Hudson isn’t stopping Amazon-powered contactless store rollout

Leading travel retailer Hudson is moving ahead with a second location of its Hudson Nonstop contactless store format.

Slated to open in mid-2021 at Chicago Midway International Airport, Hudson Nonstop leverages Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” contactless shopping platform. The platform combines computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine-learning algorithms.

Customers enter with a swipe of their credit card or using “Tap to Pay,” select the items they are looking for and then walk out. After they leave, customers are charged for the items they walked out of the store with. Hudson opened its first Nonstop location at Dallas Love Field Airport in March 2021.

Developed in partnership with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and Midway Partnership, Hudson Nonstop will be the first checkout-free store at Chicago Midway as part of the airport’s concessions redevelopment program. The program is designed to revolutionize the selection of shopping and dining options for travelers across the airport’s two concourses.

“Hudson Nonstop is really all about the traveler – delivering what they want and how they want it. Our first store is proving that travelers are embracing this innovative new concept, and so we’re thrilled to announce our second location opening in mid-2021,” said Brian Quinn, executive VP and COO of Hudson. “Midway is an ideal location for Hudson Nonstop given Chicago’s fast-paced lifestyle, and we know travelers there will enjoy just how easy it is to ‘grab and go’ in this contactless and checkout-free environment.”

"Offering safe and healthy travel experiences for our passengers is more important than ever, and we are delighted to add to Midway's convenient, contactless options for shopping and dining with the arrival of Hudson Nonstop, powered by Amazon's Just Walk Out technology," said Jamie L. Rhee, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Hudson operates more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks and tourist destinations across North America.