Nourish + Bloom Market Opens New Concept in a Food Desert

WHEN JILEA AND JAMIE Michael Hemmings decided to settle in Fayetteville, Ga., they discovered an amazing school district for their children, but also found themselves in a food desert. “A beautiful food desert, but a food desert just the same,” Jilea, Founder and CEO of Nourish + Bloom Market, says about the family-oriented community located outside of Atlanta.

“My son has autism, so I need to always have healthy food options for him,” she says. “That became quite a challenge here with the closest grocery being a 15-minute drive away.”

Food deserts are an unfortunate yet common occurrence in the United States. According to the USDA, at least 19 million (or more) people in the U.S. live in food deserts, which means roughly 6.1 percent of the U.S. population lives in “low-access” areas when it comes to healthy food options.

The Covid pandemic also drove home the growing importance of touchless solutions for Jilea and Jamie. “Our whole mission is making sure everyone has access to good food in a convenient way, and that we’re ensuring we utilize technology to increase access,” Jilea says.

Described as a “hybrid frictionless check-out store,” the 1500-square-foot, African American-owned Nourish + Bloom Market operates 24/7 and uses “walk in, walk out” technology – specifically LiDAR (light detection and ranging) cameras that add items to a virtual shopping cart managed by software developed by UST (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), the firm behind the store’s experiential tech design.

Customers begin the autonomous experience by downloading the N+B app to their smartphone devices and scanning a QR code upon entry at the turnstile. After shopping – or visiting the Bistro which offers freshly made breakfast, lunch and dinner items – visitors can walk out of the store and an e-receipt is sent to them.

Two robots with temperature-controlled hatches – affectionately named “Nourish” and “Bloom” – are available for delivery services within a three-mile distance from the store for those making online orders. Locals and customers alike have reportedly grown very fond of their presence. “The residents really enjoy it, we even have robot crossing signs at the stop signs in the community,” Jamie says.

“The success of Nourish + Bloom Market shows that frictionless retail is here to stay, despite the pandemic, and there is enormous potential in this space,” says Subhodip Bandyopadhyay, General Manager-Emerging Technology, UST.

Bandyopadhyay goes on to explain in-store solutions like “Vision Checkout,” which allows products to be identified without needing to scan a UPC exclusively, and “Vision Box” which gathers shelf analytics and other data for Nourish + Bloom to better understand customer behaviors.

With more than 1500 SKUs, Nourish + Bloom practices what it preaches when it comes to “healthy” food – the retailer will not carry products that contain GMOs or high-fructose corn syrup. In fact, offerings like baked goods, produce, meats, prepared meals and dairy, are locally sourced and merchandised alongside everyday convenience items.

Beyond all the tech, the human touch is still present in its ethos: “Yes, we have a lot of technology, but we have staff within our store to help our customers. It’s a very warm feeling,” Jamie explains. “When you walk into a Nourish + Bloom, our staff will greet you, give you their first name, ask if it’s your first time there … It’s like the old TV show ‘Cheers,’ where everybody knows your name – that’s the type of place Nourish + Bloom wants to represent.”

PHOTO GALLERY (30 IMAGES)
📷: Courtesy of UST, Aliso Viejo, CA

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