Albertsons Companies Inc. has completed the nationwide deployment of its Afresh Fresh Replenishment solution, bringing artificial intelligence-driven ordering and inventory optimisation to all fresh food departments across its banners.
Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Albertsons Companies operates 2,257 retail stores across 35 states and Washington, D.C., including 1,720 in-store pharmacies, 405 fuel centres, 22 distribution centres, and 19 manufacturing facilities.
Its rollout covers bakery, deli, meat and seafood, and produce departments across brands including Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Vons, and Acme.
The Afresh system uses AI and advanced data modelling to align inventory, demand, and ordering processes for thousands of perishable items — ensuring better stock accuracy, fresher products, and reduced waste.
In its bakery departments, the platform allows Albertsons to track demand and inventory for specific items — even when they share a single retail ID, such as assorted bulk donuts.
In the deli, it connects recipe data to monitor both finished products, like sandwiches, and their individual ingredients.
For meat and seafood, the AI system links complex subprimal cuts — for example, a single piece of meat that can yield roasts, fillets, or steaks — to actual sales, enabling more precise forecasting and ordering. In produce, Afresh helps minimise waste while keeping shelves stocked with top-quality fruit and vegetables.
“Our partnership with Afresh has been a true game-changer in modernising our fresh operations,” said Michelle Larson, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for Albertsons Cos., in a statement.
“This technology has allowed us to provide our customers with an even better shopping experience while empowering our store teams to keep customer favourites in stock and ensure that we are offering the best quality, freshest products to our communities.”
The expansion builds on Albertsons’ earlier adoption of Afresh AI in its produce departments, which began in 2023 to improve freshness and reduce food waste.
By late 2024, the grocer extended Afresh to its meat and seafood categories in more than 2,200 stores, improving in-stock rates while optimising cooler and freezer efficiency.
In October 2024, Albertsons began piloting Afresh DC Forecasts, a fresh-specific AI tool for distribution centre buyers that automates order forecasting across its supply chain.
“Our collaboration with Albertsons Cos. has been foundational to our growth,” said Matt Schwartz, CEO and co-founder of Afresh.
“The trust and partnership we have built has allowed us to deliver a comprehensive, department-by-department solution that is truly a first for the industry.
This scaled rollout is a testament to Albertsons Cos.’ vision of a modern, sustainable grocery future, with Afresh as the engine of their fresh operations.”
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