United StatesRetail and e-commerce2024 – ongoingAssociated Wholesale Grocers
SmartMeals AI meal planning and shopping
Associated Wholesale Grocers expanded SmartMeals to nearly 100 member stores
Problem
Independent grocers needed online shopping tools that could compete with national chains. Building their own AI service would require additional infrastructure investment.
Approach
Associated Wholesale Grocers partnered with Breez AI in 2024 to develop SmartMeals. The tool provided meal recommendations based on dietary preferences and budgets, with recipes connected to grocery shopping. After a pilot, nearly 100 member stores had been onboarded by March 2026, according to AWG.
Results
Takeaway
A shared platform let independent retailers add the service to their existing websites. Reported basket growth came from participating stores and lacked independent verification.
Categories
- Industry
- Retail and e-commerce
- Business function
- Marketing and sales
- Innovation type
- Product and service innovation
- AI technology
- Recommendation and personalization
- Adoption
- Partner co-development
- Evidence
- Company's own claim
Sources
Source summaries
The report described SmartMeals moving beyond its pilot to nearly 100 member stores. AWG cited a 22% basket-size increase reported by participating stores, without independent verification.
Full details are in the original sources.