Every retailer obsesses over stolen inventory.
But who’s tracking wasted food?
In the past, retail stores made their money off cigarettes and lottery tickets.
That’s no longer the case.
Retail stores are fundamentally fresh food businesses in 2025 — that’s where your biggest margins are.
Leaving your roller grills empty during lunch rush almost guarantees a hole in your bottom line.
The same goes for letting hot dogs spin too long.
When customers can’t find fresh food, they walk away.
And guess who suffers for it?
Food waste costs retailers more than theft ever will.
That’s why retail chains now use computer vision to track:
• Customer interactions with food stations
• Optimal times to refill the roller grill
• When to remove and replace overcooked items
Cracking down on theft isn’t the only way for retailers to boost their profits.