Albert Heijn explores AI use, but avoids the hype

At FoodTech Week, supermarket chain Albert Heijn demonstrated how AI supports key operations: predicting demand, dynamically pricing near-expiry items, and reducing food waste to under 1 percent.

Still, strategy director Sjoerd Holleman stresses that there’s no standalone AI policy: “We only use AI where it creates value.” Examples range from smart fridges and produce scanners to the in-app assistant Steijn, who suggests meals based on dietary needs and available time.

Steijn is carefully restricted—no medical or political advice—and always labeled as AI-driven. Trust is key, Holleman argues: “If customers lose confidence, it works against us.”

Internally, AI assists with staff scheduling and helps employees quickly answer product questions. Yet AH sees it not as a fix for labor shortages but as a way to improve workflows and inspire new ideas: “It’s about surfing the wave, not swimming against it.”

Read the full article on the Parool website.