How to Reduce Food Waste in Grocery Stores

In the US, we throw out around 120 billion pounds of food every year; as a result, food waste contributes to 11% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, food waste can cost Americans an estimated  $408 billion of food annually. A major contributor to the food waste problem—about 40% according to RTS—comes from foodservice industries like grocery stores. This means that every year, grocery stores are throwing out exorbitant amounts of food and money while contributing to a major ecological crisis. So how can grocery stores work to solve such an issue? Thankfully, there are some best-practices and new approaches your store can take to curb the food waste fiasco. We’ve detailed some below for you to consider in order to make your store more eco-friendly.

Check Your Stock Regularly

The first—and perhaps easiest—step to minimize food waste is by keeping tabs on your inventory. One way to do so is by utilizing your inventory management system. Knowing when food items have been registered in your store’s inventory management system can help you easily track what’s still good to sell and what actually needs to be pitched. 

Another easy way to keep an eye on your food stock is through the FIFO method. Standing for “first in, first out,” this practice is used to organize food products in a way to minimize food waste. By placing newer goods towards the back and older stock to the front, customers can grab these items instead of having them go to waste. You can instruct your staff to check items as they’re facing shelves and displays so they can pull items forward that are approaching their expiration dates.

Keep Your Refrigeration Equipment Well-Maintained

Refrigeration equipment helps prolong the lifespan of many produce and cold storage items. According to the USDA, malfunctioning equipment is a major contributor to food waste. Keeping your refrigerated reach-ins, walk-ins and merchandisers in good working conditions helps prevent premature spoilage. Be sure to follow regular preventative maintenance tasks like cleaning and inspecting areas like the coils and door gaskets.

Educate Your Customers on Expiration Dates

Get your customers involved in the reduction of food waste by keeping them informed on what food product expiration labels mean. Many products will have dates printed on them with phrases like “Sell by,” “Best before,” “Use by” and “Expires on,” which can be confusing to many shoppers. Educate your customers by posting signage and messaging that breaks down what each phrase means, as explained once again by the USDA: 

• “Best if Used By/Before” – Indicates the date in which the product will be of best quality and flavor, and does not indicate a safety or purchase date.


• “Sell By” – Indicates to the store how long the product should be displayed for sale in order to manage inventory. This does not indicate a safety date.


• “Use By” – Indicates the last date that’s recommended for use while the product is at peak quality. With the exception of baby formula, this does not indicate a safety date.


• “Freeze By” – Indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. This does not indicate a safety or purchase date.

With this knowledge, your customers can make more informed decisions while shopping for groceries.

Sell Imperfect or “Ugly” Foods

Produce grows in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors, with some being deemed aesthetically pleasing enough to buy and sell. Because of this, perfectly good food goes to waste every year. Online services such as Imperfect Foods and Misfit Market have been working to curb food waste due to a product’s looks for some time now with great success. So why not join in on the fun? 

Consider selling these “ugly” food items and note to customers that they are safe to eat. You can even make a display with misshapen or under-sized produce, boxed items with smashed corners and products with outdated branding. That way, these food items can be bought and enjoyed while minimizing waste in your store.

As a note, if these imperfections pose a health hazard to your customers, the product shouldn’t be sold.

Offer Discounts and Host Sales

In one suggestion by Forbes, they state that offering discounts will help sell items quicker and lead to less food waste at the store level. This can be done for items that are approaching their sell-by or freeze-by dates in order to entice customers into purchasing them. With prices reaching all time highs, this is an excellent way for your store to make some return while your shoppers can enjoy a good deal.

Donate Food Overstock

Feeding America reports that 47 million people in the US experience food insecurity, with 1 in 5 being children. Coupled with the knowledge on how much food is wasted in the US, it’s not hard to see how an issue like this can be helped. Donate overstock items like canned goods, in-house bakery items, boxed cereals, crackers, chips and produce to your local food pantries. They can then be distributed throughout your community who are in need. Not only is this an excellent way to curb food waste, but it also helps your community tremendously. You can even host a food drive for others to contribute to in order to make a greater impact.