Your invitation to pitch your food waste innovation idea to 100+ global retailers

Today we throw away one-third of all the food we produce. The world simply can’t afford to continue this way. The retail industry needs your help to find breakthrough solutions. 

The ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge 2022 is a search for the best global innovations that can help retailers prevent food-waste, reduce it, or re-use it. They will create a platform and showcase the top 30 most promising food waste innovations, as voted on by a panel of food waste experts, representing 24 retail businesses, such as Tesco, Carrefour, Mercadona, Kroger, Woolworths and Lidl. 

From this short list of thirty innovations, ten will be selected to pitch to 100+ retailers at the ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge finale, which will be held online, on November 30th. 

Apply today to give your food waste innovation a bigger global platform and the chance to get your idea in front of key decision makers at the world’s leading supermarket retailers 

Sign up for the ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge 2022

What are the retailers looking for? 

The retailer judges have identified seventeen areas for innovation, where new ideas and fresh thinking are needed. 

If your innovation offers new ways to solve any or many of these problem areas then please register your innovation using the form below. Entries close on July 29th

Sign up for the ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge 2022

What are the timings for the ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge 2022?

24th June: Entries open. 

29th July: Closing date for applications

7th August: Retailer judges receive the long-list and assess each innovation, gathering input from across all functions, merchants, food safety, loss prevention, store operations, process improvement, IT, etc.

Sept 9th: Retailer judges submit their assessments

Sept 19th: ECR Retail Loss Group announces the Top 30 shortlisted innovations

Nov 30th - Ten innovations selected for the finale, and online pitch their innovation to the judges and food waste leaders from 50+ retailers

What does it cost to participate and be in the Top 30?

There is no cost to participate in the ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge or be featured in the Top 30.  

Who runs the ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge?

The ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge is managed by the ECR Retail Loss Group and implemented by Co-Cubed

“Retailers are constantly seeking to find new ways to prevent food waste, this initiative aims to bring together retailers and the latest innovations in food waste from innovators from around the world, we are proud to be able to provide a platform for this excellent collaboration opportunity” says Colin Peacock, Group Strategic Coordinator at the ECR Retail Loss Group.

If your innovation offers new ways to solve any or many of these problem areas then please register your innovation using the form below. Entries close on July 28th

Sign up for the ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge 2022

Who are the judges for the ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge 2022?

There are 24 judges confirmed to date, representing 30+ retailer brands, including AB Greece, Albert CZ, Albert Heijn, Asda, Auchan, Big Y Foods Inc, Carrefour, Coles, Colruyt Group, Countdown NZ, Delhaize, Food Lion, Giant, Hannafords, H-E-B, Kaufland Stiftung, Kroger, Lidl Global, Marks and Spencer, Mega Image, Mercadona, Metro AG, Morrisons, Rimi Baltic SIA, Sainsburys, Shoprite, Sonae, Spar, Stop'n'Shop, Target, Tesco, Walmart USA

What do previous participants say about the ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge?

Whywaste and Wasteless both featured in the 2019 ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge, since their pitches in Brussels, have since gone on to scale their solutions significantly.

Today, Whywaste has a presence in 20 countries worldwide working with most of the biggest brands in retail. “It’s a fantastic exposure event, providing direct access to the correct decision makers,” says Ben Holden, International Sales and Marketing Manager.

Similarly, Wasteless is working with retailers in more than 25 countries delivering a highly innovative approach to food waste to many of the world’s biggest retailers. “Connecting with leading retailers at ECR was instrumental for that development” says David Kat, VP of Business Development.