'Futuristic' convenience store now open in London
London is home to a new self-service convenience store. There's no one cashing customers out — it's all done with a smart-phone.
"I've never experienced something like this. It's so cool and futuristic," said customer Katrina Younes
It's called Aisle 24 and you can get everything from your milk and eggs, to laundry detergent, with one unique feature
Western University graduate Ganesh Tadikonda says he decided to franchise the first Aisle 24 in London because there was nothing like it here, and the model has been successful elsewhere.
“This is a like an unmanned store, in the sense that it's an unattended market… I have spoken to other franchise owners, the convenience about having this franchise is the technology is already developed,” said Tadikonda.
Aisle 24 Market was originally co- founded in 2016 by John Douang.
“Our whole goal around the business was to save people time, and also save the owners and the operators time, because I saw how many hours a week my parents had to work,” said Douang
His parents owned and operated a convince store for 12 years and he worked in I.T -- Aisle 24 is a blend of those two lived experiences.
"I stumbled upon an article about future technologies - vending technologies and it was like a lightbulb went off," said Douang.
That lightbulb moment has led to 29 stores across Canada, with 70,000 members.
Customers get into the store with the Aisle 24 app on their smartphone that unlocks the door.
They grab the items they need, then go to a self-checkout kiosk to pay for their groceries.
When it comes to security, the company relies on high-tech A.I based cameras
"It will track every movement of the customer, how many items are picked, how many items are brought to the self checkout POS [point of sale], and how many items are scanned," Douang added.
The stores are accessible 24/7 anytime of the year and is located at 1325 Riverbend Rd Unit-190 in London.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.