Leading Irish retail group Maple Group has become the first in the Republic of Ireland to use AI-powered technology across its estate to tackle food waste.
The group piloted the Gander integration in January 2025, going live simultaneously across all seven stores in Donegal. Working closely with the Gander team, Maple Group has helped refine and optimise the integration during the first phase of roll out. Following strong performance results, the business has now committed to a full contract until the end of 2026.
Through integration with its Station Master EPOS, back office and handheld systems, reduced-price products are instantly visible to shoppers via Gander in real time. During the pilot, Maple Group increased its sell-through rate of reduced products from 30 per cent in March to 57 per cent by October – a 90 per cent uplift – saving almost 60 per cent of reduced-to-clear food from going to waste.
The initiative has also delivered clear commercial benefits, helping the group recover an additional €13,000 in 2025 while keeping perfectly good food in the food chain.
“This pilot has been transformative for our business,” said Arthur McMahon, Managing Director of Maple Group. “From a purely operational perspective, we have further reduced food waste across all seven stores by more than 27 per cent, while the recovery of value has exceeded €13,000 in less than ten months.
“The integration of AI technology has allowed us to optimise stock visibility and drive measurable improvements in efficiency, all without impacting our daily store operations. These results confirm that sustainability and commercial performance can go hand in hand, and we are proud to be leading the way in Ireland.”
“Working with Maple Group has been a fantastic experience,” Adam Emerson of Gander Ireland said. “The team embraced the technology from day one, helping refine the system during the pilot. Together, we have shown how AI can make a real difference to food waste reduction while also driving customer engagement and store performance.”
Brian Murphy, General Manager of Maple Group, added: “We wanted to be proactive in addressing food waste while also creating real value for our stores and our customers. By using AI to identify and promote reduced-to-clear products, we have not only significantly reduced waste but also engaged our communities in a positive and sustainable way. Being the first retail group in Ireland to implement this technology is a proud moment for Maple Group and a demonstration of our commitment to innovation and sustainability.”
The partnership marks a significant milestone for Gander in the Republic of Ireland, demonstrating how AI-driven integration with existing store systems can help retailers reduce waste, recover value and strengthen community engagement without adding operational complexity.
Retailers interested in learning more about how Gander can help reduce food waste and recover value can find out more at www.gander.co.