TAMPA, FLA. — Family- and employee-owned grocer Festival Foods has partnered with AI software specialist Upshop to optimize its fresh operations.

Upshop’s Fresh SaaS software can help retailers simplify and streamline inventory management and overall workflow across the fresh perimeter.

“At Festival Foods, we are committed to making decisions that further enhance the experience of our associates and our guests,” said Mark Skogen, Festival Foods CEO and president. “This partnership is about removing barriers to execution for our teams and simplifying the complexities of running a fresh department so they can focus on delivering a memorable guest experience.”

Ken Wicker, the company’s senior vice president of fresh foods, said it was an easy decision to partner with Upshop.

“We chose Upshop as our partner because they truly understand our business, the intricacies of fresh foods and the processes required for success,” Wicker said. “With Upshop, we have the confidence that our operations will be optimized and ready to meet the demands of our customers. Festival Foods has invested to build a competitive edge in fresh, and Upshop’s capabilities enable us to scale those advantages.”

Upshop’s CEO, Shamus Hines, was enthusiastic about the value of Upshop being recognized.

“We built our software with the goal of making it effortless for associates and stores to meet the needs of shoppers,” Hines said. “Moreover, we have assembled a team of experts who understand how to drive adoption in-store. This partnership with Festival Foods exemplifies our commitment to empowering retailers with the tools and support needed to succeed.”