Mill and Amazon team up to reduce in-store food waste at Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market stores will be the first to deploy Mill Commercial, a new automated, high-capacity food-recycling infrastructure that will allow the grocer to reduce in-store food waste.

"This first-of-its-kind collaboration enables us to minimize waste while building a more circular supply chain that benefits our customers, communities, and environment," said Jason Buechel, VP Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores and CEO of Whole Foods Market.

Starting in 2027, fruit and vegetable scraps generated in back-of-house operations will be processed by Mill's technology and turned into a nutrient-rich chicken feed ingredient intended for the retailer's private-label egg suppliers. 

This groundbreaking initiative is an important step toward the grocer's goal of cutting food waste in half by 2030 and sets an ambitious standard for the grocery industry.

AI-powered recycling arrives at Whole Foods

The company’s approach uses AI to track and measure food waste in real time, identifying what's being thrown away, how much, and how best to reuse the resource, allowing smarter inventory decisions and optimized ordering patterns. 

Its advanced dehydration process can also reduce waste volumes by up to 80 percent, simplifying operational handling requirements, significantly lowering transportation costs, and enhancing food safety. 

The resulting high-quality, cost-effective feed ingredient aims to provide stability to the retailer's suppliers and reduce price volatility for customers.

"Our approach will deliver significant operational and financial benefits, not just environmental ones," said Matt Rogers, Cofounder and CEO of Mill. “We are excited to launch Mill Commercial with a trailblazing and mission-driven brand like Whole Foods Market."

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