In context
In early 2024, retail robotics continued to expand beyond operational efficiency into community engagement. Badger Technologies, a Jabil division, and grocery chain Stop & Shop leveraged the NRF'24 retail show to highlight Marty the Robot's positive societal impact while supporting hunger relief efforts.
What was reported
Badger Technologies and Stop & Shop introduced the “Selfies with Marty” program at NRF'24, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Attendees were invited to take selfies with Marty at the Badger Technologies/Jabil booth and post them on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn with #MartyTheRobot. For each post, Badger Technologies donated 10 meals to support 47 New York City partner schools in the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program.
Launched in 2019, the program supports over 40,000 students and families facing food insecurity. The initiative aligns with USDA data indicating that more than 13 million children experienced hunger in 2022. Stop & Shop provides gift cards, food, and personal care items to stock school pantries, with donations from vendor partners including Campbell Snacks, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble.
Marty robots operate in nearly 400 Stop & Shop stores, performing tasks such as shelf scanning to expedite restocking, confirming pricing, and monitoring floor conditions for spills and hazards. To date, Marty robots have traveled over 1.9 million miles, identified more than 9.6 million potential floor hazards, and scan over 7 million products daily to improve on-shelf availability.
“By taking and posting selfies with Marty, NRF'24 attendees, exhibitors, and retail industry visionaries can join us in helping local schools fight hunger among students in need.”
Why it mattered
This initiative illustrated how retail robots can serve dual purposes: enhancing operational efficiency while fostering community goodwill. By integrating charitable campaigns with robotics demonstrations, companies can strengthen brand perception and demonstrate the broader societal value of automation, potentially encouraging wider adoption in retail and other sectors.
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2024-01-19 · “Badger Technologies and Stop & Shop introduce ‘Selfies with Marty the Robot’ for charity”