Expert Insights
August 12, 2026
What does it take to bring AI and cutting-edge tech into the traditional world of independent grocery?
In this Expert Insights interview, Audrey Hogan sits down with Robert Austin of EmpowerFresh to explore how AI is transforming inventory management and helping grocers overcome labor shortages. Robert shares why empathy, education, and trust are key to supporting grocers through tech adoption — and how vendors can partner better to move the whole industry forward.
Watch the full interview to hear what Robert has learned from working with lifelong produce pros and how EmpowerFresh is bridging the gap between bleeding-edge innovation and boots-on-the-ground operations.
AI is critical to surviving labor shortages: Independent grocers need to adopt automation to replace professional expertise lost to turnover and generational shifts.
The tech gap is real: Vendors live on the bleeding edge, but many grocers are still managing inventory with sticky notes or Excel — and need patient, step-by-step guidance.
Education is everything: Robert’s team focuses on educating grocers, not just selling software, to build long-term success.
Empathy earns trust: Acknowledging retailers’ past bad experiences and vendor PTSD helps build stronger relationships.
Peer-to-peer training works best: EmpowerFresh sends in CSRs with real produce experience to train grocers in relatable, effective ways.
Real-time performance data drives results: Instant alerts and daily insights help reduce losses that come from waiting 30 days to analyze old reports.
The Law of Sevens is real: Robert breaks down how long it takes to get from first contact to action in this time-starved industry — and how to show ROI even during the wait.
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EmpowerFresh: A technology company focused on using AI to streamline fresh inventory management for independent grocery retailers.
PTSD (in context): Industry shorthand for grocers’ distrust or skepticism after repeated bad vendor experiences.
Real-time inventory data: Live updates on stock, sales, or performance metrics that help stores make decisions faster.
Law of Sevens: A humorous but accurate framework used by EmpowerFresh to describe how long it takes to move through the independent grocery sales process.
Bleeding edge: The most advanced stage of technology, often adopted first by innovators and vendors before mass-market use.
Independent grocer: A locally owned grocery store not part of a large national chain, often serving specific communities.
00:06 – Audrey Hogan:
Would you briefly just introduce yourself?
00:08 – Robert Austin:
Sure. My name’s Robert Austin. I’m with EmpowerFresh. We develop software using AI to streamline inventory management and several other things — but only in the fresh departments of independent retail grocery.
00:22 – Audrey Hogan:
What was your very first hourly job?
00:25 – Robert Austin:
I worked at Poshota’s Fruits and Vegetables in River Market, Kansas City. I was only 13, and it was a cash hourly job doing whatever no one else wanted to do in the warehouse.
00:39 – Audrey Hogan:
Those might be the most fun jobs.
00:42 – Robert Austin:
It really was — especially at the end of the summer when they put a stack of money in my hand. That was the first time I understood hard work pays off.
00:54 – Audrey Hogan:
What was your favorite part?
00:55 – Robert Austin:
The warehouse aspect, the grunt work, and the people. We had fun, and before you knew it, the day was over.
01:12 – Audrey Hogan:
So what’s your day-to-day like now?
01:14 – Robert Austin:
It varies. I’m responsible for a lot. Most days are full of sales and business development meetings — which is why I’m here.
01:27 – Audrey Hogan:
What do you love about your job?
01:28 – Robert Austin:
The people. Working with independent grocers. This is one big family — competitors sharing ideas and pain. I love being a part of that.
02:04 – Audrey Hogan:
There’s also vendor camaraderie — how do we move this vertical forward together?
02:42 – Robert Austin:
Exactly. One challenge is the tech overload independents face. Labor is waning, tech is booming, and many grocers are still catching up. They need help evaluating and adopting tools that bigger players have used for years.
03:22 – Robert Austin:
We don’t just pitch — we educate. If it’s not our software, they still need something, or labor challenges will sink them. Professionals in produce, meat, and deli are harder to hire, and turnover is high. Tech needs to fill the gaps.
04:54 – Audrey Hogan:
As vendors, we live on the bleeding edge, but most grocers are still on sticky notes or Excel. That gap can be frustrating.
06:19 – Robert Austin:
Not frustrating — but it reminds us why education is our focus. We have to teach grocers what to do and why. That gap is our job to bridge, patiently.
07:20 – Robert Austin:
We’re different. Everyone on our team comes from fresh departments. When we roll out software, we send in people who understand perishability. That’s the only way grocers truly adopt tools and benefit from them.
08:30 – Audrey Hogan:
Some grocers have been burned before. That skepticism is healthy.
09:13 – Robert Austin:
We even bake that into our conversations — we call it vendor PTSD. We talk about it early so they know we understand.
10:16 – Robert Austin:
Some vendors block grocers from exploring better tech by pretending to offer features they don’t — just to lock in the relationship. That hurts the entire industry.
11:15 – Robert Austin:
We always say time is our greatest ally. It takes time to earn trust in this space, and we’re patient with that process.
11:29 – Audrey Hogan:
It’s a special community.
11:41 – Robert Austin:
If I could broadcast anything: there are trustworthy partners out there. But grocers have to find them, and that takes time — which they don’t have much of. That’s why we talk about the Law of Sevens.
12:17 – Robert Austin:
Seven minutes of attention, seven weeks for a meeting, seven months before action. It’s real. But we also help grocers calculate what they’re losing during that evaluation time.
12:55 – Robert Austin:
We give them real-time access to performance data — so they don’t wait 30 days to correct a mistake. That’s huge in fresh. Daily alerts help save thousands.
13:46 – Audrey Hogan:
We all need to invest time and money upfront to save it later.
14:03 – Audrey Hogan:
If someone wants to learn more about EmpowerFresh or reach out to you?
14:04 – Robert Austin:
Visit empowerfresh.com or find us on LinkedIn at EmpowerFresh. You can also find me directly on LinkedIn — Robert Austin. I’m happy to connect.
14:22 – Audrey Hogan:
That’s the most community thing I’ve heard. Thank you so much for your time.
14:25 – Robert Austin:
It was great meeting you.
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