Waitrose is stepping up its work tackling food wastage with a system that will help it manage markdowns.

It has deployed more than 1,000 Zebra mobile printers to its stores since spring this year to produce barcodes and labels for stock that needs to be discounted to encourage sell-through before the sell-by date.

The system, which has been implemented by Zetes, allows staggered stock markdowns and uses product demand and shelf-life information to determine reductions.

Waitrose project manager for branch ordering development Nick Hart said that the grocer’s use of the system is building on the work its shops already carry out to reduce food wastage. It is also assisting with reducing stock that needs to be marked down in the first place.

He explained: “We are a fresh food retailer above all, so it is important that our stores ensure the highest levels of accuracy when ordering food. In addition to helping our branches minimise unsold food, this system has also enabled us record increased data for further accuracy in future ordering, so we’re pleased with the initial results.”

The system also provides users with a list of unsold reduced items that may need further price markdowns.

Zetes undertook a rigorous proof of concept and pilot period of the system – including running it over peak trading last year – before Waitrose committed to rolling it out to all stores.