In 2019, Albertsons Companies Inc. began a monumental transformation across its banners that has proven both successful and profitable, driving double-digit sales growth and increasing loyalty program to 25.4 million members. 2021 saw even more transformation: digitizing the grocery shopping experience, enhancing curbside pickup, and even piloting smart salad bars. The company’s initiatives have proven both successful and profitable, especially in fresh. So now, as part of its commitment to being the best in fresh, Albertsons is partnering with Afresh to help drive significant business impact while advancing the company’s sustainability efforts. 

“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,” said Susan Morris, EVP and Chief Operating Officer of Albertsons Companies.

Albertsons will roll out the solution in all stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia at more than 20 well-known banners, including 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.

Albertsons’ cornerstone solution for fresh

According to Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran, “sales in each of our fresh categories remain ahead of pre-pandemic levels, as customers continue to consume more meals at home.” The company will use Afresh’s AI-driven Fresh Operating System for fresh replenishment in all its stores, enabling associates to optimize fresh forecasting, inventory, ordering, merchandising, and operations—something other retail technology systems struggle to accomplish. With fresh-first tech in hand, store teams can leverage recommendations to place perfect orders every time.

“Managing these variables ultimately allows us to offer our customers even higher quality fresh products and further reduce our food waste.” Morris said.‍

Furthering Albertsons’ commitment to sustainability

For Albertsons, achieving business growth while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and use of other important resources is critical. Food waste is an enormous problem in the U.S. and worldwide, and Project Drawdown cites reducing food waste as the number one lever to curb climate change. 

As one of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Loss and Waste Champions, innovative solutions like Afresh will help Albertsons achieve its goal to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. Additionally, the company is committed to setting a science-based carbon reduction goal, and food waste will help reduce the carbon footprint within the company’s value chain carbon footprint.

"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," said Matt Schwartz, CEO and co-founder of Afresh.  

We are proud to be a part of Albertsons’ efforts to meet sustainability commitments and we know that purpose-built tech is the best way to future-proof fresh departments. Our solutions drive profitability and sustainability for fresh departments in over 3,000 stores across 40 states, including Albertsons, WinCo Foods, Heinen's, Save Mart, Bashas, CUB Foods, and more. Request a demo here.