Nourish + Bloom Market on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost and how to buy healthy food and pay without waiting in line
FAYETTEVILLE, GEORGIA: In 'Shark Tank' Season 15, Jilea and Jamie Hemmings seek an investor for Nourish + Bloom Market, their autonomous grocery shop that offers healthy food.
39.5 million in the United States lack simple access to nutritious, inexpensive food. What happens when a community uses technology to address this very human issue?
Residents in Trilith, Georgia, are experiencing the solution firsthand. Nourish + Bloom Market, located in the center of the neighborhood, is the United States' first autonomous grocery shop with robotic delivery.
The shop, which opened in February 2022, strives to serve nutritious food 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while making the experience easy and pleasurable for the whole community.
Nourish + Bloom Market has fully embraced the future of food shopping. The store's cooperation with UST combines people and technology to provide a seamless omnichannel experience.
The ripple effect is spreading throughout the neighborhood and beyond.
What is Nourish + Bloom Market?
Nestled in the heart of Fayetteville, Georgia's Trilith Town Center, a groundbreaking enterprise is revolutionizing the way we approach food shopping. Founded by Jamie and Jilea, Nourish + Bloom Market is at the forefront of this change.
Their entry into the food sector was prompted by a highly personal experience: the diagnosis of their oldest son with autism. This pivotal moment ignited within them a mission to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their circumstances, could access nutritious food options.
Nourish + Bloom Market, founded in July 2022, is a shining example of innovation, serving as the world's first Black-owned autonomous grocery shop. The Hemmings' notion stemmed from a desire to address their community's obvious lack of nutritious food alternatives, particularly after moving from Chicago to Georgia.
Motivated by their own challenges and driven by a vision to promote a healthier future, they embarked on a mission to establish a space where convenience and nutrition could harmoniously coexist.
Stepping into Nourish + Bloom Market, you'll find a seamless combination of technology and hospitality. Customers are greeted by screens that provide advice on how to make the most of their visit, making the shopping experience unique.
The concept is straightforward yet revolutionary: download the store's app, scan a QR code upon entering, choose your purchases, and leave without the fuss of traditional checkout. A receipt arrives in your inbox, reducing the need for paper waste.
Despite its innovative approach, Nourish + Bloom Market is profoundly based on personal connection. While automation improves efficiency, the presence of employees guarantees that clients receive individualized support and direction.
From navigating the aisles to finding new items, the personal touch elevates the whole experience. Furthermore, the market has a staff-run restaurant that serves a delectable variety of foods, ranging from healthy bowls to tasty Jamaican cuisine.
Who are the founders of Nourish + Bloom Market?
Jamie, a creative and imaginative serial entrepreneur, has made significant contributions to both the technology and culinary industries. His journey began when his child was diagnosed with autism, and he encountered difficulties in finding nutritious meals for him.
In response, Jamie co-founded Greenie Tots, pioneering the first line of nutritious frozen meals crafted from plant-based proteins and inspired by traditional children's favorites. Yet, this venture marked only the beginning of his innovative pursuits.
Jamie went on to develop two scheduling technology applications for the pharmaceutical and cannabis businesses. His cannabis app Leaf Tyme was the first cannabis tech solution to make it to the final round of the Release It competition at SXSW, one of the world's most prominent technology conferences.
Jamie founded Nourish + Bloom Market to make nutritious food more accessible. Jamie's pioneering work in autonomous grocery technology is redefining the shopping experience by giving customers a simple and efficient method to shop for their favorite items.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Jamie is a nationally syndicated writer for Medium and Thrive Global. His column, Inspirational Black Men In Tech, tells the experiences of black men's impact in the technology business.
Jamie's entrepreneurial zeal, dedication to positive impact, and unwavering commitment to fostering healthier, more sustainable communities are truly inspiring. As a visionary leader, he spearheads change and leaves a tangible mark on the world.
Jilea, on the other hand, has been dubbed one of the 25 Most Influential and Prominent Black Women in Business and is a finalist for SXSW Release It. Jilea is a visionary entrepreneur and futurist passionate about addressing the issue of food deserts.
Her groundbreaking approach to tackling food insecurity through autonomous grocery technology has positioned her as a trailblazer in the retail technology sector. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by communities lacking access to nutritious food options, Jilea has emerged as a leader in the quest to enact positive change in the world.
