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Ahold Delhaize embraces artificial intelligence

Global retailer partners in retail AI lab project

Russell Redman

April 28, 2018

2 Min Read
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Ahold Delhaize will explore potential retail applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in a partnership with the Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI), a project of the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam.

The Zaandam, Netherlands-based global food retailer said its partnership is the first lab within the ICAI, which was launched yesterday at Amsterdam Science Park.

Dubbed the AIRlab, the joint ICAI-Ahold Delhaize industry lab will have seven PhDs researching socially responsible algorithms that can be used to make recommendations to consumers and transparent AI technology for managing supply chain flows, according to Ahold Delhaize.

The retailer’s Albert Heijn and bol.com brands will participate in the research. In addition, the AIRLab will focus on talent development.

Frans_Muller_Ahold_Delhaize.jpg“Ahold Delhaize, Albert Heijn and bol.com look forward to working with ICAI. Artificial Intelligence offers countless possibilities for the retail industry, the consumer and society at large. With this partnership, we want to further develop our ongoing initiatives and learn how AI can be used to better serve the interests of our customers,” Ahold Delhaize deputy chief executive officer Frans Muller (left) said in a statement. “

“For instance, we will look at how to further optimize Albert Heijn’s supply chain by, for example, improving the availability of goods by taking into account local weather conditions,” explained Muller, who’s slated to succeed Dick Boer as Ahold Delhaize CEO on July 1. “Also, we will investigate ways to make the assortment of bol.com even more accessible to customers. These insights and knowledge can be applied to our brands in the United States and Europe.”

In the United States, Ahold Delhaize’s supermarket chains include Stop & Shop, Giant, Martin’s Food Market, Food Lion and Hannaford.

“AI will influence every sector of society,” said ICAI director Maarten de Rijke, professor of Information Retrieval at the University of Amsterdam. “The partnership with Ahold Delhaize is of major importance because with it we are making a serious investment in the development of AI talent and AI technology outside of the traditional technology sector.”

 

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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