Village Super Market to expand its retail automation chainwide

Independent grocer Village Super Market Inc. has partnered with Focal Systems AI to further drive automation at its brick-and-mortar locations along the East Coast.

The chainwide rollout of the new artificial intelligence technology capabilities follows a pilot in five stores across New Jersey and New York. By partnering with Focal Systems, maker of a shelf camera-based automated inventory solution, the grocery retailer is looking to enhance ordering, inventory management, merchandising and in-store labor, Focal Systems announced on Wednesday.

"We chose Focal Systems as they have proven they can reliably unlock productivity gains in our stores with their Al, while improving the customer experience and sales," said Nico Sumas, co-president of Village Super Market, in a statement. "We've already seen improvements in product availability for our customers by increasing the productivity of our replenishment staff. We can't wait to optimize the rest of our stores with this rollout."

With a focus on in-store experience, "Village Super Market has demonstrated time and time again its commitment to putting its customers first," said Francois Chaubard, CEO and founder of Focal Systems, in a statement. "By investing in Al early on, Village Super Market is positioning itself to provide the ultimate in-store experience. The technology enables associates to spend more time with customers, reinforcing the family environment its stores are known for."

A member of the Wakefern Food Corp. grocery retail cooperative, Village Super Market operates stores under the banners ShopRite and Fairway Market in New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as four Gourmet Garage specialty markets in Manhattan.