Central Co-op, the largest independent retail co-operative in the UK, has prevented over 8,800 tonnes of food waste over three years since partnering with Retail Insight. Broken down, this means the retailer 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. These savings are significant given that, according to WRAP, UK grocery retailers, including supermarkets, generate approximately 270,000 tonnes of food waste annually.
Through more than 500 trading premises across 23 counties, Central Co-op places strong emphasis on community, sustainability and ethical retailing. In 2021, the retailer partnered with Retail Insight, the leading provider of in-store execution software, to tackle food waste and reduce environmental impact across its estate.
Retail Insight’s WasteInsight solution uses AI and data-driven insights to address the full food waste lifecycle, from forecasting and expiration management to dynamic markdowns and donation opportunities. This enables Central Co-op to sell more stock at reduced prices, minimise waste and boost in-store productivity.
Results to date since 2023 include:
- 8,796 tonnes of food waste avoided
- 20,977,826 meals saved
- 32,449,817 reduced-to-clear units sold
- 23,750 tonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided
Ben Grove, senior operational excellence manager at Central Co-op, commented: “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. Partnering with Retail Insight has enabled us to make a real difference – cutting carbon, keeping good food in circulation and offering better value to our members and customers. It’s a clear example of how we’re delivering on our co-operative purpose while building a more sustainable future.”
Kieran O’Brien, VP customer success EMEA at Retail Insight, added: “Central Co-op’s clear commitment to sustainability and innovation shines through in their willingness to embed AI-led waste reduction into store operations, and which has had a remarkable impact. We’re thrilled to be supporting them on this journey and look forward to further progress in the years ahead.”
Using WasteInsight’s Prompted and Dynamic Markdown features, Central Co-op is able to respond in real-time to expiry data and stock levels, optimising the timing and depth of markdowns. This ensures more food ends up with customers, not in landfill, while easing the workload on store teams.
Looking ahead, Central Co-op is working closely with Retail Insight to unlock additional gains in sell-through, labour efficiency, and inventory accuracy, helping the society deliver on its social and environmental purpose while continuing to provide great value to members and communities.
