At Groceryshop 2026, executives from Kroger, Giant Eagle, and DoorDash shared strategies for deploying agentic AI assistants that bridge physical stores and online ordering. Rather than relying on simple search tools or intrusive chatbots, these retailers are focusing on practical AI that removes friction from the shopping journey. Kroger's chief digital officer Yael Cosset emphasized closing the gap between inspiration and purchase, while Giant Eagle's leadership highlighted the value of converting single-channel shoppers to omnichannel buyers—a segment with 30% higher lifetime value.
Each company is taking a distinct approach. Giant Eagle has integrated an AI recipe generator into its mobile app that lets customers scan meal ideas and add ingredients to their cart, while also reorganizing backend teams to better coordinate e-commerce, marketing, and merchandising efforts. Kroger recently launched its own AI shopping assistant that handles complex scenarios like last-minute grocery runs and dietary constraints, and allows shoppers to add personal context such as photos of handwritten lists or family recipes. DoorDash, meanwhile, has learned that users prefer simple, practical tools—such as "reorder my usuals" prompts—over chat windows, and is building native app features to modify orders and find alternatives to out-of-stock items.
The common thread across all three is training customers to naturally integrate agentic shopping into their routines. Cosset cautioned that while speed is essential in a competitive landscape, "speed with precision and direction" is necessary to manage the risks of rapid AI deployment. With Kroger's pending acquisition of Giant Eagle expected to close in 2027, further integration of agentic capabilities across the combined entity may accelerate.