IHG to reduce food waste by 30% through AI-based tech

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has partnered with tech company Winnow to automatically track, measure and reduce food waste for more sustainable and efficient operations.

Through the partnership, IHG will be able to achieve a 30% reduction in food waste.

Using an intelligent camera, smart scales and AI-based smart metre technology, the technology called ‘Winnow Vision’ analyses ingredients during food preparation, as well as plates returned to the kitchen — to assess which food items are most wasted and in what quantities. This builds up a bank of data which in turn, informs buying decisions, shapes menus and develops food preparation techniques.

“Smarter and savvier”

Kenneth Macpherson, chief executive officer, EMEAA, IHG, said: “Our partnership with Winnow will help our hotels be smarter and savvier in their approach to creating compelling menus that result in less waste whether it’s a grab-and-go breakfast, a family restaurant or a Michelin dining experience. I’m delighted that this is being led by some of our hotels in the Middle East, who are already seeing significant food waste reductions, and I’m looking forward to seeing this technology take off in more and more of our hotels around the world.”

The new technology has been successfully installed in seven IHG hotels around the world, with installation due in a further 30 properties in the coming months.

InterContinental Fujairah Resort, UAE is one hotel that is already benefitting from this approach. In just six months, the resort has been able to reduce food waste by more than 50%.

60 more hotels in the EMEAA region have expressed interest in signing up for the technology and IHG is currently exploring rollout to its other two regions – the Americas and Greater China.

“Kitchens are wasting far more food than they think”

“Food waste is a global issue and one that kitchens around the world are struggling with. Without visibility into what is being wasted, kitchens are wasting far more food than they think,” said Marc Zornes, founder and CEO of Winnow.