Schnucks’ new health-tracking AI assistant is a model for other retailers

St. Louis-based regional grocer Schnucks just launched a new AI assistant, but behind it is a larger idea around how agents could eventually take over the shopping process and help people eat healthier.

Schnucks, which operates 112 grocery stores in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, announced its partnership with the Boston-based agentic commerce tech company VitalityIP on July 22. Through this deal, it plans to launch an AI shopping assistant for nutrition guidance, meal ideas and product recommendations. It will be found in the Schnucks Rewards app and Schnucks’ website later this summer.

VitalityIP was quietly co-founded last year by Michael Connor, its chief technology officer, who previously was a global generative AI product manager at Amazon Web Services and before that worked at Coca-Cola for 10 years. More centrally to the startup’s health priorities, the other co-founder is Sarah Hoit, who also serves as chairman of the Global Brain Health Initiative by Social Impact Partners and previously was chief social impact officer at BioVie, which develops therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions and advanced liver disease.

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