Circus SE has begun the rollout of its autonomous AI robotics system CA-1 in REWE supermarkets, introducing the technology under the new brand “Fresh & Smart.” The first installation has opened at a REWE store in Düsseldorf Heerdt, with another site currently under construction.
According to Circus, the CA-1 system represents the first integration of an autonomous cooking robot within a supermarket environment. The system operates through the company’s AI software platform, which manages meal preparation and process automation. Customers can order meals prepared by the CA-1 robot on demand, with prices starting at €6.
REWE Region West, a division of the REWE Group responsible for western Germany, is partnering with Circus on the project. The REWE Group operates more than 16,000 locations across Europe. The company stated that the introduction of the robotics platform is part of a broader strategy to explore in-store automation and digitalized food production.
Circus’ CA-1 Series 4 robot is designed to autonomously prepare meals using predictive models to manage demand, improve efficiency, and reduce food waste. The Düsseldorf installation is one of three planned pilot locations.
“With the use of fully autonomous AI robots, we are showing what innovation in food retail truly means today: being close to customer needs, leading in technology, and maintaining the highest standards of quality,” says Lars Klein, Chairman of the Management Board of REWE Region West. “We combine efficiency with enjoyment – turning grocery shopping into an experience of the future.”
“Our launch with REWE marks the first real-world deployment of physical AI applied in retail environments,” added Nikolas Bullwinkel, CEO and Founder of Circus. “With ‘Fresh & Smart,’ autonomous robotics becomes part of everyday life – enabling fresh, high-quality food access through technology that’s both scalable and sustainable.”
