Donegal’s Maple Group first nationwide to reduce food waste using AI

Maple Group has become the first in the Republic of Ireland to use AI-powered technology to tackle food waste across its stores.

The pilot project, launched in January 2025, was implemented simultaneously across all seven Maple Group stores, including its forecourt Circle K locations in Derrybeg, Carrigart, Castlefinn, Falcarragh, and Ballyliffin, as well as its forecourt stores in Burtonport (Donegal Oil) and Moville (Applegreen). 

Working closely with technology partner Gander, Maple Group integrated its Station Master EPOS, back office, and handheld systems to make reduced price products instantly visible to shoppers in real time. During the pilot, Maple Group saw its sell-through rate of reduced products rise from 30 per cent in March to 57 per cent by October, saving almost 60% of reduced-to-clear food from going to waste. 

The initiative has helped the group recover an additional €13,000 in 2025 while ensuring perfectly good food stays in the food chain.

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“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.”

Maple Group has now committed to a long-term partnership with Gander to continue using the technology across all stores until the end of 2026. By leading the way with AI-driven food waste reduction, Maple Group is setting a new standard for retail sustainability in Ireland, tackling key challenges around efficiency, profitability, and community engagement.

“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’ve 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.”