Brain Corp, the autonomous technology company creating transformative solutions in robotics and AI, and Driveline Retail, one of the largest retail service networks in the U.S., announced the launch of ShelfOptix™, a fully managed service that provides robot-powered shelf intelligence at scale—without the cost or complexity of technology ownership.

Retailers and brands often lack clear, consistent shelf visibility. Out-of-stocks, phantom inventory, zero-sale items, and compliance issues cost the industry an estimated $1.7T annually, and research shows 70% of consumers will switch retailers or brands when faced with an out-of-stock. ShelfOptix addresses this gap by delivering “ground truth” shelf data with accuracy, flexibility, and scalability.

Pilots with Major U.S. Retailers Underway

ShelfOptix is in pilot programs with several major retailers, including Southeastern Grocers (Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket), focusing initially on OSA, DSD execution, and compliance performance.

“With robot-powered shelf intelligence delivered through the simplicity of a fully managed service, ShelfOptix is making accurate shelf insights more accessible at scale,” said David Pinn, CEO of Brain Corp. “This gives retailers and brands the visibility they need to close the reality gap between what systems show and what’s truly on the shelf, without having to operate or maintain a single robot.”

A New Model for Shelf Intelligence

• Portable shelf-scanning robots — AI-powered precision and consistency, foldable and easy to transport between stores.
• Service-based model — access high-fidelity shelf insights without adding operational burden.
• National in-store coverage — a team of 15,000+ field reps can collect and act on insights to improve OSA, planograms, and pricing compliance.

“ShelfOptix delivers a level of visibility the industry has never had before… we anticipate thousands of robots deployed by the end of 2026,” said Randy Wilson, CEO of ShelfOptix.

Learn More

Visit ShelfOptix.com for details.

About Brain Corp

Brain Corp is the global leader in robotic AI software powering the world’s largest fleet of AMRs, with 40,000+ deployed, used for floor care, inventory movement and sensing. Learn more at braincorp.com.

About Driveline

Driveline Retail operates across 30,000+ stores with 15,000 W-2 associates, serving major retailers including Walmart, Dollar General, and Lowe’s, and partnering with top CPGs. Learn more at drivelineretail.com.

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Starday Foods announced the launch of an AI-powered platform designed to help food & beverage teams speed up, de-risk, and scale product innovation. The offering brings together proprietary data, AI models, and category expertise to inform decisions across concepting, formulation, testing, and commercialization.

Highlights

• AI + data-powered R&D: supports faster insights and iteration across the product lifecycle.
• Built for F&B teams: scoped specifically for category managers, R&D, and brand leaders.
• Strategic partnership model: “Starday Innovation” is positioned as a partner offering for retailers and brands.

Read the full press release on Business Wire →

Contrary to retail apocalypse narratives, forward-thinking grocers are dramatically reinventing physical stores as integrated service hubs, with 80% increasing dedicated order fulfillment space and 78% expanding retail media networks, according to new research from Grocery Doppio (a division of Incisiv) in partnership with unified commerce platform provider Flooid.

The comprehensive study, “Rising from the Aisles: How Forward-Thinking Grocers Are Reinventing the Store Experience,” surveyed 116 U.S. grocery executives, with 92% from companies generating over $1 billion in revenue. The research reveals that while 87% of H1 2025 U.S. grocery sales still occur in stores, omnichannel shoppers spend 1.5x more than single-channel shoppers, driving strategic transformation initiatives.

Technology Amplifies Human Connection, Not Replaces It

The research challenges conventional wisdom about retail automation, finding that shoppers helped by associates are 3.2× more likely to make additional purchases. An overwhelming 93% of shoppers prefer human assistance for complex issues, while 88% say friendly, knowledgeable associates directly influence store loyalty decisions.

“While technology transforms operational efficiency, the data reveals that associates remain the most powerful differentiator in building shopper relationships,” said Gaurav Pant, Chief Insights Officer at Grocery Doppio. “The winners in grocery retail aren't choosing between technology and people—they're creating systems where both work together to deliver experiences that neither could achieve alone. This human-technology partnership represents the ultimate competitive moat that no algorithm can replicate.”

