Central Co-op manages to avoid 8,800+ tonnes of food waste thanks to Retail Insight partnership
Central Co-op, the largest independent retail co-operative in the UK, says it has prevented more than 8,800 tonnes of food waste over three years since partnering with Retail Insight.
The pair first teamed up in 2021.
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, comments: “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, says: “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 with Retail Insight to unlock additional gains in sell-through, labour efficiency, and inventory accuracy.
2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS
Green retail was a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
We received a record number of entries and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.
For a full rundown of all of the shortlisted entries, click here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC in Central London on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
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