Reducing food waste with Norwegian technology

A great deal of food is wasted in homes and shops. Oslo-based Link Retail has joined forces with supermarket chain MENY on a pioneering food waste project. The aim is to cut bread waste by 30 per cent in one year, equivalent to one million loaves and a 600-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.

'This project strongly supports the UN Sustainable Development Goal of reducing food waste. If successful, it will deliver significant environmental benefits and, we hope, drive further innovation in the grocery sector. Even small improvements in the flow of goods and working practices can have a major positive impact on the environment,' says Vidar Dramstad, Head of Development and Restructuring at our Oslo Viken office. He adds that the food waste project received NOK 1.6 million in funding through the Environmental Technology Scheme.

Together with its subsidiary Link Retail, Link Analytix develops digital tools for the retail sector. The companies combine insights into customer behaviour and sales patterns with innovative technology. Through their collaborative project with MENY, they have developed software that can predict the right quantity of each fresh food product needed throughout the day, enabling stores to prepare and offer products accordingly.

'The solution works incredibly well. We have already reduced bread waste by 30 per cent, and we see potential for even greater reductions,' says Simon Fossum, project manager at Link Retail.

The company has found that its approach to using real-time sales data is new and unique. Its combination of expertise and experience puts it in a strong position to help grocery retailers optimise sales, minimise waste and improve their environmental profile. Its ambition is to become a leading international provider of insights, analytics and technology for the retail sector.

'We will invest even more in projects and processes that focus on sustainability, and we firmly believe we can find effective solutions for every fresh food category. Fruit and vegetables will probably be next, as they currently account for the most waste in grocery stores,' says Fossum.

Link Analytix was established in 2015 and has grown steadily ever since. Its solutions are now used in more than 20 countries. Together with its subsidiary, the company has a combined turnover of NOK 17.5 million and 20 employees across offices and development teams in Tallinn, Warsaw and Ankara. Sales and support are managed from its offices in Oslo, Berlin and Madrid.

'The coronavirus pandemic slowed the pace of development, but we are seeing interest in loss-reduction solutions soar. We are currently negotiating with several major companies across Europe, and we will definitely launch pilots in several of the largest markets. It is not a question of whether we will do something, but when,' Fossum emphasises, adding that they are also in talks with companies in South America, the USA, Russia and the Middle East.