Countering food waste with optimal stock management
We are champions at maximising fresh food sales. Smart stock management ensures that we actually sell 97% of our fresh food products. By avoiding and reducing waste, we reduce our ecological impact. We also involve our customers in preserving fresh food products.
Automated supply
The supply of fresh products in our stores – and therefore our stock – is in keeping with the expected demand. This way, we do not provide too little, because we want to be able to serve everyone, but we also don't provide too much, because otherwise products risk reaching their sell-by date and cannot be sold.
For most products, we look 14 weeks into the future every day, and for some even up to a year. To do that, we use software that forecasts how much of a product we will sell. This sales forecast is based on an additive model that combines non-linear trends with annual, monthly and weekly seasonal influences, public holidays and holiday effects. On top of that, we determine our own extra variables. From weather forecasts, promotions or a national strike to even the World Cup. All these elements affect the forecast and thus our stock.
Tailor-made assortment
Every 3 months, we check which products don't sell well in our Colruyt, Okay and Bio-Planet stores. We reduce the volumes in the shelf, or we replace them by products that will sell better in a certain store or region. For example, bread references that sell too little - an average of one loaf a day per store - can be completely removed from the offer. This way, each point-of-sale has an assortment tailor-made to its customers, which results in less waste.
Optimal cold chain
Certain products must be kept, transported and sold in cold conditions to avoid spoilage and bacterial growth. It is important the cold chain is not interrupted. By using liquid ice containers during the transport and when stocking the shelves our fresh and frozen products remain at the right temperature. This allows us to be sure they remain fresh and high quality, and food loss can be prevented.
Raising customers' awareness
As a retailer, we take many initiatives to ensure that food products are not lost during production, transport or sale. And once a product has been sold, we don't want it to end up in the waste bin unnecessarily either. By raising consumer awareness, we also do our bit for that stage of the food chain. Through expiration labels and targeted communication campaigns, for example.
Thanks to the above initiatives, we can avoid a lot of food surpluses. Anything that does remain on the shelves, is given a useful purpose as much as possible through social organisations, is sold at a reduced price or processed into other products.
