Denmark tests humanoid robots in supermarket to restock shelves at night
At a Føtex supermarket near Copenhagen, humanoid robots have been training since June to restock shelves. They are expected to work independently, mainly at night, by early 2027.
A Føtex supermarket near Copenhagen, Denmark, is running an experiment with humanoid robots that are learning to restock shelves. The machines were developed by Danish start-up Hive Robots and built by China's Unitree. They have been in training since June, and the goal is for them to refill shelves on their own by early 2027.
How the robots are trained
For now, human operators guide every movement. This is how the artificial intelligence learns to handle different products: picking them up, placing them on shelves and repeating the same motions for hours. Once independent, the robots would work mainly at night, when the store is closed.
The project is part of a wider trial with Salling Group, Denmark's largest retailer, which operates more than 2,000 stores in six European countries.
Why it matters
According to Føtex, employees spend 40 to 50 per cent of their time replenishing shelves. The retailer hopes robots will eventually take over part of this repetitive physical work, leaving staff more time to help customers.
Later, the machines could also check expiry dates, identify empty shelves and spot misplaced goods.
Limitations
The robots currently work more slowly than people and require close supervision. Danish law would also need to change before they could operate autonomously among shoppers. For that reason, the focus remains on night-time work and tasks away from customers.
