Reducing food waste with Norwegian technology

A great deal of food is thrown away 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 reduce bread waste by 30 per cent in one year, equivalent to one million loaves and a 600-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.

‘This project is closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal of reducing food waste. If successful, it will deliver significant environmental benefits and will hopefully 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 Innovation Norway Oslo Viken. 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 a collaborative project with MENY, they have developed software that can predict the right quantity of each fresh 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 credentials. 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 focused 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 since then, with its solutions 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 an explosion of interest in solutions that reduce waste. We are currently negotiating with several major companies across Europe, and there will definitely be pilot projects 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 US, Russia and the Middle East.