Kansas City, Missouri-based Empower Fresh Co., the only AI-powered produce management solution designed for independent grocers and wholesale operations, has named Robert Austin president and CEO.
Created by industry veterans with more than 100 years of combined experience, Empower Fresh helps retailers fight shrink, optimize inventory, streamline ordering and boost profitability.
Austin has been with the company since its inception and has served in many roles, including SVP of sales. His appointment to CEO is one of many moves the company is making as it looks to optimize its structure to better prepare for customer growth in 2025.
A second-generation produce professional, Austin is the son of Dave Austin, who was instrumental in the wholesale produce market in the Midwest while general manager at Pisciotta’s Fruits & Vegetables.
“One thing my dad understood and always reminded me of was everything is and should be about the relationship you have with your customers and community,” Austin said.
“It’s the very same thing I love most about Empower Fresh. We get to sell relationships, not just products or services. It’s what independent grocers need today more than ever. Watching (and working with) these third- and fourth-generation families hold up their corner of their small town gets me excited.”
[RELATED: IGA, EmpowerFresh Help Independent Grocers With Produce Solutions]
Growing up in Kansas City, Austin worked as a teenager at Pisciotta’s. After several more years of managing the warehouse at night and brokering onions and potatoes across the Midwest, Austin went into business for himself in the IT sector. He spent 15 years serving small to medium-sized businesses in and around Kansas City and beyond at Tech Express.
“I couldn’t be any more excited for anything as I am for 2025 at Empower Fresh,” Austin said. “We have worked our tail off, as a small team, the last couple of years to make sure we are delivering the maximum results for each one of our customers today and always. We are experiencing growth, have expanded the team, have new leadership in place and are making a difference for our retailer partners every day.”
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