Stefan Kalb is the co-founder and CEO of Shelf Engine, a tech company that uses artificial intelligence for demand forecasting to guarantee profits for grocery stores. Kalb started his career in the food industry in 2009 when founding Molly’s, a healthy grab-and-go company. However, after growing Molly's to over 400 retail locations across the Pacific Northwest, Stefan discovered the problems of food waste first hand. He co-founded Shelf Engine in 2016 to help grocery stores reduce waste and increase sales.
Specialty Food News spoke with Kalb about what Winter Fancy Food Show attendees can expect from his Big Idea Talk and how AI is changing the food system. His session, “Radically Increase Your Profits with Your Ordering and Merchandising,” will take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. on the Big Idea stage at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
What’s the one thing you want people to take away from your session?
You're leaving a ton of money on the table—but you don't see it.
What are some benefits, or drawbacks, to AI technology?
AI can replace a ton of busy work so that you can do more important things for your business. But, if you apply AI to the wrong part of your business, you could be losing your core competency.
How did working in a retail environment affect your perception of food waste?
I never understood the underlying reason behind food waste until I entered the retail environment. It's because those who are responsible for the waste don't have the proper tools or direction to correct it.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in the last few years and how did you overcome it?
Data integrity. The food supply chain is plagued by poor data. We've had to build our own AI to fix and manage data so that the forecasting AI can function well.
Where do you see the food industry heading in the next 10 years?
The back of house/operations will be automated or enhanced before many of the other aspects of retail are automated. Imagine things like automated receiving, automated inventory, automated accounting, etc.
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