Irish retailer Maple Group has become the first in the Republic of Ireland to use AI-powered technology across its estate to tackle food waste.
The group piloted the Gander integration in January 2025, going live simultaneously across all of its seven stores in Donegal. Following strong performance results, the business has now committed to a full contract until the end of this year.
During the pilot, Maple Group increased its sell-through rate of reduced products from 30% in March to 57% by October - a 90% uplift - saving almost 60% of reduced-to-clear food from going to waste.
The initiative has also delivered clear commercial benefits, helping the group recover an additional €13,000 in 2025 while keeping perfectly good food in the food chain.
“This pilot has been transformative for our business,” said Arthur McMahon, managing director of Maple Group. “From a purely operational perspective, we’ve further reduced food waste across all seven stores by more than 27%, while the recovery of value has exceeded €13,000 in under ten months.
“The integration of AI technology has allowed us to optimise stock visibility and drive measurable improvements in efficiency, all without impacting our daily store operations. We’re proud to be leading the way in Ireland.”
“Working with Maple Group has been a fantastic experience,” Adam Emerson of Gander Ireland said. “The team embraced the technology from day one, helping refine the system during the pilot. Together, we’ve shown how AI can make a real difference to food waste reduction while also driving customer engagement and store performance.”
Brian Murphy, General Manager of Maple Group, added: “We wanted to be proactive in addressing food waste while also creating real value for our stores and customers. By using AI to identify and promote reduced-to-clear products, we’ve not only significantly reduced waste but also engaged our communities in a positive and sustainable way.”
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