A Comprehensive Food Waste Management Review for Ocado Retail

The Situation

Ocado Retail, the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket, has committed to tackling food waste in line with SDG 12.3 by reducing food waste in its own operations by 20% by 2025 and halving it by 2030. With this commitment, Ocado Retail initially approached Anthesis to support them with a review of its own operation’s food waste calculation methodology to ensure the food waste measurement was robust and representative.

Following this work, Ocado Retail engaged Anthesis to help assess food waste management and practices within their customer fulfilment centres to help identify improvement areas and gaps on their journey to reduce food waste.

Our Solutions

Anthesis conducted site operations assessments at three of Ocado Retail’s distribution centres to assess how food waste is generated, handled, and avoided. Anthesis objectively reviewed and analysed waste infrastructure, operations processes and policies, data and data systems, and culture and behaviours. We also conducted waste composition analysis to identify waste hotspots and improvement opportunities.

Through this in-depth review, complimented by stakeholder engagement, Anthesis was able to present Ocado with a detailed analysis of the causes and drivers of unsold food across its operations, both at food category and process stage level. Anthesis also provided Ocado Retail with a full assessment of current operational processes, policies, infrastructure, and culture impacting unsold food. The assessment not only highlighted gaps and potential areas for food waste performance improvement, but also quantified the business opportunity for Ocado Retail.

From this, Anthesis provided a comprehensive set of strategic recommendations to reduce levels of unsold food, maximise food surplus redistribution, and reduce food waste. The recommendations spanned areas such as:

  • Food waste culture and KPIs
  • Food waste data tracking systems
  • Food waste hotspot identification
  • Using data insights to drive reductions in waste
  • New food redistribution partnerships
  • Operational policies
  • Training and education
  • Food waste infrastructure

Working with Anthesis has been a fantastic collaboration, providing Ocado Retail with invaluable insight into our food waste operations. Their site waste assessments were key drivers in identifying areas for improvement and provided recommendations to help towards achieving our food waste reduction goals. We welcome opportunities to work together again to shape a more sustainable future.

Abigail Mines, Food Waste and Communities Manager

Impacts of the Project

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Clear Pathways Forward

Ocado Retail has taken our recommendations on board and are now working internally on four keys areas of implementation to unlock further food waste reductions and the environmental, social, and business benefits this will unlock. These main areas of focus are:

  • Improving infrastructure
  • Optimising and standardising processes
  • Ensuring data and reporting accuracy
  • Unlocking waste reduction initiatives that create cost savings and commercial opportunities
Avocados

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