Inside, the store is similar to many mainstream supermarkets’ small convenience stores, with fresh baked croissants and fruit and vegetables as well as ready meals, cleaning products and toiletries. I look forward to going round Waitrose and not having to wait at the till,” said the 59-year-old shopper. I can’t wait to see how this new technology works and I think it is going to be everywhere shortly.

Teresa De La Rosa said she wanted to be one of the first to visit. Queues formed outside the store on Thursday morning as dozens of curious shoppers – and executives from rivals including Lidl and Tesco – turned up to try out the novel experience. The store, which measures 2,500 sq ft, has a service desk to return or pick up other items bought on Amazon, and self-service coffee machines. Amazon is also launching its first own grocery brand at the store – By Amazon – which includes frequently bought items such as milk and bread as well as pizzas, dips and cakes. The store will stock about 10,000 grocery products including brands such as Heinz and Kelloggs, and items from Morrisons, Booths and Mindful Chef. While customers will not need to interact with a member of staff, the store will employ about 30 people and have about five workers on site at any time to handle queries, restock shelves and prepare food. The bill is automatically charged to a shopper’s Amazon account when they leave the store.

Sensors on the shelves detect when an item has been removed while cameras and other technology backed by artificial intelligence monitor individuals’ movement around the store and the goods chosen. Once inside, shoppers can pick up the goods they want without scanning them or even visiting a till. Amazon’s first ‘just walk out’ shop outside the United States.

Amazon fresh app