Aisle 24

What Aisle 24 does

Aisle 24, founded in 2015 in Ontario, Canada, operates a franchise-based platform of fully automated, 24/7 cashierless grocery stores deployed primarily inside residential and commercial real estate properties. The company builds and operates a multi-vendor technology stack spanning a mobile app for door access and account management, self-service point-of-sale kiosks with UPC scanning, remotely updatable digital shelf labels, and a cloud-based remote store management system with inventory tracking and sales analytics. Its product portfolio includes Aisle 24 Markets (full-service stores), Aisle 24 Express (a 20-square-foot temperature-controlled automated vending unit for space-constrained properties), and franchise tiers Community Markets (1000+ sq ft, $35,000 fee, $350K-$575K total investment) and Resident Markets (300-999 sq ft, $30,000 fee, $175K-$255K total investment).

Aisle 24 generates revenue through (i) retail margins on grocery and convenience items sold via self-scan kiosks accepting debit, credit, and mobile wallet payments, (ii) one-time franchise fees of $30,000-$35,000 plus the equipment and construction portion of total per-store franchise investment of $175,000-$575,000, and (iii) ongoing royalties and operational support arrangements with franchisees. Distribution is structured around a franchise channel plus direct relationships with real estate developers who install Aisle 24 markets as amenities in new condominium, student residence, and commercial developments, with named technology partners including AWS, Standard Cognition, Pensa Systems, Axis Communications, Danavation, and Samsung Canada.

The company is privately held and continues to expand across multiple Canadian provinces. Following its inaugural cashierless store at Centennial Place in Toronto in September 2016 through a partnership with Knightstone Capital and Centennial College, the network now spans Ontario (Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Waterloo, London, St. Catharines), Quebec (Montreal), and British Columbia (Vancouver), with 10+ additional locations disclosed in the development pipeline. Aisle 24 operates through the legal entities Unattended Markets Corporate Ltd. and Unattended Markets Franchise Group Ltd., and has not disclosed any institutional venture capital or private equity ownership.

Name

Aisle 24

Legal name

Unattended Markets Corporate Ltd.

Website

https://aisle24.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aisle 24 is a Canadian franchise operator of fully automated, 24/7 cashierless grocery stores and compact vending units inside residential and commercial properties. It earns revenue from franchise fees, retail margins, and ongoing royalties across Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automated Convenience Retail

NAICS

Convenience Retailers and Vending Machine Operators (44513)

SIC

Retail-Convenience Stores (5412)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Price-Point Convenience Discount (e.g., $1–$10) (CRAEAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campus/Institutional Convenience Stores (University/Hospital) (CRAHABAF)

Keywords

• Automated grocery stores
• Cashierless convenience retail
• Self-service grocery
• Franchise convenience stores
• Smart vending systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Markham

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Transaction Fees: Customers purchase grocery and convenience items at stores using mobile app, debit/credit cards, or mobile wallet. Revenue is generated from the margin between wholesale product costs and retail selling prices.
2. Franchise Fees: One-time franchise fees for Community Markets ($35,000) and Resident Markets ($30,000), plus ongoing royalty or support arrangements.
3. Franchise Investment Revenue: Total investment from franchisees ranges from $175,000-$255,000 (Resident Markets) to $350,000-$575,000 (Community Markets), including construction, equipment, and technology systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aisle 24 designs, builds, and franchises fully automated, cashier-less grocery stores that operate 24/7, 365 days a year, without on-site staff. The company's store portfolio spans two franchise formats (Community Markets in commercial real estate and Resident Markets inside residential buildings of 300-999 sq ft), plus Aisle 24 Express compact 20-square-foot automated vending units for space-constrained properties. Shoppers unlock stores via the Aisle 24 mobile app and check out at self-service POS kiosks, while franchisees and property developers access a cloud-based management platform, dynamic digital price labels, and remote inventory and security monitoring.

Product overview

Aisle 24 operates a cashierless grocery retail platform consisting of two main store formats. The core product is Aisle 24 Markets, a full-service 24-hour self-service grocery store using mobile app entry, self-service scanning kiosks, and digital payment. This is complemented by Aisle 24 Express, a compact 20-square-foot automated vending unit for space-constrained properties. The company offers two franchise models: Community Markets (1000+ sq ft commercial locations) and Resident Markets (300-999 sq ft inside residential buildings). All formats are powered by the Aisle 24 Mobile App for account management and door access, integrated POS kiosks for checkout, and digital labels for dynamic pricing management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aisle 24 Express: Fully automated, temperature-controlled grocery vending system in a 20-square-foot unit designed for space-constrained properties like condos, student residences, campuses, and apartment buildings.

