Case Study

Retail Insight creates a new model to help Walmart reduce food waste

The retail giant now enjoys increased time-to-value, while reducing retail waste year-on-year.

Region: US
Competitors: Amazon, Costco
Turnover: $534.7 billion
Website: www.walmart.com

Waste from unsold items is a long-standing problem facing grocery retailers. The United Nations estimates that around one-third of all food produced is thrown away, the cost of which is valued at around $1 trillion per year globally. Waste reduction helps retailers tackle this cost while also creating ethical and commercial advantages for retailers.

Solutions used

WasteInsight

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Addressing the challenge of markdown

Retail Insight, the retail data experts, reduce customers’ overall exposure to waste through addressing the challenge of markdown.

For example, Retail Insight has been working with Walmart since April 2017 on multiple fresh food departments across its US store network. The time-to-value has been very fast, with Walmart experiencing an immediate year-on-year reduction in waste as soon as the project began.

Paul Boyle

CEO, Retail Insight

We’ve developed a new model for waste and markdown activity that is dynamic and flexible. Markdown prices are automatically flexed to give the customer the best value price for the markdown product, with variable markdown rates depending on all the key factors and influences affecting each product and each store, including seasonality, demand and shopper behavior.

In addition, the model minimizes the volume of unsold stock and maximizes revenue from sold markdown items.

Summary

Approximately one-third of all produce is thrown away annually, costing an estimated $1 trillion globally.
Since 2017, Retail Insight has helped Walmart increase time-to-value and experience an immediate year-on-year reduction in waste.
Waste costs between 3% and 5% of sales, sometimes rising to as much as 10%.
Retail Insight developed a brand-new model for waste and markdown activity that seamlessly integrates with Walmart.