Seattle-based grocery tech startup Shelf Engine has been acquired by Crisp, a New York-based retail data company, in a deal that marks a significant move in the retail analytics space. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Founded in 2016, Shelf Engine leverages machine learning to optimize perishable inventory for grocers, helping them cut costs and minimize food waste. The company secured more than $60 million in funding from investors over the years and expanded its platform to over 7,000 stores nationwide.
“What started as a side project with my good friend Bede [Jordan] turned into a platform that’s now in over 7,000 stores across the U.S., helping reduce millions of pounds of food waste,” co-founder and CEO Stefan Kalb shared on LinkedIn. “It’s been 8 years of wild highs, humbling challenges, and so much growth.”
Crisp, which also launched in 2016, raised $50 million last year and provides software that analyzes sales and inventory data for brands, retailers, and distributors in the consumer packaged goods industry.
Kalb co-founded Shelf Engine alongside Bede Jordan, a former principal software engineering lead at Microsoft’s HoloLens division. The idea for the company stemmed from Kalb’s earlier venture, Molly’s, a fresh food supplier for hospitals, grocery stores, coffee shops, and offices. Struggling with the challenges of predicting fresh food demand, Kalb developed a software solution to streamline purchasing—laying the foundation for Shelf Engine.
The startup gained traction not only for its innovative approach but also for its environmental impact, attracting high-profile investors such as Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Olympic snowboarder Shaun White, and musician Shawn Mendes. Other major backers included General Catalyst, GGV Capital, Foundational Capital, and Initialized Capital.
Despite its success, Shelf Engine faced financial hurdles, leading to layoffs in 2022. The acquisition by Crisp signals a new chapter for the company, as it integrates into a broader ecosystem of retail analytics and data-driven inventory management.
