Lowe’s Markets, a Texas-based independent grocery chain, has expanded its partnership with EmpowerFresh, an AI-powered ordering and analytics platform built specifically for independent retailers’ produce departments.
Building on the success of their initial six-store pilot, this new partnership rollout will extend EmpowerFresh’s innovative solutions to 68 locations across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Kansas.
As the grocery industry faces mounting pressure from national chains and e-commerce giants, independent retailers like Lowe’s Markets are turning to cutting-edge technology to stay competitive. The produce department – often considered the real differentiator of any grocery store – is now being transformed through artificial intelligence (AI). EmpowerFresh provides advanced machine learning tools, predictive ordering and data-driven insights that help produce managers make smarter, faster decisions.
“Our partnership with Affiliated Foods and Lowe’s Market represents more than just a strategic alliance – it’s a defining moment for the future of independent grocery. Together, we are unlocking a new era of intelligence, precision and agility in produce operations,” said EmpowerFresh CEO Rob Austin.
“By uniting EmpowerFresh’s AI-powered platform with the deep-rooted trust and reach of these Texas-based leaders, we’re setting a new standard for what independent grocers can achieve. This is about giving every store – no matter the size – the tools to thrive in a competitive marketplace and lead with innovation at the core of fresh.”
This expansion reflects a shared commitment to local excellence and innovation. By equipping Lowe’s Market stores with AI-assisted ordering, EmpowerFresh is helping ensure that every produce department is optimized for freshness, variety and product availability – key ingredients in winning customer loyalty.
“At Lowe’s Markets, we’re always looking for ways to support our store teams and better serve our communities,” stated Matthew MacDonald, director of produce.
“EmpowerFresh has given our produce departments the tools to make smarter, faster decisions, helping us reduce shrink, improve freshness and elevate the overall customer experience. Expanding this partnership is a natural next step, and we’re excited about the impact it will have across our company.”
EmpowerFresh’s AI-driven technology simplifies ordering, improves in-stock experiences, reduces shrink, enhances production planning and empowers store teams to act on real-time insights. With produce representing the top traffic-driving department, this rollout is expected to have an impact on customer satisfaction and bottom-line performance.
Strategic partnership with Affiliated Foods Inc.
Affiliated Foods Inc. (AFI), the Amarillo, Texas-based cooperative wholesaler, has joined the effort to support this rollout and prove out the model. As a longtime partner to Lowe’s Markets and a supply chain backbone for many independent banners, AFI sees this initiative as a critical step toward defining the future of fresh retail.
AFI’s collaboration with EmpowerFresh is focused on quantifying the return on investment that AI can deliver at scale within the co-op model. Together, EmpowerFresh, Lowe’s Markets and AFI are forging an alliance that highlights how technology and tradition can work together to strengthen independent retailers in an evolving grocery landscape.
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