DG’s Allen Warch Spotlighted for AI-Powered Produce Procurement

Allen Warch, Dollar General’s vice president and division merchandise manager for food and fresh produce, has been named to the inaugural H2O AI: 2024 100 Top AI Thought Leaders List. The list spotlights leaders successfully implementing and scaling AI solutions to transform their organizations and industries.

Earlier this year, Dollar General announced a recent investment in a partnership with Shelf Engine, an AI company providing retailers with technology to improve perishable food forecasting and ordering. The partnership is evolving DG’s process to optimize in-stock produce levels, helping automate the ordering process while providing customers with the freshest food possible. The tool supports the Company’s meaningful produce growth journey, which now boasts more than 5,400 stores with the fresh fare, while improving operational efficiency.

“Adopting Shelf Engine’s AI solutions aligns seamlessly with our mission of Serving Others, helping our teams enhance value and convenience for our customers,” stated Warch in a January release by Shelf Engine. “This collaboration is a strategic step towards improving our operational efficiency while serving our customers with improved in-stock levels of fresh produce.”

Dollar General’s recent produce expansion has garnered the Company the designation of having more individual points of produce distribution than any other mass retailer or grocer in the United States.

H2O.ai, an open-source Generative AI and Machine Learning platform provider, curated the list to showcase the top 100 individuals who are transforming bold ideas into AI-driven realities. Congratulations to Allen, Shelf Engine and teams for achieving this recognition!