Simple display changes in grocery stores could cut food waste while boosting profits

New research from the University of Florida suggests that supermarkets could significantly reduce food waste while increasing their profits through smarter product display and pricing strategies. The study found that retailers could cut food waste by more than 20% while increasing profits by 6% on average.

“It’s rare to find solutions that benefit both business and the environment, but this appears to be one of them,” said Amy Pan, Ph.D., study co-author and associate professor at the UF Warrington College of Business. “Our findings highlight that strategically selling older products alongside fresh ones can simultaneously boost profits and minimize waste by leveraging the right product display, discounting rate and discount time.”

The findings provide crucial insight into a growing global challenge. Recent estimates suggest that 17% of global food production goes to waste, with retail accounting for 13% of that waste. In the United States alone, up to 40% of food produced is wasted, while one in eight Americans faces food insecurity.