Consumer Choice and Brick and Mortar Sustainability Under SCO Regulation For more than 30 years self-checkout (SCO) has been available to grocery store shoppers with growing consumer demand for the convenience and ease this technology brings. In fact, the entire trajectory of retail shopping is bent towards increased convenience and the elimination of friction for shoppers.
This preference for SCO is based on increasingly high comfort levels with technology, constant demand for expanded convenience by consumers, and the dramatic adoption of online shopping. Simply put, brick and mortar grocers offer SCO due to existing and growing consumer demand they like it and they use it.
Currently, about 50% of all consumers regularly use and prefer to use SCO. Additionally, 63% of shoppers ages 18 to 29 prefer self-checkout and 45% of shoppers ages 30 to 44 prefer self-checkout.
Studies show consumer preference for SCO usage is due to speed for smaller shopping trips, shorter lines, and many consumers prefer to bag their own items. Therefore, offering SCO options provides the highest level of in-store convenience as determined by customers.
Recently, online purchasing and delivery of groceries has grown dramatically and is now at over 20% of all grocery purchases by volume, with average monthly frequency rising above three orders per month.
Many consumers now find online shopping with delivery to be the most convenient grocery shopping option with approximately 81% of consumers having ordered groceries online before. As of August 2026, the average order frequency jumped 18% year-over-year which is the 24th consecutive month of growth. This trend will continue to rise as demographics shift towards consumers who are more comfortable with technology.
This consumer trend is driving increased competition issues for brick and mortar grocery stores. At its core the trend of commerce is fluid shopping that moves between delivery, in-store, and pick-up. To stay competitive grocers must reach shoppers across all these modalities. Meeting shoppers where they are in whatever means they prefer allows for grocers to win future shopping trips. Each form of shopping -checkout, delivery, or a full cart through a traditional checkout lane earns the next. None of this is mutually exclusive.
Brick and mortar grocers are economic drivers bringing foot traffic, attract ancillary retailers and in turn sales tax to cities and counties. They fill vacant storefronts. They offer nourishing food. They create job opportunities. As anchor tenants empowering communities, it is vital local government avoids hamstringing their own economic engine by limiting brick and mortar grocery store convenience. A brick and mortar grocery store not serving its customers is a grocery store doomed, leaving employees and neighborhoods as victims in the wake of its loss. SCO regulation equates to brick and mortar obsolescence.
Sources:
https://www.ncrvoyix.com/newsroom/77-of-shoppers-choose-self-checkout-for-faster-service-according-to-newconsumer-survey-from-ncr-voyix?srsltid=AfmBOoqZJ 1Xfu-1rZhprgzb-FWuO9HVWQlyrrjGEEToKHCMPcGEOdxp https://www.brickmeetsclick.com/insights/egrocery-sales-jump-to-10-billion-in-july-2025-fueled-by-record-householdpenetration https://www.brickmeetsclick.com/insights/august-2026-egrocery-sales-up-nearly-25-year-over-year Collective Bargaining Agreements on Self-Checkout in California Over the last year UFCW has agreed with numerous grocery companies to include parameters for Self-Checkout (SCO) operations in Collective Bargaining Agreements. Across all areas of California, including the San Francisco Bay Area, employees and employers came to mutual and ratified agreements that address usage, staffing, and operations of SCO. Grocers believe, as our employees do, in the sanctity of the bargaining table, and we discourage local governments from intervening. Details of the SCO agreements made statewide are listed below.
The Employer may have at its discretion multi-unit, self-checkout check stands in its stores.
During the hours of 8:00 am - 7:00 pm, if any self-checkout lane is available for use by customers, the Employer will schedule at least one (1) full-service checkout lane to be open and available for use by customers.
For all other hours a full-service check stand will be available upon customer request.
A dedicated employee must be assigned to monitor a self-checkout bank when it is open for use for customers.
This employee may be assigned to perform incidental work in the general vicinity of that self-checkout bank or operate a full-service check stand to respond to a customer's request when no more than one customer is using that self-checkout bank.
All stores with traditional self-check will have signage that states that self-check should be limited to orders of about fifteen (15) items.
If multiple self-check banks are operating in different areas of the store, there will be at least one employee assigned to each bank.
Sources:
https://ufcw5.org/contract/
https://www.ufcw770.org/contracts