Smartway

About Smartway

Smartway provides a technology platform for food retailers to mitigate food waste and enhance profitability. The company was established in 2012, originally named Zéro-Gâchis, by brothers Paul-Adrien and Christophe Menez, along with their childhood friend Nicolas Pieuchot. The idea originated during their student years when they noticed inconsistencies in how stores handled products nearing their expiration dates. Initially, the founders personally visited stores to collect data on short-dated products to list on a website, a process that quickly demonstrated a significant impact on waste reduction.

Operating in the retail tech and CleanTech sectors, Smartway serves major retailers like Auchan, Carrefour, and E. Leclerc. Its business model is centered on providing AI-powered solutions that integrate into the daily operations of supermarkets. Revenue is generated through the implementation and use of its technology platforms, which have proven to increase net profits for stores. In 2021, the company, rebranded as Smartway, secured €10 million in a Series A funding round to fuel international expansion and technological development.

Smartway offers two main product suites: the Food Waste Management System (FWMS) and the Fresh Operating System (FOS). The FWMS is designed to manage end-of-life products through three integrated tools. 'Smartdetection' acts as a 'short date GPS' to locate products nearing their expiration date. 'Smartdecision' then uses AI to recommend the most profitable action, whether it's applying a discount or donating the item to charity. 'Smartdonation' simplifies and digitizes the process of donating food. The FOS focuses on optimizing the entire fresh food supply chain. It includes 'Smartorder' for AI-calculated ordering, 'Smartsupply' to coordinate demand across stores, and 'Smarttasking' to guide daily team activities, thereby reducing overstock and preventing empty shelves.