NGA Show: Quantum computing is the new AI in grocery - Supermarket News

The tech works a lot like ChatGPT and can help with supply chain issues, NGA Show speaker says Introducing products to market is in Alex Jackson’s DNA. Her grandmother, Dr.

Frieda Rapoport Caplan, founded Frieda’s Branded Produce in 1962 and became the first to bring the kiwi to the U.S. She also coined the name. Jackson is vice president of sales and procurement at Frieda’s Branded Produce. She spoke on the second day of the National Grocers Association’s Show 2026 Monday in Las Vegas, where she introduced quantum computing to the grocery industry—a technology she said could one day become as familiar as the kiwi. Jackson attended the University of Southern California’s Food Industry Management Program, which brings students together for a four-month capstone project. Teams must identify a problem facing the food industry and develop an innovative, previously unexplored solution. Jackson’s team focused on using quantum computing to help retailers better prepare for viral food trends. Related:Target is testing contextual ads in ChatGPT The grocery industry loses billions of dollars annually because it is unprepared for viral food trends, such as the recent surge in demand for Good Culture’s protein-rich cottage cheese, Jackson said. “It took months to get that supply chain in order after it went viral,” she said. Jackson used a maze analogy to explain the difference between traditional and quantum computing. Traditional computing evaluates one path at a time and can take hours to identify the fastest route through a maze. Quantum computing evaluates all possible paths simultaneously, identifying the quickest route in seconds. She compared the technology to ChatGPT, noting that when prompted correctly, it can solve problems faster. Some grocers already use quantum computing. Canadian grocer Save-On-Foods has used the technology for more than four years on operational functions such as route optimization and labor-hour management. Whole Foods uses it for line scheduling and managing its product portfolio. On the CPG side, Nestle uses quantum computing to manage formulas and recipes, accelerate innovation and improve supply chain management. “Any problem where you are using data to assess what the right solution could be is where quantum computing can help you,” Jackson said. With viral trends on social media, quantum computing can alert retailers earlier—before stores run out of stock on trending products. The technology can signal when a food trend reaches a certain velocity and triggers specific supply chain actions. Quantum computing cannot predict viral food trends, but it can identify when a product begins gaining traction. Related:Toast, Instacart announce partnership to streamline retail and restaurant operations Numerous third-party quantum computing companies, like IBM Q, are available to grocery retailers, and the industry is expected to reach $26 billion by 2030. Jackson said the typical cost to use such a service is about $5,000 per month plus other fees—roughly $60,000 annually. Retailers can see a return on investment through route optimization, reduced fuel costs, lower overtime pay and improved forecasting, among other benefits. “Is this going to be another thing we let go by, and then we’re waiting until Amazon or Instacart figure it out before us?” Jackson asked. “Then we’re sitting here saying, ‘Oh, now we just have to play catch-up.’” Bill Wilson is the senior editor at Supermarket News, covering all things grocery and retail. He has been a journalist in the B2B industry for 25 years. He has received two Robert F. Boger awards for his work as a journalist in the infrastructure industry and has over 25 editorial awards total in his career. He graduated cum laude from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a major in broadcast communications. Copyright © 2026 Informa Connect Limited. Registered in England & Wales with number 01835199, registered office 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.