# Virtual Supermarket Sommeliers Lidl's 'Margot' is a Helpful "Winebot" on Facebook Messenger By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2018-02-07 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/winebot References: [retailgazette](https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2018/02/retail-gazette-loves-lidls-virtual-sommelier/) & [lidl](https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/How-to-use-Margot-the-Winebot-11782.htm) In order to help consumers with the process of selecting a wine to purchase, discount supermarket chain Lidl launched a "winebot" on Facebook Messenger by the name of 'Margot.' As much as it is satisfying to be spoiled for choice in a supermarket when it comes to the sheer number of products stocked, it can be overwhelming at times—Margot has the potential to simplify the process by serving as a virtual shopper and product consultant. To begin interacting with Margot, shoppers have three choices: searching for a food pairing, finding a wine or taking a quiz. When it comes to selecting a wine that may pair well with a certain kind of food, users are able to use food emojis to describe what they're looking for. Additionally, searches may be conducted by country, region, grape, color, price and more. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.3/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 81% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Virtual Shopping Assistants:** The rise of virtual shopping assistants like Lidl's 'Margot' simplifies the selection process for consumers, providing personalized recommendations. - **Conversational AI:** The use of conversational AI technologies, such as chatbots on platforms like Facebook Messenger, enhances customer engagement and interaction. - **Food and Wine Pairing:** The trend of using AI-powered tools to suggest food and wine pairings offers convenience and helps consumers make educated choices. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Retail:** Virtual shopping assistants have disruptive potential in the retail industry by improving the customer experience and driving sales. - **Artificial Intelligence:** The conversational AI industry can benefit from the increasing popularity of virtual shopping assistants and chatbots for customer engagement. - **Food and Beverage:** The use of AI-powered tools for food and wine pairing in the food and beverage industry provides a unique selling point and enhances consumer satisfaction. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Interactive AI Sommeliers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-sommelier.md) - [Personalized Wine Recommendation Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/personalized-wine-recommendation-app.md) - [Painterly AI Sommeliers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-sommeliers.md) - [Virtual Wine Concierges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jessup-cellars.md) - [AI-Recommended Wine Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sippd.md) - [Virtual Wine Assistants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ask-joe.md) - [Wine Intelligence Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/firstleaf-ai.md) - [AI-Assisted Wine Website Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thomas-fogarty-winery.md) - [AI-Driven Direct-To-Consumer Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/personalized-food-and-beverage.md)