AI in the Aisles: Spectrum Business and Advanced Tech Create Happy Shoppers

Walk into your local Heritage Grocers Group store and you’ll see the heart of the neighborhood on display. Kids dart past the bakery, customers browse for fresh produce and cashiers greet regulars by name. But while the atmosphere feels timeless, something new is happening beneath the surface – a quiet revolution powered by AI and Spectrum Business.

“Connectivity is our lifeblood,” said Prabash Coswatte, Chief Operating Officer, Heritage Grocers Group. “Nothing happens in our stores, even those parts our customers don’t see, without having that connectivity.”

For Heritage Grocers Group, speed and data aren’t just technical goals – they’re what keep the shelves stocked, lines moving and customers coming back.

Reliability That Matters for Everyone

Heritage Grocers Group operates four brands – Cardenas Markets, Los Altos Ranch Markets, El Rancho Supermercado and Tony’s Fresh Market – across 115 stores and six states. And Spectrum Business makes sure every store stays online with Dedicated Fiber Internet, Managed Network Edge and Wireless Internet backup. Over the past two years, no Heritage Grocers Group store has experienced a connectivity outage. 

Personal Touches Powered by Technology

Every day, the team at Heritage Grocers Group faces a challenge: making sure its stores have the “neighborhood market” feel that keeps customers coming back, while evolving its business to meet changing tastes and shopping habits.

Heritage Grocers Group employees use AI-powered tools and data analytics supported by Spectrum Business’ Dedicated Fiber Internet to track everything from foot traffic and delivery timing to where customers linger and which products catch their eye. This allows them to make sure the shelves are stocked, the food is fresh and customers can find what they’re looking for.

“Everything in our business is ‘right place, right price, right production,’” Prabash said. “AI helps us meet customers where they are.”

Digital coupons and QR codes are tailored to local preferences, making it easier for shoppers to get the best deals, and real-time insights help Heritage Grocers Group anticipate changes in shopping patterns.

Building Community, One Store at a Time

Heritage Grocers Group shows that tradition and innovation can work together. With Spectrum Business powering its AI-driven operations, every store stays true to its roots while growing into the future. “Our business is not technology,” Prabash said. “Technology is a layer that supports our business."

It’s a layer that helps Heritage Grocers Group listen, learn and serve their communities – every day, in every aisle.

Read the full case study and see what Spectrum Business can do for your business.