Products and services

• Aisle 24 Markets Full-service cashierless grocery store offering 24/7 self-service shopping for residential communities, condos, apartments, and campuses. Shoppers unlock the door via the Aisle 24 mobile app, scan products at the self-service POS kiosk, and pay with debit, credit, or mobile wallet. No on-site staff or cash handling is required.
• Aisle 24 Express Automated temperature-controlled grocery vending system in a 20-square-foot compact unit. Dispenses convenience store items including milk, bread, eggs, and ready-to-eat meals, featuring touchscreen ordering, rotating shelves, an elevator delivery mechanism for fragile products, and remote inventory monitoring. Designed for condos, student residences, campuses, and apartment buildings with insufficient space for a full market.
• Community Markets Franchise Aisle 24 franchise format designed for standard commercial real estate locations. Franchise fee $35,000; average total investment $350,000-$575,000; unencumbered cash required $100,000-$150,000. Stores feature 1000+ square feet, outdoor street-level access, and a bright modern design, and the format targets master-planned communities and commercial real estate operators.
• Resident Markets Franchise Aisle 24 franchise format designed for residential properties, installable in as little as 300 square feet inside condo, apartment, and student residence buildings. Franchise fee $30,000; average total investment $175,000-$255,000; unencumbered cash required $80,000-$100,000. Resident-only indoor access with products tailored to resident demand.
• Aisle 24 Mobile App Mobile application available on iOS App Store and Google Play that enables residents to register for accounts, unlock store doors, view promotions, complete customer surveys, and manage their self-service shopping experience at any Aisle 24 market.

Quantifiable outcome

• Store can open in as little as 6 weeks from site assessment to grand opening
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered founding, supporting and core.

• Centennial CollegefoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner that hosted Canada's first cashierless grocery store at Centennial Place student residence, providing the pilot location for the Aisle 24 concept.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)supportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing cloud infrastructure for Aisle 24's cashierless store technology pilot programs.
• Standard CognitionsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing autonomous checkout systems as part of Aisle 24's cashierless store pilot programs.
• Pensa SystemssupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing drone-based shelf monitoring systems for inventory management in Aisle 24 cashierless store pilot programs.
• DanavationsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing digital on-shelf signage solutions for Aisle 24 cashierless store pilot programs.
• Axis CommunicationscoreTechnology or IntegrationSecurity technology partner providing surveillance and audio/video camera systems for Aisle 24's self-service stores, enabling enhanced security monitoring and analytics.
• Samsung CanadasupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing digital solutions fitted to Aisle 24 cashierless grocery stores.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Amazon Go / Amazon Fresh: Amazon's cashierless convenience store concept (Just Walk Out technology) is the most direct analog to Aisle 24's automated small-format grocery model, with mobile-app entry, no checkout, and computer-vision-based product tracking. Both target impulse, small-basket grocery trips with a focus on convenience.

Broad incumbents

• Alimentation Couche-Tard (Circle K): Couche-Tard operates Circle K and Mac's — Canada's largest convenience retail network. Comparable as a broader convenience retail incumbent, though its format is traditional staffed forecourt stores rather than unmanned in-building markets.
• 7-Eleven: Global convenience retail leader with Canadian presence (7-Eleven Canada). Comparable as a broad convenience incumbent; Aisle 24 differentiates on unmanned 24/7 operation and residential-building placement rather than street-level corner stores.
• Loblaw Companies: Canada's largest grocery retailer (Loblaws, No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart). Comparable as a Canadian grocery incumbent, but operates full-size supermarkets and box stores rather than small-format unmanned markets.
• Sobeys / Empire Company: Second-largest Canadian grocery retailer (Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo). Comparable as a broad Canadian grocery incumbent competing for the same household grocery basket, though at a different store format and scale.
• Sheetz: US-based convenience chain known for tech-forward operations and broad food/retail assortment. Comparable as an established convenience retailer investing in automation, though operates larger staffed locations rather than unmanned in-building markets.

Others

• Trigo: Israel-based computer vision platform enabling autonomous checkout for grocery retailers (partners with Tesco, REWE, others). Comparable as a technology enabler/ecosystem participant whose solutions could be deployed by competing retailers against Aisle 24.
• Standard Cognition: US-based autonomous checkout technology provider and existing Aisle 24 pilot partner. Comparable as enabling technology for cashierless retail; relevant because the same tech could be licensed to competing retailers.
• AiFi: Camera-only cashierless checkout platform deployed in convenience stores and campus retail (e.g., ALDI Shop&Go, Żabka Nano). Comparable as an ecosystem enabler whose platform could power competing unmanned retail concepts.
• Zippin: Cashierless checkout technology provider for convenience and grocery stores. Comparable as an enabling infrastructure vendor whose deployment at competing retailers could erode Aisle 24's technology differentiation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/aisle24

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aisle 24