Singapore’s “Silicon Valley” just got its first taste of tomorrow’s groceries.
At the heart of the Punggol Digital District, FairPrice Finest, the upmarket arm of NTUC FairPrice Co-operative, has launched a new flagship designed to change how we shop, work, and connect with our food.
Billed as the world’s first gen‑AI-powered supermarket, the store brings to life FairPrice Group’s Store of Tomorrow vision, blending retail innovation with FairPrice Group’s mission to make everyday life better for all.
At this new outlet, Smart Carts guide shoppers aisle by aisle, applying discounts automatically and recommending products based on preferences. Digital shelf screens offer real-time updates and smart pairings, like wine and cheese suggestions or alternative ingredients. These tools are not just gimmicks; instead, they’re part of a wider strategy to deliver personalised, inclusive experiences, especially for Pioneer Generation and CHAS cardholders whose benefits are seamlessly recognised at checkout.
Beyond convenience, the store reinforces co-operative values in a modern context: healthier living, community care, and worker empowerment. Unity Pharmacy within the store features a body composition scanner that links to a gen-AI assistant to guide families toward better nutrition. In the back room, store staff use a digital assistant called Grocer Genie and Vision AI tools to manage inventory and respond faster to customer needs, enhancing dignity and efficiency in frontline work.
This launch is only the beginning. Over the next three years, FairPrice Group plans to pilot 20 digital solutions annually, scaling innovations that work across more than 570 touchpoints, from FairPrice to Cheers and Kopitiam.
In the heart of tech-forward Punggol, FairPrice Group is proving that retail doesn’t need to choose between high tech and high trust. With co-operation at its core, the future of shopping might just start here.
By Sng Ler Jun
