ZRO serves up surplus food solution

A food recovery specialist has launched a new system aimed at helping manufacturers and retailers unlock greater value from surplus food.

Ashington-based ZRO connects five pathways – prevention, redistribution, reformulation, repurposing and recovery – to identify the best viable use for surplus produce.

The approach assesses individual surplus streams to identify the highest-value viable use, rather than requiring businesses to work separately with multiple specialist providers.

ZRO has been developed using decades of experience within SugaRich Group, whose UK operations recovered more than 800,000 tonnes of surplus food during 2025.

The system has already been trialled with a leading UK biscuit manufacturer, increasing the proportion of surplus directed into new food products from zero to more than 30 per cent within ten months.

ZRO says the project generated more than £156,000 in additional value from 438 tonnes of surplus material.

Its five pathways include using data to prevent surplus arising, redistributing suitable products to people, reformulating ingredients into new foods and converting former foodstuffs into animal feed.

Remaining materials can then be managed through waste recovery routes.

Bosses say the central principle behind the initiative is that food produced for human consumption should remain within the human food chain wherever viable.

Matthew Stephenson, managing director of ZRO Group Ltd, said: “For too long, surplus has been approached as something to manage once the original route to market disappears. 

“We see a much bigger opportunity: to retain as much of the value already created in that food as possible.

“Every surplus stream is different, so there shouldn’t be a predetermined answer. 

“The right outcome might be prevention, redistribution, reformulation, repurposing or recovery. 

“What matters is having the expertise and routes available to make that decision intelligently.

“ZRO connects those capabilities through one system.

“It gives businesses a simpler way to explore better outcomes while keeping food as food wherever it is safe and viable to do so. 

“That is where we believe the next opportunity for the industry lies – not simply managing surplus more efficiently but rethinking what it can still become.”

The launch follows the rebranding of Northumberland confectionery manufacturer Sweetdreams Ltd as ZRO Group Ltd in June.

The business, which has more than 30 years’ experience working with surplus confectionery and food ingredients, now develops and delivers the ZRO system alongside other SugaRich Group businesses.

Company Shop Group has joined as its founding redistribution partner, bringing a network that redistributes more than 117 million surplus items annually through its surplus supermarkets and social enterprise Community Shop.

Chris Burns, group managing director of Company Shop Group, added: “We are continually looking at ways we provide practical, easy-to-implement solutions for industry as we advance our mission to help create a world where no product needlessly goes to waste. 

“We are thrilled to be the founding redistribution partner in this industry-first partnership, providing a clear route for businesses to redistribute their surplus as well as alternative pathways as part of the ZRO system.”

Alex Keogh, managing director of SugaRich Group, added: “For decades, businesses across the SugaRich Group have helped customers recover value from surplus food in different ways. 

“ZRO brings those capabilities together through a single commercial framework – an important evolution for our business, and in our ambition to lead the industry towards better outcomes for surplus food.”

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