Albertsons' magic wand.

ONE LARGE SUPERMARKET OPERATOR THAT IS LEADING THE TREND OF OFFERING CONSUMERS MORE CHECKOUT CHOICES IS BOISE, IDAHO-BASED ALBERTSONS. THE RETAILER IS TESTING A HAND-HELD SCANNER SYSTEM IN ITS DALLAS STORES. THE SHOP'N SCAN SYSTEM ALLOWS SHOPPERS TO SCAN THEIR PURCHASES ON THE PORTABLE DEVICE AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE AISLES AND THEN SIMPLY BAG THE GROCERIES IN THEIR CARTS AS THEY GO. SPECIAL SCALES IN THE PRODUCE DEPARTMENT WILL WEIGH ITEMS AND PRINT OUT LABELS THAT CAN BE READ BY THE PORTABLE DEVICES WHEN THE CUSTOMER PUNCHES IN THE APPROPRIATE PLU CODE.

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WHEN CUSTOMERS ARE FINISHED SHOPPING, THEY TAKE THE SCANNER TO THE CHECKOUT WHERE THE SHOPPING LIST IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE SCANNER TO THE CASH REGISTER. AT THIS POINT A CASHIER WILL ADD ANY ITEMS THAT WON'T REGISTER ON THE HAND-HELD SCANNER, SUCH AS BEER, LIQUOR, WINE AND CIGARETTES, AND FINISH THE TRANSACTION.

THE SHOP 'N SCAN SYSTEM WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALBERTSONS' PREFERRED CARD, AND SPECIAL OFFERS ARE AVAILABLE TO SHOPPERS USING THE SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO COMPANY OFFICIALS, THE SHOP 'N SCAN SYSTEM WILL SAVE SHOPPERS TIME BECAUSE ITEMS NEVER HAVE TO BE UNLOADED FROM THE CART OR PLACED IN BAGS AT THE END OF THE TRIP. THE SYSTEM HAS ALREADY BEEN TESTED IN SEVERAL OF ALBERTSONS' DALLAS UNITS AND SHOULD BE FULLY INSTALLED IN ALL 103 AREA STORES BY THE END OF APRIL.

"DALLAS IS THE MOST COMPETITIVE MARKET IN THE U.S., AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO GIVING OUR CUSTOMERS THE BEST SHOPPING EXPERIENCE," SAYS JUDY SPIRES, PRESIDENT OF ALBERTSONS' DALLAS-FORT WORTH DIVISION. "SHOP 'N' SCAN IS PART OF OUR BRAND PROMISE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM."