Selecta is launching its next generation of food tech solutions in Europe – a modern, fully automated store concept at Corda Campus in Hasselt, Belgium. 

The brand-new Foodies Shop & Go concept offers fresh food available for purchase in a hassle-free consumer experience with an automated payment process. After scanning a credit or debit card, or the according app, upon entering the Foodies Shop & Go store, consumers are then free to pick their favourite food items and just walk out – with no time-consuming check-out, and no need to wait in line.

“A completely new experience”

Foodies Shop & Go takes Selecta’s current Foodies fresh food solutions one step further, making workplace refreshment corners even more scalable to client needs at all times. Verena Eberle, Global Project Leader at Selecta, is convinced: “With the innovative Foodies Shop & Go concept, we offer our consumers a completely new experience in addition to our seasonal and local, healthy and delicious products. Right from the start, our goal was to combine the simplest handling with the greatest possible enjoyment.”

General Director of Corda Campus, Raf Degens, said he was excited with the arrival of the Foodies Shop & Go to the campus. “We already offer a lot of extra services on our campus, and we always try to respond to the needs and expectations of our community, in an innovative way. We not only test the technological aspect here, but we also involve our community by questioning them about the range in the store and adjusting where necessary. This innovative project, which we are trying out together with Selecta and our local catering manager, makes working and living on campus even more enjoyable. Moreover, this shop is accessible to everyone – whether you work on our campus, are just visiting, or live nearby; everyone is welcome. And that too is completely Corda Campus.”

Innovative mini shop

The system is based on precise tracking sensors, recognising which products are taken, monitoring the consumer movements and using advanced tracing software while fully protecting privacy and data security at the same time. It surveys all product information accurately while the tracking sensor detects all visitors to differentiate and allocate the selected products to the right people. An additional step of human verification may take place in the background if needed, to complement the automatic transaction. This ensures that every consumer is only charged for what he or she takes, and allows for a fast and convenient shopping experience. “An innovative and attendant-free food market has never been this secure, easy, and tasty,” Selecta said in a statement.

Foodies Shop & Go is not just another mini shop, but rather a logical step for Selecta to bring technology solutions to food distribution. It uses technology to respond to new, changing consumer demands with cashless and 24/7, on-demand availability – integrating the latest technology software and custom-built hardware components for unattended stores developed by Swedish company Instant Systems. The Foodies brand offers fresh, highly varied, on-trend, and healthy food items, working on a continuous basis to improve its impact on the environment via upgrades on packaging and waste management.

“Not only are we constantly searching for short-term solutions for our clients; we are obsessed with game-changing innovations in all areas. The partnership with Instant Systems allows us to combine our high-quality and delicious food selection with the latest technical possibilities available. This is who we are and how we do it,” enthused Jan Marck Vrijlandt, Chief Commercial Officer at Selecta, “because this is our purpose – to make millions of people feel great every day.”

The Foodies Shop & Go concept is very well suited for high-density locations at public or semi-public locations. 

The gates with limited height create an open, welcoming space. At Corda Campus, the concept is customised with a Foodies hot steam food concept, a bakery unit, and a ‘We proudly serve Starbucks™’ coffee corner.