Nourish + Bloom Market: Atlanta's First Black-Owned Autonomous Grocery

Nourish + Bloom Market Launches Contactless Grocery Shopping in Atlanta

The doors of Nourish + Bloom Market, a novel contactless grocery store, officially opened to the public on Friday. The location is situated within the Town Centre retail area of Trilith, in Atlanta.

A Focus on Local and Healthy Options

Jamie and Jilea Hemmings, a husband-and-wife team, are the driving force behind this innovative grocery store and accompanying bistro. Their vision is to provide access to over 1,000 locally sourced and healthy food items.

These offerings encompass a wide range, including fresh produce, quality meats, freshly baked goods, dairy products, and convenient prepared meals.

The Origins of Nourish + Bloom

The Hemmings’ entrepreneurial journey began several years ago following a personal experience. Their eldest child received an autism diagnosis at the age of two.

Jilea Hemmings detailed how their subsequent research into the connection between diet and autism led them to establish a food company. This venture focused on reimagining popular children’s foods with healthier ingredients.

From Personal Need to Innovative Business

Upon relocating to Atlanta two years ago, the Hemmings encountered similar challenges in finding healthy food options. This prompted them to combine their expertise in both the food industry and technology to create Nourish + Bloom.

They assembled a dedicated team to bring their concept to fruition.

A Pandemic-Inspired Solution

“The initial concept took shape approximately a year ago, during the height of the pandemic,” Jamie Hemmings shared with TechCrunch. “Our goal was to develop a solution that eliminated the need for customers to wait in lines or physically handle items during checkout.”

How the Contactless System Works

Customers utilize a dedicated mobile application, where they securely input their payment details. Upon entering the store, they scan a unique code at the turnstile, which initiates their digital shopping cart.

As shoppers browse the aisles, a network of 30 cameras, coupled with weighted shelves, meticulously monitors and records their selections.

Once the shopper exits the store, their chosen payment method is automatically charged, and a digital receipt is delivered through the app.

Bistro and Delivery Options

The on-site bistro serves breakfast and offers an all-day menu featuring food and beverages inspired by the Hemmings’ Caribbean and New York backgrounds.

Despite the streamlined, frictionless experience, staff members are readily available to provide assistance to shoppers.

For those within a three-mile radius of Nourish + Bloom, temperature-controlled delivery robots are available. Customers simply state their order number to access their purchases via a secure hatch.

Joining the Autonomous Grocery Movement

The market underwent two months of beta testing prior to its public launch. While autonomous grocery stores are more prevalent internationally, they are gaining momentum in the U.S.

Nourish + Bloom now stands alongside established players like Amazon Go, 7-Eleven, and Walmart, which is also exploring autonomous robots for delivery services.

Companies such as Sensei, Standard Cognition, Zippin, Grabango, AiFi, and Trigo are actively developing cashierless technologies.

Industry Recognition and Future Expansion

“Larger companies are still refining these technologies, yet these two highly motivated entrepreneurs have successfully implemented a working solution over the past year,” noted Rob Parker, president of Trilith.

“They have achieved their goal and are now poised for expansion.”

Looking Ahead

The Hemmings’ company is currently raising capital to facilitate the expansion of Nourish + Bloom across the United States.

Over the next six months, they plan to identify a second location within Atlanta, as well as explore opportunities in Florida and Texas.

Furthermore, their foundation is collaborating with organizations like Microsoft to create STEM and mentorship programs for underserved communities.