Discount Retail Chain Kiwi, a subsidiary of NorgesGruppen, has cut food waste by 55% compared to 2015 and is on track to achieve 60% reduction by 2025.
Kiwi relies on automatic product ordering that helps it to place orders as accurately as possible, preventing food waste. Moreover, it is equipped with technology that detects items approaching their expiry dates. These products are either offered at discounted prices or donated to charity.
Nora Mile Helgesen, communications manager at Kiwi, stated, "Reducing food waste is one of the most important things we do, because it can have a major impact on the climate.
"At Kiwi, we work systematically and purposefully to reduce food waste, and have done so for many years."
Measures to prevent food waste
Discounts on fruit and vegetables that are about to expire and bread from the day before impact food waste reduction, Kiwi added. Since 2004, the discounter has collaborated with the Church's City Mission to help the needy. Around 40 Kiwi stores donate goods to this organisation instead of offering discounts on goods. These stores donated 10% more goods in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The supermarket chain also offers tips on using leftover food in its newsletter as households account for a majority of food waste in Norway. It also works with suppliers to ensure that it offers packs that are adapted to smaller households, instead of offering discounts on quantity.
Kiwi is replacing traditional barcodes on food items with 2D codes, which contain, among other things, shelf life information that can help reduce food waste in grocery stores.
Source: ESM
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