Transforming the Wine Shopping Experience with AI
The Challenge
With thousands of SKUs and a highly variable consumer knowledge base, wine aisles are often overwhelming. Kroger and its wine partner, WX Brands, needed a way to simplify decision-making, highlight exclusive selections, and increase trial and premium trade-up. Traditional in-store signage or static assets weren't enough. They needed a dynamic, interactive experience that could guide shoppers in real time across multiple touchpoints.
Our Solution: Corks & Cheers — The AI-Powered Wine Engagement Agent
Fig.1 partnered with WX Brands to build Corks & Cheers, a personalized AI wine concierge that helps shoppers discover wines with confidence—online, on social media, or directly in the aisle.
Personalized Recommendations
The agent learns customer preferences and delivers tailored wine suggestions based on taste, occasion, budget, and food pairings.
Real-Time Engagement Across Channels
Corks & Cheers lives wherever shoppers are: QR codes at shelf, POS displays, in-store signage, digital ads, Instagram link-in-bio experiences, and retail partner microsites.
Integrated Marketing Activation
The AI platform supports Kroger and WX Brands across digital campaigns, influencer partnerships, and seasonal promotions, turning passive impressions into interactive conversations.
Smart Learning and Optimization
As shoppers engage, the platform captures real questions, preferences, and behaviors, allowing continuous refinement of recommendations and marketing strategies.
The Impact
Since launching Corks & Cheers, Kroger and WX Brands have seen:
- ✓Increased shopper confidence in wine selection
- ✓Stronger engagement from digital and in-store traffic
- ✓Improved experience across all touchpoints
- ✓Interactive conversations that drive discovery
Beyond Retail: AI-Driven Sales and Marketing Training
Corks & Cheers also supports internal teams:
- •Real-time insights help sales teams understand consumer behavior and competitor dynamics
- •Predictive analytics inform messaging, targeting, and campaign improvements
- •Ongoing learning modules help brands stay ahead of beverage retail trends and digital engagement strategies
What's Next: The Future of AI in Beverage Discovery
Upcoming enhancements include conversational AI sommeliers, predictive buying behavior analysis, and expansion of AI experiences across beer, spirits, RTDs, and functional beverages. The future of beverage discovery is smarter, more intuitive, and more personalized.
AI Experiences That Live Anywhere
Fig.1 Engagement Agents can be deployed across nearly any customer touchpoint: Instagram link-in-bio, retailer websites, brand microsites, digital ads, QR codes, POS displays, trade events, and email or SMS campaigns. One build becomes a multi-purpose asset across the full marketing ecosystem.
Let's Build the Future of Beverage Engagement
If you're a grocery chain, distributor, or beverage brand looking to elevate customer engagement and drive smarter discovery, Fig.1's AI solutions are ready to help.
