EmpowerFresh has partnered with Karns Quality Foods, a 10-store family-owned grocer in central Pennsylvania, to enhance produce operations through AI-powered ordering and inventory management, the Kansas City, Missouri-based technology company announced Feb. 4.
Founded in 1959, Karns Quality Foods operates throughout central Pennsylvania and is recognized for its meat and produce departments. The partnership will leverage EmpowerFresh’s AI-driven forecasting and data analytics to help Karns reduce shrink, improve in-stock conditions and increase inventory turns.
“We’ve always believed that great food starts with great people and great processes,” said Mat Rudderow, president of Karns Quality Foods.
“EmpowerFresh gives our produce teams better visibility and confidence in their ordering decisions, while still honoring the experience and judgment our associates bring every day. It’s a tool that supports our values rather than replacing them.”
Solution combines sales history, AI forecasting
EmpowerFresh’s platform uses sales history, AI-driven forecasting and intuitive workflows to help produce teams reduce waste and free up labor time while maintaining quality standards. The solution integrates with retailers’ existing systems to provide real-time insights for ordering decisions.
“Produce moves fast, and there’s not a lot of room for error,” said Justin Kapp, senior produce associate at Karns Quality Foods. “EmpowerFresh helps us order with more accuracy and less guesswork. It’s made our process more efficient and helps us keep the department full, fresh, and ready for our customers.”
The partnership includes collaboration with Four Seasons Produce, Karns’ long-time supplier and a strategic partner to EmpowerFresh, aligning retailers, wholesalers and technology around shared goals.
“When retailers and suppliers are working from the same playbook, everyone wins,” said Jon Steffy, VP and general manager of Four Seasons Produce.
“EmpowerFresh creates better alignment across the supply chain by improving forecast accuracy, reducing waste, and supporting smarter ordering decisions at the store level. Karns is a best-in-class retailer, and this partnership reflects a shared commitment to freshness, efficiency, and long-term success.”
Platform empowers store-level teams
EmpowerFresh designed its platform to support store-level decision-making with data rather than mandating specific actions. The approach allows produce teams to leverage technology while maintaining operational autonomy.
“Karns is exactly the kind of retailer we built EmpowerFresh for,” said Jesse Himango, co-founder and COO of EmpowerFresh. “They care deeply about quality, their associates, and their customers. Our goal is to give the produce teams clarity and confidence, using data as a support system, not a mandate. Partnering with a family-owned company like Karns that truly values its people is incredibly meaningful to us.”
EmpowerFresh is a software company focused on helping independent grocers through data-driven tools and AI-powered decision-making in the produce department. The company combines business intelligence with intuitive design to transform ordering from reactive processes into strategic execution.
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