Albertsons Reports 26% Basket Increase With AI Shopping Tools

Albertsons Companies is reporting substantial basket size increases among customers who adopt its artificial intelligence-powered shopping tools, with the most comprehensive AI experiences driving purchases up 26% compared to baseline orders.

The grocery retailer has tracked immediate spending changes as shoppers begin using its AI features. Customers using conversational search see average order values rise 10%, while those engaging with full-featured assistants that match recipes and ingredients to dietary preferences show the 26% increase, according to Jill Pavlovich, senior vice president of digital shopping experiences at Albertsons, speaking to The Wall Street Journal.

Three tools become one

Albertsons deployed multiple AI shopping experiences over the past 18 months — Ask AI for product search, Plan AI for meal planning, and Buy AI for purchase assistance. The company is now consolidating these separate tools into a single conversational assistant capable of locating products, suggesting related items, and generating shopping lists for specific occasions.

The integration reflects lessons learned from early deployment. Pavlovich explained that customers using more comprehensive AI experiences add more items to their baskets because the technology helps them avoid forgetting products they need.

Four-pillar AI strategy

Digital customer experience represents one of four areas where Albertsons is concentrating AI investment. The company is also applying the technology to merchandising intelligence, staff empowerment, and supply chain optimization.

The results build on data Albertsons shared during a January earnings call, when CEO Susan Morris reported that Ask AI — accessible through the search bar in all banner store apps — was delivering 10% basket size increases among users. The company operates multiple grocery brands including Albertsons, Jewel Osco, Safeway, and Vons.

Why it matters

The 26% basket growth figure provides concrete evidence that AI shopping assistants can drive immediate revenue impact, not just improve user experience metrics. For retailers evaluating AI investments, Albertsons' data suggests comprehensive assistants that handle multiple shopping tasks outperform single-function tools. The consolidation from three products to one also signals that customers prefer unified interfaces over navigating separate AI features — a finding relevant to any company deploying multiple AI touchpoints.

Broader industry pattern

Albertsons' results align with trends across grocery technology. Instacart reported in June that orders placed through its AI assistant typically exceed standard order sizes. That assistant builds carts for specific meals, learns brand preferences, and identifies sale items.

Research from PYMNTS Intelligence found that 47% of online shoppers used AI assistance somewhere in their most recent purchase, indicating widespread adoption of the technology in e-commerce workflows.

The details were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.