Automated system to minmize food waste at food retailers
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | WHYWASTE AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 330 372 |
| Project duration | December 2013 - August 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The primary goals were to verify the viability of the developed concept, define its market and develop an organisation capable of quickly scaling. In close collaboration with pilot customers a redeveloped version of the original concept have been tested, with overwhelming positive results. In addition to already existing customers significant contacts with potential large customers have been made, the business concept has been solidified and the organisation is prepared to grow. Thus, despite somewhat changing the technical concept, the goals have to been seen as accomplished.
Results and expected effects
Initial results of primary market research and testing revealed that the initial technical solution worked less efficient than anticipated. The concept, solution and value offering were revised and further developed in a market driven pivot. The redeveloped concept yielded great results, with pilot customers and customer acknowledging the benefits, including cost savings, from using the system. Thus, the system is now in autonomous commercial use at select stores.
Approach and implementation
The project was carried out in a phased manner, where the result from previous phases determined the goals and milestones of the forthcoming ones. Initially a more technically advanced solution was tested and researched, high costs and difficulties to implement the solution led to redeveloping it in the second phase, where a more efficient solution was successfully tested with pilot stores. The last phase focused on, successfully, preparing for commercialization of the revised solution, allowing for higher scalability.