TL;DR
Mill, the food-waste startup led by Matt Rogers, has reached an agreement with Amazon and Whole Foods to install commercial food-waste bins in Whole Foods stores starting in 2027. The bins will process produce waste, generate animal feed for egg producers, and gather sensor data to help the grocer reduce waste and costs.
What happened
Mill, which began by selling consumer food-waste bins, has secured a commercial partnership with Amazon and Whole Foods to roll out its larger commercial units across Whole Foods locations beginning in 2027. The appliances are designed to grind and dehydrate produce waste, cutting landfill volumes and producing material used by egg producers. In addition to processing waste on site, Mill’s devices will collect sensor and AI-driven data about what gets discarded and why, with the stated aim of helping Whole Foods reduce “shrink” — sales lost to waste or theft — and lower operating costs. Mill tested its consumer product in stores and used those demonstrations plus prior consumer adoption as part of an enterprise sales approach. The company credits recent advances in large language models and related AI tools for accelerating development of its commercial system. Mill is also exploring municipal customers as another avenue of growth.
Why it matters
- On-site waste processing can lower landfill fees and reduce transport-related costs for grocers.
- Data from bins can help retailers identify patterns of waste and target interventions to reduce shrink.
- Turning processed waste into feed creates a potential circular supply connection for food companies.
- Use of modern AI and sensor fusion accelerated Mill’s commercial product development, shortening time-to-market.
- Expanding beyond consumer sales into commercial and municipal channels diversifies Mill’s business model.
Key facts
- Mill planned expansion to commercial customers since its Series A, according to CEO Matt Rogers.
- Whole Foods will deploy a commercial-scale Mill bin in each of its grocery stores starting in 2027.
- The commercial units grind and dehydrate produce waste and supply material used by egg producers.
- Bins will collect sensor and AI data to help Whole Foods understand what is being wasted and why.
- Mill began with household products and used consumer adoption and in-store demos to introduce its tech to enterprise buyers.
- Discussions between Mill and Whole Foods began about a year before the announced deal, per Rogers.
- Mill developed an AI that uses multiple sensors to assess whether discarded food could remain on shelves.
- Rogers says advances in large language models reduced engineering needs and sped up development.
- The company is working on adding a municipal business line as another growth channel.
What to watch next
- Whether Whole Foods’ nationwide rollout meets the planned 2027 timeline — not confirmed in the source.
- Concrete measures of waste reduction and cost savings after deployment, including shrink metrics — not confirmed in the source.
- How quickly Mill’s municipal initiative develops and whether it follows the commercial rollout — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Shrink: Retail industry term for lost sales due to waste, spoilage, theft, or administrative errors.
- Dehydration (in waste processing): A method of removing moisture from organic waste to reduce volume and weight and stabilize material.
- Large language model (LLM): A type of AI trained on vast amounts of text data that can assist in classification, understanding, and decision-making tasks.
- Commercial-scale appliance: Equipment designed for use in business settings with higher capacity and durability than consumer versions.
Reader FAQ
When will Mill bins be installed in Whole Foods stores?
Deployment is scheduled to begin in 2027.
What do the commercial Mill bins do with produce waste?
They grind and dehydrate produce waste and produce material that will be used by egg producers.
Did Mill test its products before the deal?
Yes; Mill demonstrated its consumer product in some Whole Foods stores and used consumer adoption as part of its enterprise strategy.
How much money will Whole Foods save from this deal?
Not confirmed in the source.
How many Whole Foods locations will receive the bins?
Not confirmed in the source.
Mill may have started with households, but co-founder and CEO Matt Rogers says the food waste startup has long aspired to expand to commercial customers. “This has been part of…
Sources
- How Mill closed the deal with Amazon and Whole Foods
- Whole Foods to install smart food waste bins from Mill …
- Mill and Amazon team up to launch industry-first food …
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