AI-powered salad bars coming to Schnuck Markets

St. Louis-based Schnucks Markets is bringing artificial-intelligence-powered salad bars to 22 locations in Missouri and Illinois, according to an announcement from Picadeli, the food tech company that manufactures the smart salad bars. 

Sweden-based Picadeli, which is in more than 2,000 salad bars in seven countries across Europe, launched in the U.S. in 2021 and already operates in select Albertsons, Safeway, ACME and Ahold Delhaize (The Giant Company) locations. 

The high-tech salad bars work to reduce food waste by enabling grocers to track the freshness of each bar item by scanning a QR code. The bars will be customized for each location and will be stocked with the most sought-after ingredients in each market. The bars also emphasize food safety with shielding hoods, hand sanitizer and bowl dispensers, according to Picadeli.  

“We know customers are looking for convenient, healthy food options, and they’re going to love the fresh new experience of Picadeli,” said Ted Schnuck, Schnuck Markets executive vice president, in a statement. “With Picadeli’s AI technology, customers will have the freshest food available to them on the salad bar via its digital management and reordering system. We are thrilled to offer our customers a customizable, fresh and healthy food option that complements our existing prepared foods offerings.” 

Patrik Hellstrand, CEO of Picadeli U.S., said Schnucks is a “digital leader in the grocery space” and an ideal partner for Picadeli. “Retailers today are faced with the unique challenge of both a tight labor market and the demand by consumers for a memorable in-store experience that drives traffic away from delivery apps and into the store,” Hellstrand said in a statement. “Picadeli has proven to answer both, and most importantly solves the overarching food problem in America: to provide healthy, affordable, fresh food fast.”

Schnucks was founded in 1939 and now operates 114 supermarkets in Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana.