Waitrose to install ‘invisible door’ tech

Waitrose will introduce ‘invisible doors’ across its store estate later this year as part of ongoing sustainability efforts.

The AirDoor technology, developed by Wirth Research, uses sensors to detect the flow of air in both directions. To prevent warm air being lost on colder days, and cold air being lost on warmer days, the system generates wind to counteract the flow of air.

Later this year, Waitrose will install the AirDoor in its Berkhamsted supermarket, with plans to roll the technology out across its wider estate if successful.

Wirth Research stated that the archway installed around the store’s entrance will cause minimal disruption, and could save British retailers a total of £1.5 billion every year on their energy bills.

“We are always looking to find innovative ways to reduce our impact on the environment,” commented Jim Burnett, senior manager of technical services at Waitrose.

    Share Story:

Recent Stories


From CapEx to AI: Understanding the evolving cost structure of retail technology
This Retail Systems webinar, sponsored by Aptos, brings together leading voices from across the retail technology ecosystem to examine how modern PoS has transformed the cost ownership model – and how the emergence of agentic commerce is poised to rewrite the rules once again.

Beyond Channels: Redefining retail with Unified Commerce
This Retail Systems fireside chat with Nikki Baird, Vice President, Strategy & Product at Aptos will explore how unified commerce strategies enable retailers to tear down these barriers and unlock new levels of operational agility and customer satisfaction.

Advertisement