How Vallarta Supermarkets Succeeded with Smartway’s AI in US Stores: Zero Expired Products, Fast Adoption

The Challenge: Technology Adoption in US Retail

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The US retail market faces a critical problem: store employees don't fully adopt new technology solutions selected by headquarters. Teams check boxes to show compliance, struggle to fully use the system or cannot get properly trained due to turnover. Previous solutions at Vallarta were complex, requiring extensive manual work, leading to frustration and unsatisfying results.

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The Reality: When retailers deploy new tech, store teams often ignore it—too complex, too disconnected from daily reality, no visible personal benefit.

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The Smartway Difference: Field-First Methodology

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Behind the scenes, Smartway’s Food Waste Management System powered Vallarta’s new way of managing dates through a 13-year proven deployment methodology:

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On-the-ground partnership

• Direct work with store employees
• Hands-on training in every store
• Demonstrating tangible benefits for daily workflows
• Continuous support throughout rollout

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Intelligent detection technology

• Automatic detection of products approaching expiration using on-board AI
• Ultra-simplified UX designed for store teams
• Seamless integration into existing processes
• Real-time visibility for headquarters

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Lightning-Fast Deployment & Exceptional Adoption

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• 39 stores deployed in just 6 months
• 34 stores rolled out in only 5 weeks

‍"Accomplished what many thought would be impossible"

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Deployment Excellence

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• 3-4 months: Pilot phase (5 stores) + validation
• 1 month: Preparation and planning alignment
• 5 weeks: Full rollout of 34 stores across Center Store Grocery, Deli, Frozen, and Dairy
• Net Promoter Score: +100 & Zero detractors across 39 stores

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Operational Impact from Day 1

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✓ Zero expired products on shelves

Protecting brand reputation and customer trust in freshness

✓ Complete visibility for headquarters

Real-time insight into daily store operations—no more "checking boxes"

✓ Time savings for store teams

UX optimized for velocity—teams work faster, not harder

✓ Reduced losses, preserved margins

Immediate financial impact from improved fresh management

✓ Cross-functional team alignment

Scan Area Leads, Grocery Supervisors, and store teams working in sync

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"Everything is running smoothly from the very first time we went to the first store"

Rodrigo Jimenez, Director Shelf Edge, Vallarta Supermarkets

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What Vallarta Says about Smartway

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"In just five short weeks, our new Smartway solution has been rolled out to 34 stores across the board. We accomplished what many thought would be impossible. This was not just a project, it was a massive undertaking that required coordination, dedication, and support across multiple teams and locations."

"The Smartway rollout wasn't just about technology, it was about teamwork, resilience, and pride in doing something extraordinary. Thank you all for turning a huge challenge into a milestone success."

Edna De La Torre, Scan Department Supervisor, Vallarta Supermarkets

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"We had a previous solution for this, with more complexity, many things had to be taken care of manually. I could see it was going to work well, while I could see [my store manager] was a little more nervous because of the experience with other solutions, so I thank you for your support and making the rollout so simple."

Rodrigo Jimenez, Director Shelf Edge, Vallarta Supermarkets

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"Congratulations on an outstanding implementation! Your hard work and dedication are truly commendable, and the exceptional results speak for themselves."

Steve Netherton, CIO, Vallarta Supermarkets

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Why This Matters for US Retailers

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Many US retailers recognize this pattern:

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Typical tech rollout failure

• Complex interfaces store teams don’t understand
• No clear benefit for employees’ daily jobs
• Limited field support or training
• Headquarters disappointed by weak adoption and ROI

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The Smartway alternative

• Built for store teams first, not just dashboards
• Boots‑on‑the‑ground support with deployment experts in stores
• 13 years of retail experience, adapted to the US market
• AI that removes friction instead of adding it

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Vallarta’s experience shows that successful technology adoption in US grocery is possible when:

• The tool is truly designed for the field
• Deployment is treated as a partnership, not just a project
• AI is used to simplify, not complicate, store life

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Ready to see how this could work in your stores?

Discover our Food Waste Management System for retailers and request a demo with our team.

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