The Shift
The Old Way: Invisible Waste in Pressured Kitchens
Commercial kitchens waste 5-15% of food purchased but most estimate only 1-3%. Without data, chefs can't improve.
- Commercial kitchens waste 5-15% of food purchased
- $100 billion in food wasted annually in hospitality alone
- Food waste decomposition produces 5% of global GHG emissions
- Chefs have no time to manually track waste
The New Way: AI That Watches the Bin
Winnow Vision uses a camera above the waste bin and a scale below. AI identifies food as it's thrown away and generates daily reports showing what's wasted, when, and why.
- AI camera automatically identifies food waste
- Throw & Go touch-free recording fits busy workflows
- Daily analytics show what, when, and why
- Benchmarking across properties reveals best practices
The Story
Founded in 2013 by Marc Zornes and Kevin Duffy, former McKinsey consultants who saw kitchens had no data on what they were actually wasting.
Winnow provides AI-powered food waste tracking for commercial kitchens.
Proof Points
Across Hilton, Marriott, Accor, IKEA collectively
Achieved by IKEA globally using Winnow
Using Winnow across 90+ countries
Food waste reduction within 6-12 months
Deep Dive
Innovation
Winnow's breakthrough was making measurement effortless. Earlier solutions required manual logging—impossible in busy kitchens. AI removes the behavioral barrier.
Circular Model
The ROI is straightforward: kitchens waste 5-15% of food; Winnow cuts that in half; savings are 2-8% of food costs. Subscription fee is a fraction of savings.
Community Impact
Hilton's 2025 Green Ramadan initiative used Winnow to reduce plate waste 26% across 45 hotels in 14 countries. Some clients donate prevented surplus to food banks.
Business Results
Winnow operates in 90+ countries with 3,000+ kitchen installations. Major clients include IKEA (every store globally), Hilton, Marriott, Accor, Compass Group.
Key Takeaway
Measurement alone changes behavior. When kitchen staff see exactly what they're wasting, they naturally adjust—no mandates required.
Founder Pathway
MVP can be built with $500K-$1M; enterprise sales requires more investment
Best for tech founders with B2B enterprise sales experience