Sainsbury’s is trialling larger self-checkouts with a conveyor belt service, in replacement of staff manned tills in a bid to drive efficiency.

The supermarket giant has introduced the new type of hybrid checkout to two of its stores, including its “experimental” Cobham store, alongside Smart shop and traditional manned tills.

The new units contain scanners like a typical checkout but also feature a moving belt, to provide shoppers more space to place their bigger trolley items when scanning and packing.

Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts said the introduction of the technology has proven “popular” among shoppers in Cobham, but added: “taking out more manned checkouts doesn’t mean we won’t have them, it just means we’ll give you more choice for how you pay”.

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Roberts said: “it’s an example of how you stare at the problem differently and give customer the choice back, rather than perpetuate either a high cost solution or one that doesn’t give customers choice.

“So, real credit to our team for the way they’ve done this with our technology partners”.

The trial comes amid some wider changes Sainsbury’s has implemented in a bid to ramp up its progress as part of its ‘Next Level’ and ‘Food First’ strategies.

Alongside improving the checkout area to make it easier for customers to buy a bigger trolley shop, other innovation include a “fish counter on a wall” concept, a revamped alcohol section with smart shelves to battle retail crime, and touch screen stations to help customers find products or suggest receive ideas.