The Swedish salad pioneer says it is achieving major success with its foodtech concept
Greenfood, the owner Picadeli, says its groundbreaking AI solutions have led to a significant reduction in food waste and more optimised product assortment at its pioneering salad bars.
Sensors in each bar continuously collect data on sales, inventory levels, shelf-life, and temperature. This information is used to analyse consumer behaviour, optimise product assortment, and automate ordering – helping to deliver a fresher and more personalised customer experience.
Picadeli has now launched the latest version of its salad bar – the Arctic X model. With its patented cooling system, efficient insulation, and self-closing lids that preserve freshness, the company says Arctic X takes food safety to a new level.
The salad bar is constantly connected to the cloud and powered by Picadeli’s proprietary software platform, Arc Platform. The system includes features like digital food safety, AI-assisted ordering, and interactive operating instructions – which, when combined with the Arctic X hardware, make it easier than ever to operate a fresh, efficient, and sustainable salad bar.
“We recognised the power of AI early on and saw the technology’s potential to create a smarter, more sustainable food chain,” says David von Laskowski, CEO and group president of Picadeli and Greenfood Group. “Today, we see tangible results every day – less waste, more satisfied customers, and more efficient store operations.”
Picadeli says more precise forecasting reduces food waste not only in its own operations but also for retailers and consumers. AI predicts which products should be ordered and helps ensure the right item is available at the right time.
Stores can also use real-time data to reduce staffing needs for restocking and inventory management. Consumer behaviour is automatically analysed, eliminating the need for manual insights and decisions.
And combining sales data and inventory status in a unified AI model enables more accurate order predictions to be generated. “The system not only forecasts when a product will run out, but also adapts ordering patterns based on season, weather, and local events – resulting in fresher products and happier customers,” the company says.
By demonstrating the benefits of AI, Picadeli hopes it will encourage more players in the food industry to adopt the technology.
“AI is no longer a vision of the future – it’s here and now. We believe that technology capable of combining consumer insights, sustainability, and automation will be essential in meeting the needs of both customers and the planet going forward. Those who dare to take the leap and build intelligent, self-learning systems will be tomorrow’s winners,” von Laskowski continues.
In 2024 alone, Picadeli bars were installed in 517 new stores. The company now operates 350 salad bars in Germany, nearly 300 in Finland, 1,200 in Sweden, and more than 150 in the US.
