Sponsored By

Albertsons looks to fine-tune fresh operations

Chainwide rollout of Afresh platform brings AI to fresh food management

Russell Redman

January 27, 2022

2 Min Read
Albertsons_produce_department-flagship_store.jpg
Albertsons is deploying Afresh's solution to hone management of its fresh product supply, demand forecasting and inventory tracking.Albertsons

Albertsons Cos. plans to deploy the Afresh fresh-food optimization platform at its nearly 2,300 stores in 34 states.

The artificial intelligence-powered Afresh Fresh Operating System will be used to sharpen fresh department operations across Albertsons Cos. supermarket banners, helping stores reduce shrink, accelerate stock turns to provide shoppers with fresher produce and, in turn, boost sales and profits, the companies said Thursday. No timetable for the technology rollout was disclosed.

“By partnering with Afresh, we are now able to improve our processes to better manage our fresh product supply and provide our store teams with a tool to better predict demand and monitor inventory,” Susan Morris, executive vice president and chief operations officer at Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons, said in a statement. “Managing these variables ultimately allows us to offer our customers even higher quality fresh products and further reduce our food waste.”

Designed specifically for supermarket fresh food sections, Afresh’s platform supports forecasting, inventory, ordering, merchandising and store operations functions. On its website, San Francisco-based Afresh reported that stores using its system have slashed food waste by 25% and out-of-stocks by 80%, at the same time lifting chainwide monthly sales by 3% on average.

Related:The Save Mart Cos. to test AI-powered platform for produce department

Afresh said its solution also adds two days to fresh food post-sale shelf life, a benefit not just for customers but also Albertsons. As a USDA Food Loss and Waste Champions participant, the grocer aims to halve its food waste by 2030. Albertsons, too, has set science-based targets for carbon reduction, an effort that will be aided by cutting down on food waste in its stores and supply chain.

“We know that fresh food drives the global grocery industry, yet the lack of technology for fresh departments causes immense food waste and expensive losses. We’re honored to support Albertsons Cos.’ investment in, and demonstrated velocity of, technology and innovation, which is making the grocery experience better and more efficient for both the retailer and its shoppers,” stated Matt Schwartz, CEO and co-founder of Afresh.  

The nation’s second-largest supermarket operator, Albertsons Cos. has 2,278 stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under more than 20 banners, such as Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market.

Related:New Seasons Market to bring Afresh operating system for fresh food to stores

Other grocers using Afresh’s solution include The Save Mart Cos., Cub Foods, New Seasons Market Heinen’s, WinCo Foods and Fresh Thyme Market.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like