FairPrice Finest wins at Retail Asia Awards 2026 for smart store

An ecosystem of retail technologies addresses industry challenges whilst transforming the shopping experience.

FairPrice Finest won Smart Store of the Year - Singapore in the Retail Asia Awards 2026. The recognition highlights the success of the Store of Tomorrow programme at Punggol Coast Mall FairPrice Finest, which blends digital innovation with a human perspective to resolve labour shortages and evolving shopper expectations. Developed by over 20 internal teams, the comprehensive ecosystem deploys intelligent technology across the entire retail journey to create a resilient environment.

For shoppers, the in-store experience features AI-powered Smart Carts that allow customers to scan items, receive promotions, and pay directly on the cart. This initiative reduces checkout times from an average of six minutes to just 36 seconds, whilst generating an average basket size up to three times higher than traditional shoppers. Generative AI assistants like the Digital Wine Sommelier and Wellness Genie offer real-time guidance, whilst the ShopBeyond endless aisle feature allows customers to scan QR codes to order online-exclusive items from within the physical store. Furthermore, the integration of automated government scheme discounts via MyInfo automatically applies eligible senior citizen benefits at checkout to shorten transaction times.

Frontline staff also gain significant support through tools that boost operational efficiency. The Grocer Genie super-app consolidates task management and communication into one mobile platform, which increases the visibility of store tasks by 90% and eliminates the manual monitoring of fresh produce. Simultaneously, Vision AI uses existing CCTV cameras to monitor store safety, on-shelf availability, and queue times proactively. Large-format LCD Digital Price Cards replace traditional paper promotional signs with dynamic content at the shelf, which saves material costs and is projected to save 15,000 man-hours (based on 48 stores) annually.

The Retail Asia Awards highlights the pinnacle of excellence, innovation, and leadership within the retail industry across the Asia Pacific region. It serves as a benchmark of success, honouring companies and individuals who have made remarkable contributions to shaping the future of retail.

The Retail Asia Awards is presented by Retail Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's exceptional products or initiatives in the Retail industry, please contact Marni Marco at [email protected].