Spectrum-powered AI helps Heritage Grocers deliver what shoppers want

“Connectivity is our lifeblood. Nothing happens in our stores, even those parts our customers don’t see, without having that speed of connectivity.” 

Prabash Coswatte, Chief Operating Officer, Heritage Grocers Group

In the supermarket business, speed matters whether delivering fresh products or processing a credit card transaction. Even changing a store design requires quick organizational reflexes.

“You have to be fast, and always ready with data,” explains Prabash Coswatte, Chief Operating Officer, Heritage Grocers Group.

Headquartered in Ontario, California, Heritage Grocers Group operates 115 stores across six states. Over the last four years, they have prioritized speed, particularly in pricing and supply management, using connectivity and networking solutions from Spectrum Business.

“I tell people it’s the first 20 feet when you enter the store and those last five minutes in line before you leave that really matter for shoppers,” Coswatte says. “The way we manage our data helps us optimize both.”

AI tools help employees prepare food and manage shipments to meet anticipated demand, taking into account factors such as warehouse stock, optimal freshness and time of year. AI even helps determine how products are advertised and displayed.

To ensure data transport is fast and reliable, each store is equipped with its own Spectrum Dedicated Fiber Internet circuit, which Coswatte says is key to giving its customers more of what they want and expect.

“Customer shopping patterns are always shifting,” Coswatte explains. “To be successful, we must be very flexible and not only move quickly but also anticipate what is going to happen next. Spectrum Business is key to us doing that well.”