Skip to main content

Alexa gets some company: Lystr takes the headache out of creating grocery lists

Lystr Kickstarter Video
With all of the other lists you’re creating and keeping tabs on in your head, the last thing you need is a complicated grocery list, too. Luckily, there’s a new app that wants to take all the thinking out of shopping — for food, that is. Meet Lystr, a new Internet of Things product that just made its Kickstarter debut, and aims to take the hassle out of your grocery shopping.

Anytime you realize you’re running low on an essential kitchen supply like milk, olive oil, or eggs, simply tell your new connected device something like, “Hey Lystr, add milk.” If you want to remember an exact brand of a product, you can use Lystr’s sensor to scan the item’s bar code. No matter which method you opt for, the item will automatically be added to your shopping list so the next time you make a trip to the store, you won’t be wracking your brain trying to remember what you forgot.

Related Videos

The companion Lystr smartphone app contains the entirety of your grocery list, and you can share the contents of said list with any of your contacts, or email it to your personal assistant (if you’re lucky enough to have one).

Lystr founder Kara Scanlin sees the product as the equivalent of Amazon Alexa or Dash. Rather than talking to an Amazon Echo, you’ll be talking to a discreet device that plugs into any outlet in your kitchen, and can be taken just about anywhere you go.

“We put an insane attention to detail in designing the product,” Scanlin noted of the design process. “I’m picky, and I know my customer is picky about what they put in their kitchen, so we had to make it beautiful.”

And it’s certainly pretty sleek. The small disk blends in easily with just about any kitchen decor, but its functionality is certainly something you won’t want to miss out on. You can now pre-order a Lystr from Kickstarter for the early-bird price of $79, with an estimated shipment date of November 2017.

Editors' Recommendations

Amazon takes on the grocery store with Prime Pantry
For $5 a month, you can now subscribe to Amazon Prime Pantry
amazon-prime-pantry

Four years ago, Amazon made its first attempt at becoming your go-to source for groceries with its Prime Pantry delivery service. Tackling delivery from the perspective of space within a flat- rate box, Amazon Prime members were previously able to purchase up to 45 pounds of household groceries and ship that heavy box for $6. But now, that fee schedule is changing. Rather than a flat rate, Amazon is turning Prime Pantry into yet another monthly service subscription. If you want to take advantage of Prime Pantry, you have to pay $5 each month for unlimited deliveries and free shipping on orders over $40. If you don't hit that $40 minimum, you have to pay $2 extra.

Of course, this new $5 monthly fee is an additional cost beyond a yearly Amazon Prime subscription. Items available within the Amazon Pantry system include beverages, food and snacks, standard cooking supplies, personal care items, household cleaning items and pet food.

Read more
Grocery delivery company Thrive Market wants to end ‘food deserts’
thrive market food deserts fb banner

If you live in a major metropolitan area, you might not realize that food deserts are a harsh reality in much of the country. Food deserts are regions that have limited access to healthy food options, and good-for-you fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats are hard to get your hands on in these areas. The consequence of that is reliance on unhealthy food choices, such as processed snacks, fast food, and sugary drinks. But one online grocer is trying to change the reality of food deserts by bringing healthy food to these areas, with the help of technology.

Thrive Market is a site that sells a carefully curated collection of relatively healthy foods, including chicken, peanut butter, and pasta. Most of the products are deliberately priced below market value, often selling for 10 to 15 percent cheaper than how they are priced on Amazon. The catch? Consumers must be prepared to pay an annual amount of $60 to have access to these bargain produce selections. “We’re able to have these low prices because we buy directly from the brands and the farmers, we cut out all the middlemen in the supply chain, [and] we have our own distribution centers," founder Gunnar Lovelace told Fast Company.

Read more
Walmart takes on Amazon by offering grocery delivery — for a fee
walmart online grocery delivery

Two of the biggest retailers in the United States are going head-to-head, and that is good news for customers. On Wednesday, March 14, Walmart announced it would be introducing online grocery delivery to more than 100 metro areas by the end of 2018, which means that it will soon serve more than 40 percent of households in the country. Of course, this sounds an awful lot like a recent initiative that online retailer Amazon announced -- the ability to get your Whole Foods purchases delivered through Amazon Prime.
While Amazon's recent acquisition of Whole Foods has certainly helped to drive down the prices of the more health-focused grocery store, it's likely that Walmart is still, broadly speaking, the more cost-effective option. Now, Walmart Grocery Delivery will bring customers fresh produce, meat, seafood, and bakery items, all straight to their front doors. You can place an order on the Walmart website, or alternatively, use the Walmart Grocery App. Moreover, the company points out, prices on the app or online will not be higher than those you find in stores, so there is literally no incentive for you to leave the house to get your groceries.

As of now, Walmart has made its delivery service available in six markets, but will soon be adding dozens more.

Read more