Grocery Outlet, an extreme-value grocer, has selected Afresh for store ordering across every department — center store, general merchandise, meat and produce — at its more than 500 stores run by independent operators, according to the companies. The partnership will provide each operator with intelligent ordering that balances shrink, out-of-stocks, labor and margin while maintaining the operator autonomy that defines Grocery Outlet’s business.
Grocery Outlet’s operating model pairs independent store operators with an evolving assortment driven by opportunistic product sourcing. To accommodate this, the company sought an ordering solution that could support a dynamic environment without relying on static assortments, rigid merchandising programs or a one-size-fits-all approach to inventory management. 
Afresh’s AI platform uses probabilistic decision-making to handle new and rotating items from Grocery Outlet’s changing assortment, along with an inventory approach that does not depend on perfect on-hand counts, according to Afresh. The platform provides configurable intelligence that integrates into Grocery Outlet’s existing technology stack.
“We selected Afresh because it is uniquely suited to Grocery Outlet’s operating model and our vision for the future. This investment is about simplifying and modernizing operations for our independent operators, and equipping stores with world-class solutions that help them make smarter decisions every day,” said Frank Kerr, chief store operations officer at Grocery Outlet. “By combining advanced technology with the flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit that define Grocery Outlet, we’re making it easier for operators to focus on serving their communities, delivering exceptional value, and driving profitable growth.”
“Grocery Outlet has built one of the most differentiated operating models in grocery, and that requires technology that can adapt to the complexity of modern grocery retail. We built Afresh to help grocers make better inventory decisions at scale — improving in-stock performance, reducing waste, and driving stronger results across the business,” said Matt Schwartz, CEO and co-founder of Afresh. “Starting in fresh and expanding across the store, we’re bringing that vision to life for retailers nationwide.”
Founded in 2017 with a mission to eliminate food waste and make fresh food accessible, Afresh supports more than 12,500 departments across 40 states, partnering with Albertsons Companies, Stater Bros., Meijer, Wakefern and others, according to the company.
About Grocery Outlet
Based in Emeryville, California, Grocery Outlet is an extreme-value retailer of name-brand consumables and fresh products sold through a network of stores run by independent operators. Grocery Outlet and its subsidiaries have more than 540 stores in California, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, Idaho, North Carolina, Maryland, Ohio, Georgia, Virginia, New Jersey, Alabama, Delaware and Kentucky.