The Kroger Co. has launched an AI shopping assistant across the websites and apps of its family of companies, a tool the grocer said helps customers plan meals, find products and build carts.
The Cincinnati, Ohio-based retailer positioned the launch around the back-to-school season, framing the assistant as a way for families to plan weeknight dinners, tailgates and other occasions. Customers can use it to build a cart around a budget and dietary needs, snap a photo of a written list or recipe card or paste a recipe URL to have the assistant find the products and assemble a cart.
“We continue to invest in digital tools that make shopping simpler, more intuitive and more convenient for our customers,” said Yael Cosset, EVP and chief digital officer. “The AI Shopping Assistant is another example of how we’re using technology and AI to help families plan, discover and shop more easily.”
Kroger paired the launch with back-to-routine meal suggestions across its Our Brands portfolio, from quick breakfasts and lunchbox items to weeknight dinners and after-school snacks under the Kroger, Simple Truth and Private Selection labels.
The rollout follows Kroger’s January expansion of its Google Cloud partnership, under which it said it would deploy Gemini-based meal planning and shopping assistants nationwide. It also arrives as competitors invest in similar tools, including Schnucks, which announced a personalized AI assistant with VitalityIP earlier in July.
Kroger said customers can shop in store, on Kroger.com or in the app at the same prices, with pickup or delivery in as little as 30 minutes, and that its full assortment is available through DoorDash, Instacart and Uber Eats.
The Kroger Co. operates retail food stores under a variety of banners and serves more than 11 million customers daily across its family of companies. Banners include Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C Food Store, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay-Less Super Markets, Pick’n Save, QFC, Ralphs, Ruler and Smith’s Food and Drug.