Instacart says it is winding down its Caper smart cart programme, moving away from offering high-tech shopping carts to grocers. Multiple outlets report that the company is discontinuing “Caper” carts and reshaping its in-store strategy.
Supermarket News frames the change as part of a broader shift toward software, artificial intelligence, and “inventory intelligence.” Business Insider adds that the decision is linked to board-level approval and provides a timeline, saying Instacart plans to end the carts by 2027 while redirecting resources toward other growth initiatives. Bloomberg describes the move as the first major strategy shift after reports that Instacart is considering sale talks, placing the cart wind-down in the context of potential corporate transactions.
Across the reports, outlets agree on the central point: Instacart stops providing Caper smart carts and instead focuses on technology and intelligence capabilities, though they differ on emphasis around timeline, board approval, and whether sale discussions are active or relevant.