Her expertise in company growth extends beyond the current generation to the next through her initiative, I Am Kid Boss. The initiative goes out to inner-city children, providing them with the same personal mentorship and resources for starting their successful businesses that Jilea does for her customers.
Her Nourish + Bloom Foundation focuses on educating the next generation about STEM and offering training and development for jobs in retail technology. Jilea is a strong champion for workplace diversity and inclusion, as well as a prominent speaker who promotes women's roles in technology.
She firmly believes that no barriers, whether related to class, color, or gender, should hinder individuals from leveraging their purpose, passion, abilities, and talents to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Jilea has created and hosted three podcast programs.
The Untold Truth with Jilea Hemmings teaches lessons about life, business, health, and prosperity. The Green Nyle Podcast focuses on telling the tales of those who have used cannabis to cure themselves since sharing saves lives.
Tender Heads Matter shares anecdotes on managing hair care routines with sensitive scalps.
What is the cost and how to buy Nourish + Bloom Market?
Customers download the store's app, scan a QR code upon entry, choose their desired items, and then proceed to leave. The business promptly bills them and provides a receipt, streamlining the shopping experience. This innovative concept mirrors the convenience of Amazon Go stores, which have been popping up in various locations.
Additionally, the market is open 24 hours a day. While the shopping experience is self-contained, the store is staffed to supply shelves and serve customers.
The store also has a restaurant (which is not open 24 hours a day). On Saturdays, they provide nutritious bowls, burgers, sandwiches, veggies, tacos, and Jamaican food.
On Google, customers have left reviews like, "I got the jerk chicken plate for lunch..... It’s a good thing too…the the food is finger looking good with sauce on the side! I love the sauce!!! The portions are extremely generous! I’ll be back soon. Visit on Friday or Saturday for this special!!! 😉."
While another user chimed in, "I tried the rice bowl with grilled salmon, steamed broccoli, carrots, and sweet Thai chili sauce and the pineapple ginger juice, and it was absolutely delicious! Good portion and super fresh and flavorful! The bowl can be customized to your taste and dietary preferences which is nice. Definitely will be my new go-to healthy food option!"
One user left some suggestions for future customers like, "I love this store and in person shopping BUT I do not recommend ordering on Door Dash. If you DO NOT like semi raw veggies in your Quinoa bowls do not order try in person where they may tweek your veggie preference."
A fourth user praised the owners, saying, "The owners are very nice and informative. Very welcoming and the food was great. I would definitely recommend you come and try their Jamaican food and their godfather sandwich is amazing."
Where is Nourish + Bloom Market now?
Nourish + Bloom Market partnered with UST to implement a comprehensive technological solution and management system for a seamless hybrid checkout experience. Despite the complexity behind the scenes, the customer experience remains simple and frictionless for both consumers and employees.
The collaboration is bolstered by UST's ability to devise and engineer solutions grounded in an innovation ecosystem. This powerful fusion of technology and business strategy positions Nourish + Bloom Market to scale up to 1,000 outlets across the United States.
Looking ahead, the Hemmingses are determined to broaden their effect. Plans are being made to establish Nourish + Bloom Market sites around Atlanta, with an emphasis on underserved populations.
Inclusivity is central to their vision; the market aspires to be the first autonomous grocery shop to take advantage of EBT and SNAP benefits, guaranteeing that low-income families benefit from this innovative method.
In a world where socioeconomic circumstances frequently determine access to nutritious food, Nourish + Bloom Market serves as a beacon of hope.
Jamie and Jilea's unwavering passion and pioneering spirit are reshaping not only the way we shop but also advocating for a fairer food system accessible to all.
Nourish + Bloom Market invites you to join the movement and nurture your body, mind, and community.
Who will steal the deal on 'Shark Tank' Season 15?
The duo aims to establish three or four additional businesses in the greater Atlanta region. Additionally, the Hemmings have plans to franchise their innovative concept. Engaging with a Shark could provide valuable assistance in realizing these ambitions.
We're not sure what angle the Hemmings will take on this pitch. If they want to grow, which we believe they are in the Tank for, they may have an uphill struggle.
Grocery shops have traditionally poor margins, and the Sharks are all about profits. While we believe the Sharks will enjoy the Hemmings and what they are attempting to do, we do not anticipate any offers.
'Shark Tank' Season 15, Episode 17, airs on ABC on Friday, March 15, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Overplay, The Murder Mystery Company, Nourish + Bloom Market, and Nowhere Bakery.
For those who miss the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.