The UK's largest independent retail Co-operative has prevented over 8,000 tonnes of food waste over the past three years after rolling out an AI-driven tool.

Central Co-op, which has over 500 trading premises across 23 counties, partnered with Retail Insight in 2021 to implement technology that supports forecasting, expiration management, markdowns, and donation opportunities.

The tool has enabled company to sell more stock at reduced prices, minimise waste, and improve productivity.

Since rolling out the tool three years ago, the company says it has saved nearly 21 million meals, diverted over 32 million units of food from landfill, and avoided the emission of over 23,700 tonnes of CO₂e.

According to WRAP, UK grocery retailers currently generate approximately 270,000 tonnes of food waste annually.

“Reducing food waste is a key part of our journey to net zero and reflects our wider commitment to sustainability, fairness and supporting the communities we serve," said Ben Grove, senior operational excellence manager, Central Co-op.

Through the technology, the retailer can respond in real-time to expiry data and stock levels, optimising the timing and depth of markdowns.

The co-operative said that it will continue to use the technology to unlock other benefits, such as gains in in sell-through, labour efficiency, and inventory accuracy.

---