Disconnected Systems Create $1 Billion+ Challenge

Despite ambitious transformation plans, 77% of grocers still operate with separate systems across their multiple formats, creating significant operational friction. The study found that 65% of grocers report severe staff frustration and productivity loss from disconnected systems, while 48% are losing sales due to poor inventory visibility.

“Grocers are at a critical inflection point where unified commerce platforms aren't just a technical upgrade—they're essential for survival,” stated Gaurav Pant, Chief Insights Officer for Grocery Doppio/Incisiv. “Our research shows that 79% of shoppers say omnichannel experience consistency affects their brand loyalty. The gap between shopper expectations and operational reality continues to widen for retailers stuck with legacy systems that can't deliver the seamless experiences modern consumers demand.”

According to Donna Stevens, SVP of Global Marketing at Flooid, “The evolution of the grocery industry over the past several years has brought an exciting transformational shift in focus and priorities on the entire shopping journey, as well as on associates and shoppers. Technology is just one critical component—process change and empowering people are equally important to success in this dynamic environment. The research presented in this work provides essential guidance on where to invest time and effort to capitalize on these changes, and Flooid is passionate about leveraging our expertise, partnership, and commitment to support retailers as they determine their strategic direction and embrace new possibilities.”

Key Research Findings

• 64% of grocers are implementing product lookup capabilities on mobile devices for associates
• 56% are expanding foodservice and dining areas to create experiential destinations
• Self-checkout will grow from 41% to 45% of transactions by 2027, becoming the dominant checkout method
• 83% of technology projects take 67% more time than initially budgeted due to legacy system challenges
• 43% of shoppers report having personal relationships with regular store associates

Stores Evolution: Three Strategic Directions

The research identifies three primary evolution paths for physical stores:

• Digital-First Operations: 80% increasing fulfillment space, 78% expanding retail media
• Lifestyle Destinations: 56% expanding foodservice, 49% adding health services
• Multi-Service Convenience: 35% expanding fuel operations, creating comprehensive ecosystems

About the Research

The study surveyed 116 U.S. grocery executives, with 70% at VP level or above and 73% from line-of-business roles including store operations, technology, merchandising, marketing, and supply chain.

About Grocery Doppio

Grocery Doppio is an independent source of insights and inspiration designed to help grocers jumpstart, accelerate and sustain growth in the dynamic new retail environment. A division of research firm, Incisiv, Grocery Doppio tracks industry trends at a technology and shopper level. Learn more at www.grocerydoppio.com.

About Flooid

Flooid is a company that is revolutionizing the retail industry by helping retailers sell consistently across various channels and verticals on a global scale. With their adaptable, scalable unified commerce retail software platform anchored by flexible omnichannel end points, they ensure a seamless shopping experience for customers. Flooid offers a flexible range of solutions and services to cater to the evolving needs of retailers today and tomorrow. Learn more at www.flooid.com.

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Grocery TV announced that its in-store retail media platform now powers media across 6,500+ U.S. grocery stores, reaching roughly 1 in 4 Americans. Alongside this milestone, the company introduced a refreshed brand identity and updated messaging aligning to its role as a technology partner for retailers scaling in-store media networks.

“We’re building something bigger than ourselves—a platform that powers the growth of in-store media, while helping retailers and brands connect more effectively with shoppers,” said Marlow Nickell, CEO and co-founder. The rebrand underscores the importance of the physical store as a place for connection and conversion.

Scale and momentum

• Network footprint: 6,500+ stores across the U.S., reaching ~95 million unique shoppers.
• Retail partnerships: 120+ grocery retailers connected to the platform.
• Operational velocity: average ~6-week implementation timeline for new retailers.

For full details, see the official release on PR Newswire: read the announcement.

About Grocery TV

Grocery TV is an in-store retail media platform that partners with more than 120 grocery retailers to modernize stores and drive incremental revenue while improving the shopper experience. Learn more at grocerytv.com.

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