Self-scanning will become as popular as ATMs, predicted Sainsbury MD Stuart Mitchell.

He said: “ATMs have become so popular hardly anyone goes to a bank teller any more. Self-scanning will bring about a change as fundamental.”

Sainsbury’s US arm Shaws had tested the system and JS planned to roll it out to 50 UK stores by the end of March. It will also roll out its Fast Track system, where customers use hand-held scanners, to 200 stores next year.