Harps Deploys AI Shopping Assistant at All Its Grocery Stores
Regional grocer Harps Food Stores will deploy SmartMeals, Associated Wholesale Grocers’ (AWG) AI-powered shopping assistant powered by Breez AI, across its network stores. The move was revealed at the AWG Innovation Showcase, taking place March 24–26, where independents from across the country are meeting to explore new grocery retail technologies and solutions. Harps is one of the largest operators in the AWG network. Last week, the co-op noted the wide-scale deployment of SmartMeals across its member network.
SmartMeals will integrate directly with Harps’ existing digital infrastructure, including Birdzi, its customer loyalty platform, and Webstop, its webpage provider. The integration links personalized meal planning, digital savings and future online ordering with each store’s real-time inventory and customer loyalty data, giving shoppers a seamless path from meal inspiration to purchase.
The solution generates personalized meal plans, recipes and cooking instructions in seconds, according to each shopper's household size, dietary preferences and budget. It automatically devises a shopping list using products currently in stock at the user’s local Harps store, applies available digital savings, and highlights store brands and private label items. It also creates a personalized, re-shoppable library of preferred meals for each customer.
“Harps has always focused on delivering the best possible experience for our customers and our communities,” noted David Ganoung, chief marketing officer at Harps. “SmartMeals allows us to combine that commitment with cutting-edge technology, giving our customers personalized meal inspiration while making it easier to shop our stores.”
Soon SmartMeals will also provide personalized meal recommendations back to shoppers through their loyalty program following each trip, creating a second high-intent touchpoint for CPG brands just when shoppers are most ready to plan their next basket.
The SmartMeals rollout is part of AWG’s broader technology initiative to give independents access to advanced digital tools typically available only to the largest national players.
“Independent grocers are the backbone of communities across the country, and our mission at AWG is to ensure they have access to the innovative tools that larger retailers do,” said AWG CIO Shelly Moore. “SmartMeals helps level the playing field by giving retailers like Harps a powerful way to personalize the shopping experience, driving customer loyalty and basket size. It also opens a new chapter in how CPG brands can partner with independent grocers — placing their products inside a high-intent, personalized shopping experience rather than just relying on traditional promotions.”
“Shoppers are already using AI to decide what to cook,” observed Tal Zlotnitsky, founder and CEO of Tampa, Fla.-based Breez AI. “Harps is making sure that decision happens inside their brand, connected to their inventory and their loyalty program. Every week that plays out, Harps is capturing a greater share of the basket, building loyalty and generating retail media revenue that used to be out of reach for independent grocers. The retailers who move now will look back on this as the moment the game changed.”
The rollout of SmartMeals at Harps will occur in phases, beginning in the early summer with an initial group of 20-25 stores, before expanding across the broader store network in the following months.
Springdale, Arkansas-based Harps, an independent grocer that will soon operate 178 stores across eight states, is a member of Kansas City, Kan.-based AWG, the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving 1,100 member companies and more than 3,400 locations throughout 33 states from nine wholesale divisions. This year, AWG is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
This article was originally published on P2PI sibling brand Progressive Grocer.
