PEABODY — Jan. 25 was a special day for one lucky robot: Marty, the googly-eyed autonomous machine who roams the aisles of Stop & Shop, ever on the hunt for spills and other potential hazards, turned a year old.
The birthday celebration was complete with balloons, party hats, birthday cake, and in-store giveaways for kids, who seem to have taken a liking to Marty. Stop & Shop says he helps drive interest in STEM education at local schools. Celebrations were held at select stores, including the one at 19 Howley St. in Peabody.
Marty and his cousins were first unleashed in 325 Stop & Shop stores last January. The company says that with its fleet of Marty’s roaming the aisles, the human associates are freed up to focus more on customer needs.
To date, Marty has spotted nearly 40 spills or other potential hazards, on average, in each store on a daily basis.
~ John Castelluccio