Park will roll out shop with no cashiers in May

Knott’s Berry Farm visitors will soon have one less line to wait in and more time to spend riding roller coasters when a new Coca-cola graband-go contactless shop opens at the Buena Park theme park.

The new M&T’S on the Go cashierless convenience store will open in late May.

The latest investor presentation for Cedar Fair, Knott’s parent company, highlighted the contactless retail technology test as a way to provide convenience to visitors and expand revenue opportunities.

The new store will be located near the Charleston Circle Fountain on an empty pad near the Hangtime store. M&T’S will sell Coca-cola bottled beverages, potato chips, ice cream, sundries and souvenirs.

How will it work? Visitors will scan a credit card as they enter to open a sliding plexiglass entry gate. A camera will follow shoppers as they select items from shelves and coolers. When done, shoppers will leave through a sliding exit gate and be charged for whatever they’ve taken. The technology means shoppers won’t need to stop at a cashier after they’ve scanned into the store using their credit card.

Mobile ordering is not available at M&T’S on the Go.

The “M&T” in the name are the initials of the Knott family’s children — Marion and Tony.

Six Flags Magic Mountain opened a similar Quick 6 micro-market concept last summer powered by Amazon’s “frictionless” payment technology.

Coca-cola was also a partner in the Quick 6 shops, whose “just walk out” technology allowing guests to shop and purchase items without having to wait in line for a cashier.

The skip-the-checkout-line concept was first introduced in Amazon Go convenience stores and later expanded to Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods supermarkets. Amazon’s checkout-free technology has since been adopted by other grocery stores and sporting and entertainment venues.