ALDI

Providing a seamless consumer experience is one hope for bringing back brick and mortar retail, automated stores are being built to do just that.

Automated Stores

AiFi offers a grab-and-go checkout solution powered by computer vision and AI. Its solution enables a customer to enter a store using a mobile app, pick up the items required, and exit the store to complete the purchase. The solution also generates statistics and insights on customer behavior. The company claims that its technology can track up to 500 customers while also tracking tens of thousands of items in a store. It also claims a 99% accuracy rate and can be used within a space of up to 10,000 square feet, without using facial recognition technology or storing biometric data.AiFi’s flagship platform, “Orchestrated Autonomous Store Infrastructure &amp; Services (OASIS)” is designed for stores ranging from 200 square feet to 10,000 square feet and allows users to select between a fully autonomous shopping experience or a hybrid model. The stores will have a turnstile, a kiosk or door locks at the entrance, which the customer can interact with to gain access to the store. It also can be integrated with existing payments, inventory management, and electronic shelf labeling systems. The stores operate on a subscription-based model, and the company guarantees 12 months to achieve a return on investment (ROI).AiFi leverages the OASIS platform to offer retail clients the option of deploying an AiFi NanoStore, a custom-designed, fully-automated, container-sized, unmanned, checkout-free store format that can be operated 24/7. The NanoStores come in sizes of 160, 300 and 370 square feet specifications. Company claims that its technology can save around USD 20 per hour of operation.Key customers and partnershipsAs of February 2023, AiFi’s technology was deployed at over 100 stores globally. In January 2022, AiFi launched its largest store, a 6,000 sq ft Aldi location in London. AiFi’s key partnerships include Carrefour (November 2018) in the UAE, Zabka (February 2019), Wundermart (February 2021), PostNL (May 2021), Morrisons (July 2021), Aldi (January 2022), Compass Group (December 2021), Kende Gastro (January 2022) in Europe, Loop Neighborhood (January 2020), Choice Market (April 2021), Verizon (May 2021) , Acrisure Arena ( <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/29120">May 2024 </a>), and Chicago White Sox (<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33472">September 2024</a>) in the US, and AiGo (December 2020) in China.AiFi also has a partnership with Microsoft (January 2023) to launch a cloud-based analytics service for cashier-less stores. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9389">March 2022 </a>AiFi partnered with Sodexo, the French campus food service operator, to bring autonomous grocery stores to campuses across the US.Funding and financialsBy 2022, AiFi reportedly had revenue growth of 5–6x YoY. In March 2022, AiFi raised USD 65 million in a Series B funding round led by Canada-based investment management firm Khaira CapitalAiFi. It planned to leverage the new funding to scale partnerships, strengthen its deployment team for faster store rollouts, and invest in product development and feature enhancement.

Glenpatrick Spring Water is an innovative drinks producer specializing in retailer house brands and brand co manufacturing.

AiFi provides a flexible AI platform that enables retailers to affordably deploy and scale autonomous shopping solutions across their businesses. Leveraging computer vision, AiFi adapts to existing store formats without the need for shelf sensors and provides advanced tracking algorithms that can scale up to 10,000 square feet to support various shopper journeys such as an app, credit card, gated, or hybrid entry.  AiFi works with retailers worldwide such as ALDI South Group, Carrefour, Compass Group, Morrisons, Żabka Group, REWE, and Verizon. AiFi has the highest number of computer vision-powered autonomous stores across the globe. The company has raised a total of $80 million from investors including Verizon Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, HP Tech Ventures, Mithril Capital, Cervin Ventures, TransLink Capital, Plum Alley, Duke Angel Network, Reaction, GS Future, Drive Catalyst, and Evolution. For more information, please visit aifi.com.

ALDI operates as a grocery retailer with more than 2,100 stores across 37 states. It has over 50 million monthly customers, offering them a great range of groceries as well as the famous range of special buys.  The company has been operating since 1976.

<div> ALDI is a German-based international discount supermarket chain founded in 1946 by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht. Operating over 12,500 stores worldwide in 18 countries, ALDI comprises two legally separate entities - ALDI Nord and ALDI S&uuml;d - following a split in 1961. The company operates with a unique discount retail model focused on offering high-quality products at significantly lower prices than competitors. In the US, ALDI S&uuml;d operates more than 2,400 stores across 39 states, while ALDI Nord operates Trader Joe's ALDI offers a carefully curated selection of products, with 90% being private-label brands, across the following categories: - Grocery Essentials: Core range of 1,400-1,800 everyday products including fresh produce, meat, dairy, and pantry items - ALDI Finds: Weekly rotating selection of limited-time seasonal items, housewares, clothing, and specialty products available for approximately two weeks - Private Label Brands: Exclusive store brands manufactured to match or exceed national brand quality at lower prices - Digital Services: Curbside pickup, delivery services through partnerships with Instacart and DoorDash, and mobile shopping applications ALDI is undertaking significant expansion initiatives, announcing plans to add 800 new stores by 2028 through a USD 9 billion investment. In March 2024, the company completed the acquisition of Southeastern Grocers, including Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket chains, strengthening its presence in the Southeast region. ALDI is also advancing its sustainability commitments, partnering with the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030, and has eliminated plastic shopping bags from its stores. The company has expanded its digital capabilities through partnerships with Instacart, implementing Connected Stores technologies across its US locations to enhance the shopping experience. </div>

Aldi

ALDI acquires €24 million Kildare site as retailer publishes 2023 annual results | FDBusiness.com

Convenience Foods

Creating snack products optimized for air fryers, ensuring even cooking and maintaining taste and texture when air-fried

Enhancing snack texture to achieve a satisfying, crunchy bite, elevating the sensory appeal of snacking experiences

Frozen meals that preserve fresh-like quality, maintaining taste and texture as if freshly made

Fully cooked meals or meal kits that are quick and easy to prepare, reducing preparation time and effort

Fully cooked meals that require no refrigeration and can be easily prepared by microwaving

A new wave of meat, fish, and poultry alternatives are driving this hyper-growth industry into the mainstream

Plant-based Meat

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PROMINENT_CATEGORY

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 Aldi UK has announced its plans to introduce its most extensive plant-based product line for Veganuary 2025, featuring items such as No Chicken Smash Burgers, Plant Menu Plant Based Egg, vegan meal kits which include Keema No Beef, BBQ No Pork, and Pulled Hoisin No Duck, as well as vegan cheeses.
 Aldi states that the intention behind the new range is to cater to both strictly plant-based customers and those interested in incorporating occasional meat-free alternatives into their diet. The product line will be launched from the 30th of December onwards, with prices starting at GBP 1.49 (~USD 1.9).
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Aldi

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