[matheweis]

A partner and I (failed when we) founded Groceree, an app that did almost exactly this. The biggest problem we were unable to solve was incentivizing users to use the app and give us the data. Users of smartphones tended to be well off and not interested in the savings. Less well off users that were interested in the savings had very busy lives and/or lacked the discipline to do the planning before shopping. Potential users would be excited about the idea but didn't want to follow through at scale.

Anyhow, there is another app that has come out since (Basket), that is very similar to what we wanted to build. They seem to have done better on the incentivization front.

Might check Basket out and see if it does what you want. (I have no relationship with them).

Incidentally, our data suggested that if you were willing to shop at 3 or more stores you could save on average more than 85% on your grocery bills... the savings are potentially huge.

[DiabloD3]

Thank you for what you did, even if you failed. I've been looking at an app for that for a long time, and even collect data if I had to, to participate.

[matheweis]

Ah, thanks! I still have all sorts of leftover technology from it, like a database of thousands and thousands of grocery stores all over the US, their physical locations and websites, etc. and no idea what to do with it...

Here is a link to Basket. My partner and I were simultaneously super bummed but also excited to see the idea realized: https://basketsavings.com/

[DiabloD3]

In the end, I don't think that company will survive. They only have an app for the iPhone, which is pretty much the minority of their target market.

[matheweis]

They have Android too, just not linked from their webpage: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basketsavi...