and squeeze the fresh produce in the supermarket when a robot named Servi, loaded with shelves of bananas and/or pineapples, glides up to you and says, “Hey you. Yes, you.”

It’s happening daily at Jewel stores in Fox Lake, Huntley, and Westmont, Illinois. It’s part of a two-month trial by the stores and Fresh Del Monte. In the audio clip above, Danny Dumas, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Product Management at Fresh Del Monte, tells GN’s Steve Alexander this is the first time the autonomous robot is being used in a grocery retail environment. 

Dumas says customers can grab the bananas and pineapples from Servi’s shelves and engage with the robot as they decide what items to include (or not) in their cart. It’s part of the company’s investment in technology that enhances the in-store experience and encourages healthier eating habits. And, of course, it’s about selling more products. Dumas points out that research shows a 10-20% increase in sales for items that are positioned at checkout. They’re hoping that Servi will similarly prompt higher sales of bananas. You can see and interact with Servi through October at the following Jewel-Osco locations, 6 a.m.- midnight:

• Fox Lake: 1350 US Route 12, Fox Lake, IL 60020





• Westmont: 4 E Ogden Ave, Westmont, IL 60559





• Huntley: 10090 HWY 47, Huntley, IL 60142