Harps Food Stores will deploy SmartMeals, AWG’s AI-powered shopping assistant built by Breez AI, across its network of more than 150 stores. The announcement was made at the AWG Innovation Showcase, where independent grocers gathered to explore technologies shaping the future of grocery retail.
The rollout makes Harps one of the largest operators in the AWG network to commit to SmartMeals at scale, coming one week after AWG announced broad deployment of the platform across its member base.
The Harps deployment will integrate SmartMeals with Birdzi, the company’s customer loyalty platform, and Webstop, its web provider – connecting personalized meal planning and digital savings with each store’s real-time inventory and loyalty data. The integration is designed to give shoppers a direct path from meal inspiration to in-store or online purchase.
SmartMeals generates personalized meal plans, recipes and cooking instructions based on household size, dietary preferences and budget. It builds shopping lists from products currently in stock at the shopper’s local Harps location, applies available digital savings, surfaces store brands and private label items, and builds a reshoppable library of each customer’s preferred meals over time.
Harps’ CMO David Ganoung said the platform aligns the company’s community-service focus with a competitive technology play.
“Harps has always focused on delivering the best possible experience for our customers and our communities. 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,” Ganoung said.
Retail media revenue stream for independents
SmartMeals includes a retail media module that gives CPG brands sponsored product placement inside shoppers’ meal plans — appearing as featured ingredients or entire sponsored meals matched to each household’s profile. Upcoming functionality will also deliver personalized meal recommendations through the loyalty program after each shopping trip, creating a second high-intent touchpoint for brands.
Shelly Moore, AWG’s chief information officer, said the platform addresses a structural disadvantage independents have long faced in retail media.
“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,” Moore said.
Tal Zlotnitsky, founder and CEO of Breez AI, framed the stakes for independent grocers who act now versus those who wait.
“Shoppers are already using AI to decide what to cook. 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,” Zlotnitsky said.
Rollout timeline
Deployment will begin in early summer with 20 to 25 stores before expanding across the full Harps network. The initiative will be led internally by Ganoung and Sarah Thacker, director of advertising and communications.
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