USA | Picadeli is dedicated to driving traffic into retail and grocery stores through its 'smart salad bar' experience.
Picadeli, a Swedish salad pioneer, believes that fast food should be the opposite of junk food. The idea is simple: challenge people's ways of buying and eating salad with the Smart Salad Bar Experience.
Last year, Picadeli continued its expansion in the US through a partnership with Schnuck Markets, a third and fourth-generation, family-owned grocery retailer committed to nourishing people's lives. Based in St. Louis, Schnucks brings Picadeli's AI-powered smart salad bar to 22 locations, providing its customers with fresh, better-for-you food that is both accessible and affordable.
Picadeli's modular in-store salad bar concept redefines fast food and provides grocers and retailers with a smart, safe solution that grows sales with a turnkey, fresh food platform. Picadeli's business model is proven in the US and Europe, where it is a leader in healthy fast food.
Its technology creates efficiencies by prioritising sustainability by lowering food waste, reducing labour, lowering break-even, and increasing retailer profitability.
"We know customers are looking for convenient, healthy food options," said Ted Schnuck, Executive Vice President of supermarkets at Schnuck Markets, Inc.
"With Picadeli's AI technology, customers will have the freshest food available on the salad bar via its digital management and re-ordering system. We are thrilled to offer our customers a customisable, fresh, healthy food option that complements our existing prepared foods offerings."
Through its innovative technology and patented hardware, Picadeli allows full traceability of its supply chain and operations. It also uses QR-code scanning to ensure products do not stay out longer than allowed, signalling the need for refilling and AI re-ordering. Its digital capabilities have become increasingly important in today's challenging labour market, and it prioritises sustainability by reducing food waste.
Picadeli's salad bar is customised for each location, learning what ingredients are most sought after in its various markets. Its technology also prioritises food safety, with the design comprising hygiene-first materials, technology-enabled shielding hoods, automatic hand sanitiser, and bowl dispensers. Its innovative utensil mounting system ensures that the handle is never in contact with food and that products are not mixed.
"Schnucks is a digital leader in the grocery space, and their deep understanding of the intersection of technology, operational excellence, and high-quality food made them an ideal partner for Picadeli," said Patrik Hellstrand, CEO of Picadeli US.
"Retailers today face the unique challenge of a tight labour market and consumer demand for a memorable in-store experience that drives traffic away from delivery apps and into the store.
"Picadeli has proven to solve the overarching food problem: to provide healthy, affordable, fresh food fast. We have demonstrated that we work in markets big and small and that the need for fast, fresh food is universal."
Picadeli partners with leading US retailers, including Albertsons (Safeway, ACME, Kings), Ahold Delhaize (The GIANT Company), Sodexo, and Schnucks. Picadeli is also a trusted partner to leading European retailers, including Carrefour, EuroGarages, Franprix, Rewe, 7 Eleven, Coop, ICA, and Kesko, and over 2,000 European stores.
Since its start in 2009, Picadeli has enabled grocery and retail partners to offer customers an innovative, fresh, tasty salad concept.
Picadeli has been a member of the Greenfood Group funded by Nordic Capital since 2015 and is a leader in healthy food in Nordic countries.
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