A South Australian invention is on track to transform the safety and hygiene of supermarket shopping around the world.

Local product development company Curia Ventures has created Please Swipe — an innovative, alcohol-free trolley sanitation device designed to remove bacteria and viruses from shopping trolley handles with a single swipe.

Attached directly to the trolley handle, the compact device dispenses a thin layer of sanitiser along the grip each time it’s used. The system eliminates the need for single-use wipes, offering both hygiene and environmental benefits.

The idea was developed by South Australians Charlie Bourne and Neil Mullard OAM, who co-founded Curia Ventures after recognising the health risks of high-contact public surfaces. Over the past decade, the pair have worked with industrial designer Andi Stevens to refine and commercialise the technology.

With patents already accepted in the United States and China, and pending across several other regions including Australia and Europe, the company is now preparing for a global rollout.

Closer to home, Romeo’s Retail Group is leading the way with a trial of Please Swipe at its North Adelaide Foodland store — the first independent retailer in the country to do so.

“Customer feedback has been excellent,” said Anthony Romeo, Director of Romeo’s Retail Group. “It’s simple, quick and keeps handles feeling clean. We’re now looking at a broader rollout across our stores.”

Curia Ventures says the goal is to make clean, safe trolleys part of every shopper’s routine.

“Each trolley can pass through dozens of hands every day,” said inventor Charlie Bourne. “Even a small improvement in hygiene can deliver real public health benefits. We’re proud to see this South Australian idea being embraced by retailers and shoppers alike.”