Mill’s Grocery Waste Revolution: From Kitchen Bins to Whole Foods Backrooms

Food waste startup Mill has signed a major deal with Whole Foods. The grocer will install Mill’s commercial food waste bins in all its stores. This rollout will begin in 2027.

According to TechCrunch, this commercial push has always been part of Mill’s long-term plan. The company first gained attention with its sleek, in-home food waste bins.

How Mill’s System Cuts Costs and Trash

Mill’s commercial bins grind and dehydrate food waste. This process dramatically reduces its volume. For a grocer, less volume means lower landfill disposal fees.

The dried, processed output is not trash. It becomes feed for chicken farms that supply eggs. This creates a circular system that cuts costs twice.

Whole Foods benefits from both reduced waste fees and a sustainable feed source. The system also provides valuable data. It helps store managers understand what foods are thrown away and why.

The AI-Powered Path to Less Waste

Beyond disposal, Mill uses artificial intelligence to tackle waste at the source. Sensors and software help identify problem items. The goal is to reduce “shrink,” which is lost sales from waste.

Mill’s co-founder told TechCrunch that modern AI tools made this possible faster. A small team achieved what once required huge resources. This technology helps grocers become more efficient.

The deal diversifies Mill’s business beyond consumers. Company leadership stated this was a strategic move for stability. They compared it to Apple expanding from the iPod to the iPhone.

This partnership marks a significant shift for Mill, proving its kitchen-tested technology can scale. The grocery waste revolution is officially moving from the home to the supply chain.

Thought you’d like to know

How does the Mill food waste bin work?

The bin grinds and dehydrates food scraps. This turns them into a dry, grounds-like material. That output is then repurposed as animal feed.

When will Whole Foods stores get these bins?

The full-scale rollout across all Whole Foods stores is set to begin in 2027. The two companies have been in talks and testing for about a year.

What are the main benefits for a grocery store?

Stores save money on waste hauling and landfill fees. They also gain data insights to reduce food waste in the first place, cutting losses.

Does Mill only work with Whole Foods now?

No, the Whole Foods deal is a major commercial expansion. Mill continues its consumer home bin business and is exploring municipal waste partnerships too.

Why is reducing food waste important for stores?

Wasted food is lost profit. It also carries environmental costs from landfill methane. Reducing it improves both the bottom line and sustainability goals.

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