From cash to trash: The effect of price promotions on food waste

Overview

Overview

The need: Retailer price promotions are often considered to be responsible for food wasted by consumers. However, not much is known about how specific types of price promotions impact food waste.

The solution: An international team of scholars conducted a household survey among members of a consumer panel who purchased one of eight specific food products; either on promotion or for the regular price. The aim was to understand the relationship between different forms of price promotions (single-buy deals, for example: cents-off/percentage-off, and different types of multi-buy deals, for example: buy one, get one free) and household food waste.

The benefit: The results will help food marketers and retailers to design effective price promotions to reduce overall food waste, while still boosting sales.