Afresh Expands Its Leadership Team with New Chief Revenue Officer to Enhance AI Adoption in Grocery Supply Chain
Afresh Appoints Adam Litle as Chief Revenue Officer
Afresh, the trailblazing company in fresh food technology, has announced an important addition to its leadership team with the appointment of Adam Litle as Chief Revenue Officer. This move comes on the heels of Afresh's most successful year, having achieved an astonishing 70% year-over-year growth. With usage reported in over 12,000 grocery departments across North America, the company is positioning itself for even greater expansion in the grocery sector.
A Strategic Move for Growth
Adam Litle's recruitment is a strategic step for Afresh, as the company aims to accelerate the adoption of its AI-driven platform throughout the grocery industry. With a seasoned background in technology management within the food and agriculture sectors, Litle is expected to play a vital role in steering the company's go-to-market strategy. Under Litle's guidance, Afresh intends to deepen its impact on grocery operations by enhancing how teams use AI for purchasing, planning, and managing fresh food categories.
Litle comes to Afresh from Sound Agriculture, where he excelled as CEO, and before that, he was the Chief Revenue Officer at Granular. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in driving the company from its inception to its acquisition by Corteva, marking one of the largest exits in agtech history. Additionally, Litle has previously led sales at Monetate, focusing on AI-powered personalization solutions for retail e-commerce, which showcases his well-rounded expertise in merging technology with everyday grocery operations.
Expanding AI Capabilities in Grocery
The push to strengthen its leadership comes as Afresh launches several innovative products aimed at optimizing grocery operations. Key offerings like Production Planning, Period Ending Inventory, Fresh Buying, and a major upgrade to the flagship Fresh Replenishment solution are part of the company’s effort to handle the intensity of today’s grocery landscape. Major players in the U.S. grocery market, including industry giants like Albertsons, Wakefern, and Meijer, have already begun implementing Afresh’s solutions.
"What I found compelling about Afresh was not just its expertise in fresh food categories but the broader potential of its AI technology across the entire food supply chain,' Litle remarked. He noted that the staggering reality is that 30-40% of global food production is wasted. Afresh's innovative technology tackles this challenge head-on by utilizing advanced AI to manage complex variables that can impact purchasing, ordering, and inventory decisions across a wide spectrum of fresh goods.
From fresh produce to meats, seafood, deli items, and baked goods, Afresh’s comprehensive solutions significantly reduce the risk of food waste and bolster profitability for grocery retailers. Litle's expertise is anticipated to help redefine how grocery and food distribution operates, extending all the way back to agricultural practices on farms.
The Role of Afresh in Modern Grocery Operations
Afresh has consistently sought to alleviate the challenges inherent in fresh food management. In its early days, the company's focus on fresh replenishment required it to master accurate ordering that factors in daily fluctuations in demand and supply. Now, this intelligence underpins a more comprehensive suite of decisions, enabling grocery teams to share insights on current conditions and proactive planning.
CEO and co-founder Matt Schwartz expressed confidence in Litle's capabilities, saying, "Afresh is at a crucial juncture where grocery teams are faced with unprecedented volatility and pressure to make accurate decisions. Adam's experience in scaling organizations amid dynamic environments is crucial to leveraging our momentum and expanding our influence in the grocery industry."
Afresh is not just a company; it is a mission-driven entity. Founded in 2017, the organization aims to eliminate food waste while ensuring that fresh food remains accessible and affordable to everyone. With existing partnerships across national and regional grocery brands in over 40 states, including notable names such as Albertsons Companies and Meijer, Afresh is continually pushing the boundaries of what technology can accomplish in the grocery sector.
In conclusion, the appointment of Adam Litle signifies Afresh’s dedicated approach to harnessing AI-driven technology to optimize grocery operations and combat food waste while elevating the overall consumer experience in the fresh food marketplace.