CENTRAL FOOD GROUP TRIALS AI-POWERED “SMARTWAY” SYSTEM TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE IN STORES
Press release, 4 June 2024
In Thailand, 64% of waste is comprised of food waste, with Thais wasting 254 kg of food per capita per year. Central Food Group, Thailand’s largest supermarket chain, is deeply committed to addressing this issue. Now, it is taking its efforts to the next level by partnering with Smartway, a company that supports retailers in their fight against food waste. The retailer is set to begin testing Smartway’s innovative solutions for digitized food waste management in five of its Tops stores located in Bangkok and surrounding areas. The trial is scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2024. Based on artificial intelligence, Smartway’s solutions empower store teams to identify products nearing their expiration date, strategically price them with discounts of 20% to 40%, and take proactive measures to ensure accurate ordering. This translates to significant benefits for customers, boosting their purchasing power and reducing food waste. A first in Thailand!
Using AI to combat food waste
On one hand, tons of products are discarded in stores, while on the other hand, millions of consumers face precarious conditions. Central Food Group sought to address this issue by partnering with Smartway, a company that has been supporting retailers in the fight against food waste for the past 12 years. Over 2,000 stores worldwide have already adopted Smartway’s Food Waste Management System, a suite of solutions based on a unique form of artificial intelligence that guides in-store teams to optimize the entire food waste chain. Smartway has already prevented over 250 million products from going to waste.
For Central Food Group, Smartway has deployed all its in-store solutions to:
- Automatically detect products nearing their expiration date using the “GPS Short Date” system.
- Determine the best recycling channel by making the most profitable choice for each product.
- Discount products through the automatic printing of a unique label for each product.
- Enhance ordering processes through digitization.
All stakeholders will benefit from the solution’s artificial intelligence. Stores will reduce their food waste and increase their net income. Employees will enjoy greater reliability and speed – the time their tasks currently take will be cut fourfold as they are guided in handling soon-to-expire products. Customers will enjoy a wider range of discounted products which will of course boost their purchasing power.
Reducing food waste by 30%
Central Food Group is committed to embodying the ethos of “Green & Sustainable Retail” and to positioning itself as a leader in sustainability within the Asian retail sector. This commitment encompasses ambitious goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, advocating for environmentally friendly products and packaging, and implementing effective waste management practices. Central Food Group has made combating food waste a priority, with the aim of reducing food waste by 30%.
Since 2019, for example, it has been running a “Food for Good Deed” program, which annually distributes surplus food from 129 Tops, Tops Food Hall, and Tops daily stores, as well as from the company’s fresh produce distribution centres to those in need. This initiative has already provided 5 million meals to over 700 communities nationwide.
The company is also working with Jaikla, a startup that repurposes unsold food items to feed insects, which are then transformed into pet treats and sold in Tops supermarkets. Food waste is also used in the production of biogas. By deploying Smartway solutions, Central Food Group is addressing a whole new dimension in the fight against waste.
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“As Thailand’s largest supermarket chain, we recognize our responsibility to lead by example when it comes to sustainable development and combatting food waste stands as an essential component of our ecological approach. We are delighted to be the first supermarket chain in Thailand to embrace Smartway solutions. They will undoubtedly help us to achieve the ambitious goals of our ‘Green & Sustainable Retail’ project, which aims for zero net CO2 emissions by 2050.”
Mr. Stephane Coum, Chief Executive Officer – Food Group, Central Retail |
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“We are honoured to have been selected by Central Food Group to support them in their fight against food waste. After successfully deploying our solutions in Europe, this collaboration not only signifies our entry into the Asian market but also marks a pivotal moment in our growth journey. We are delighted to contribute to the reinforcement of the retailer’s ambitious CSR policy.”
Paul-Adrien and Christophe Menez, Co-founders of Smartway |
About Central Food Group
Tops, operated by Central Food Group under Central Retail, is the largest supermarket chain in Thailand. Boasting over 800 outlets in various formats and platforms, it offers a diverse range of products, from fresh groceries and imported goods to convenient items, catering to the needs of consumers across the country. Alongside its widespread network of physical stores, Tops also offers a convenient online platform, enhancing the overall shopping experience. Central Food Group, not only committed to providing its customers with the best possible shopping experience, but also has a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The company is committed to addressing sustainable development by introducing several initiatives, such as generating sustainable income for communities through the Jing Jai Farmers’ Market, managing food waste by turning surplus food into meals for communities, and reducing environmental impact by implementing electric vehicles (EVs) in Central Food Group’s logistics operations. These initiatives aim to foster a harmonious coexistence between economic growth and environmental preservation.
About Smartway
Food stores throw away as much as they earn! We can no longer tolerate such waste as more and more consumers are in need. Fortunately, food stores can now address this issue while also improving their profitability.
Committed since 2012, Smartway has introduced Zero-Waste sections and created the first-ever Food Waste Management System to optimise the path of food products nearing their expiration date.
With Smartway, Sustainable is profitable: we support large food retailers transform their business model.
“Working daily to reduce waste together.” smartway.ai
Press contact Smartway: Jidapa Parry – Tel: +66 2260 5820 ext. 113 – mint@tqpr.com
Central Food Group: Panadda Ritthiruengdej – Tel: +66 92 946 6954 – ritpanadda@central.co.th