With the trial “dynamic markdown”, Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn has taken a new step in reducing food waste. With this, products are automatically discounted based on best-before date: the shorter the shelf life, the higher the discount.
An algorithm takes several factors into account that affects the sale of a product in order to calculate the best discount. In this way, there will be no unsellable products left at the end of the day and food waste will be reduced, according to Albert Heijn. The trial takes place in the Albert Heijn store in Zandvoort, the Netherlands, with the poultry and fish products. For this test, the supermarket chain has been advised by anti-waste company Wasteless.
Artificial intelligence
The algorithm takes, among other things, location, bonus offers, weather conditions, historical sales turnover and stock in stores into account. Electronical price tags are placed with the products containing two prices: the regular price and a reduced price at a specific expiration date.
www.ah.nl/duurzaam
www.wasteless.co