GIANT Food Stores begins deploying robot helpers to all stores

CUMBERLAND COUNTY — Harrisburg, Pa (CBS21) -GIANT Food Stores has announced the introduction of robotic assistants to all of its 172 stores.

"Marty" is a tall gray robot with googly eyes that will move around the store unassisted to help identify and report hazards, such as liquid, powder and bulk food-items spills.

This will help free up employees to spend more time on customer service, according to GIANT's press release.

Over the past year, GIANT has been piloting the robot assistants in its stores located at 4211 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg and 255 Spring Garden Street, Carlisle.

GIANT will be deploying "Marty" to its 172 GIANT and MARTIN’S Food Markets stores in waves over the coming months and is expected to be completed by mid-2019.