Independent Spar retailer, Gill Marsh Forecourts Ltd, is demonstrating how sustainability and profitability can go hand-in-hand, reporting a significant uplift in reduced-to-clear sales since adopting food waste reduction platform Gander in February this year.
In the three Gill Marsh Forecourts, more than 47,560 reduced items have been sold in just six months, recovering over £65,000 in value that would likely have been lost to waste. The tech-driven approach, implemented by managing director Tom Dant, has boosted weekly sales of short-dated stock by an average of £503, delivering an annualised uplift of over £26,150, all without adding pressure to in-store teams.
“Throwing away tonnes of food is not waste – it’s a lost opportunity,” said Dant. “Gander’s made a big impact in a short space of time. There has been no need to change procedures or ask more of our staff, yet we’re seeing stronger sell-through on reductions, improved margins and even new customers coming in who are seeking value.”
The Gander platform integrates with retailers’ EPOS and inventory systems to automatically identify products nearing expiry and promote them to shoppers in real time via apps, digital displays and social media. In the case of Gill Marsh’s Spar stores, the app has also linked seamlessly with Snappy Shopper, increasing online visibility and sell-through across all channels.
Ian Bacon, sales manager at Gander, said: “Retailers like Tom are showing how technology can bridge commercial and environmental priorities. Gander helps stores sell more and waste less without extra effort from staff. With food prices rising, the opportunity to be seen as an affordable, sustainable destination is huge.”
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