The US’ Black-Owned Autonomous Grocery Store: How Nourish + Bloom Is Reshaping Access To Fresh Food

Nourish + Bloom, the first Black-owned autonomous grocery store in the US, is reshaping how communities access fresh food after Shark Tank investors declined them.

Founded by Jilea and Jamie Hemmings in 2022, Nourish + Bloom aims to reduce the nation’s food deserts, making eating healthy and convenient.

Nourish + Bloom

Nourish + Bloom is reportedly the first 100% AI-powered supermarket to be open for business 24/7.  The store currently offers a range of essentials, from produce to toiletries, and a deli for prepared foods. 

However, unlike traditional stores, Nourish + Bloom operates without cashiers as it utilizes a digital AI assistant named Rosie.

Nourish + Bloom’s automated checkout process allows customers to use a mobile app to scan a QR code upon entry, alongside smart shelves and detectors managing the purchasing process. 

The items are picked up from smart shelves that can sense the weight and shape of the objects to identify them for purchase. 

Then, customers walk through a detector for the system to total them and charge the account. A receipt is sent digitally to the app to which the bank account is linked.

Tackling the nation’s food deserts

Additionally, this model significantly reduces operating costs, allowing these stores to be smaller and more versatile. 

Unlike traditional large-scale supermarkets, Nourish + Bloom’s current and upcoming stores, including micro-markets and single-door stores, are designed for space and cost efficiency.

This innovation extends beyond technology to address broader community needs with planned locations along the Atlanta BeltLine and other growing neighborhoods.

The Hemmings’ strategy also includes 24/7 operation and acceptance of EBT funds, broadening access to essential goods.

Their overall vision is to flood communities where large-scale grocery chains won’t even think about opening their grocery tech businesses and train people in these communities to run stores that mostly run themselves.