2024 Grocery Industry Icons & Innovators

Bret Celmer is the Chief Operations Officer at The Rounds, a NYC-based AI-driven delivery platform for local commerce designed to intelligently manage inventory of home essentials and reduce packaging waste. In this role, Bret is responsible for overseeing the company’s innovative, sustainability-focused delivery service offering local goods and household essentials through a zero-waste, two-way last mile logistics network, ensuring operational excellence as The Rounds continues to expand its presence in urban markets and revolutionize the way consumers manage and receive their everyday essentials.

Bret is helping drive efficient growth at The Rounds to create a more sustainable future. Before joining The Rounds, Bret spent over 20 years at FreshDirect, where he held several leadership roles, including as Vice President of Supply Chain. During his tenure, Bret led multiple transformative initiatives, such as deployment of ML-based demand planning and automated procurement systems.