60�NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025 ABASTO.COM By Ken Ninomiya T he holiday season is more than just a time when people buy a lot of groceries. It is a chance to get new customers, build loyalty, and develop an om- nichannel connection all year long. AI-driven omni- channel customization and smarter interactions that go above and beyond what shoppers anticipate is what will really set you apart. WHY IT MATTERS TO OUTPERFORM Holiday shoppers are both price-conscious and open to switching — yet they reward convenience, per- sonalization, and surprise. Building trust and getting shoppers to come back be- comes simpler when you ofer relevant deals, and hel- pful product suggestions. AI algorithms can produce personalized ofers and ti- mely add-on deals that keep shoppers coming back. But to be successful, you need more than just technology. You need to make sure that your inventory, CRM, and loyalty systems work well together before the holiday rush. Grocers that employ these three simple tactics Winning the Holidays with AI can turn one-time holiday shoppers into loyal consu- mers, which will keep their basket value high long after the holidays are over. 1 USE AI TO HELP PEOPLE FIND THINGS AND MAKE THEM MORE PERSONAL At Grocery Shop 2025 in Las Vegas, dozens of new AI companies showed of ca- pabilities that make search and customization easier and more afordable. Once limited to large chains, today’s plug-and-play pla- tforms integrate directly with POS, CRM, and eCom- merce systems. Shoppers can obtain smart product suggestions on the web, in applications, by email, and at kiosks in stores. Tese solutions use advanced mo- dels like contrastive lear- ning and generative AI to get up to 17% more people to accept their ofers than static promotions. 2 USE PREDICTIVE REPLENISHMENT AND SMART SHOPPER TAGGING AI-powered solutions for pur- chasing can predict when sho- ppers will run out of essential products and deliver their tar- geted ofers. Grocers should also tag holiday shoppers in their CRM to establish a seg- ment that can be used repea- tedly for future promotions, from Valentine’s Day to Mo- ther’s Day, to keep them enga- ged all year long. 3 OFFER INCENTIVES FOR LOYALTY AND RETENTION AFTER THE HOLIDAYS New loyalty platforms are helping grocery stores go beyond traditional points programs and into AI-per- sonalized engagement. Te- se systems use predictive analytics to provide perso- nalized incentives, deals that shoppers can get early, and ofers that come at just the right time based on how you make purchases. Turning Seasonal Shoppers into Year- Round Loyalists The takeaway is clear: The holiday season is no longer the end; it is the start. This season, grocers that put money on AI personalization and predictive loyalty will do better than expected and have a long-lasting competitive edge. FOOD INDUSTRY