10 Tips on How to Eliminate Food Waste in Your Store

Every year, an estimated one-third of all food produced for human consumption — equivalent to 1.3 billion tons — ends up in landfills or is lost during production and distribution. In response, both grocery retailers and consumers play pivotal roles in combating grocery store food waste. This article not only delves into practical strategies on how to eliminate food waste but also focuses on commonly wasted food items. By exploring these solutions, both retailers and customers can make a significant impact in reducing food waste.

Strategies for Grocery Retailers 

1. Establish an Efficient Expiration Management Process: Efficient expiry management is the cornerstone for eliminating food waste and ensuring a streamlined grocery store operation. Strive to implement a system that doesn’t allow associates to “miss” or “forget” fresh items nearing expiry by prompting them to check specific items. Having a good process from the start will then trickle down to ordering and inventory management.
2. Educate Staff and Consumers: An informed staff is the first line of defense against grocery store food waste. Provide comprehensive training on proper storage and handling techniques for perishable items. Engage your teams, making their efforts and hard work competitive. Emphasize the importance of minimizing waste within the store. It is also beneficial to display informative posters or brochures near relevant sections, educating customers on the impact of food waste. Empower them with knowledge so that they are aware of how to eliminate food waste at home.
3. In-Store Marketing: Enhance the customer experience by providing recipe cards near food items, and suggesting creative ways to utilize products. Include quick and easy recipes for items like potato cakes, croutons, or smoothies. Encourage customers to join you in your store’s efforts to eliminate waste.
4. Optimize Stock Management: Effective stock management is key to eliminating grocery store food waste. Utilize an expiration management system to monitor product shelf life. Encourage a first-in, first-out approach to diminish overstocking.
5. In-Store Foodservice: Transform unsold items, such as bread, potatoes, cheese, etc., into in-store bakery items or ready-to-eat meals. This not only reduces waste but also adds value to otherwise discarded products.
6. Markdowns: Dynamic pricing strategies for items nearing expiration can entice customers and mitigate waste. Clearly label discounted items and promote them through various channels to maximize visibility.
7. Collaborate with Local Organizations: Forge partnerships with local charities to redirect surplus, but still edible food to those in need. Collaborate with food banks to ensure excess perishables find a purpose, aligning your store with community welfare.
8. Nudging Strategies: Create a dedicated “Waste Elimination Zone” in your store, featuring attractive displays. Utilize eco-friendly branding and signage to communicate the importance of waste elimination. Ensure the pricing and displays are visually appealing to encourage customer engagement.
9. Digital Communication: Leverage digital platforms to disseminate information about eliminating food waste in grocery stores. Send push notifications or emails containing tips, recipes, and alerts about upcoming or current markdowns to keep customers informed.
10. Reward Programs and Community Events: Implement loyalty programs that reward customers for choosing products from the waste elimination zone. Organize events or workshops focused on how to eliminate food waste, featuring local experts to strengthen community ties.

As we explore strategies for grocery retailers, it’s essential to understand the context of specific food items that often get wasted. Let’s delve into the top five commonly wasted foods and how retailers can implement effective measures to minimize their disposal.

Top 5 Wasted Food Items

1. Bread  |  Waste Reduction Strategy
   • Freezing: Bread freezes well, so store it in the freezer if not used immediately.  
   • Upcycling:  If bread goes stale, turn it into croutons or breadcrumbs for added texture and flavor in dishes.  
   • Nudging for Customers:  In-store recipe cards and discount programs for bread nearing expiration. 
2. Milk  |  Waste Reduction Strategy
   • Proper Storage & Handling:  Keep the fridge below 5°C to extend the freshness of milk.
   • Freezing:  Freeze milk in ice cube trays for smoothies or iced coffees.
   • Nudging for Customers:  Recipe suggestions and reduced pricing on milk close to expiration.
3. Potatoes  |  Waste Reduction Strategy
   • Proper Storage & Handling:  Store potatoes in a dark, dry place, preferably in breathable bags like paper or burlap.
   • Creative Use:  Turn leftover cooked potatoes into potato cakes or gnocchi, which can be frozen for later use.
   • Nudging for Customers:  Smart shopping tips and in-store cooking demos featuring potatoes.
4. Cheese  |  Waste Reduction Strategy
   • Proper Storage & Handling:  Package hard cheeses in parchment paper to allow them to breathe.
   • Freezing:  Grate excess cheese and freeze it for later use, even if some mold appears.
   • Nudging for Customers:  Discount programs on bulk purchases and recipe inspiration for leftover cheese.
5. Apple  |  Waste Reduction Strategy
   • Proper Storage & Handling:  Clean and dry apples before storing them in a cold, dark, and well-ventilated place.
   • Creative Use:  Make dried apple snacks in the oven or freeze apples for later use.
   • Nudging for Customers:  Educational materials on apple storage and in-store events showcasing apple-related recipes.

Unifying Retailers & Consumers

The battle against grocery retail food waste requires a united front from both grocery retailers and consumers. To begin with, retailers can implement practical strategies such as staff education, optimized stock management, and sustainable practices to minimize food waste in stores. Additionally, collaborations with local organizations and innovative pricing strategies can further contribute to a waste-conscious approach. Ultimately, these combined efforts create a more sustainable and efficient solution for reducing food waste.

Consumers, armed with knowledge from educational materials, recipe cards, and discount programs, play a crucial role in making informed choices. Encouraging practices like freezing and smart shopping align with the collective effort to reduce waste.