Nestled in London’s vibrant financial district, the London Marriott Hotel Canary Wharf is more than just a luxurious place to stay—it’s a leader in sustainability. In line with Marriott International’s Mission Zero initiative to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the hotel took action to reduce one of the hospitality industry’s biggest challenges: food waste. Partnering with Winnow, the hotel achieved a remarkable 67% reduction in food waste within just six months, with a data-driven approach and a mindset shift across all departments.
Winnow’s AI-powered technology offered real-time insights into food waste patterns. This enabled the team to make smarter decisions, reduce waste, and improve overall efficiency. These changes weren’t just about cutting waste—it has fostered a mindset shift across all departments at the hotel.
Sheena Williams, Project Leader of Marriott’s Mission Zero initiative, noted how quickly they surpassed their targets. "Winnow technology has been a crucial part of our food waste journey. We overachieved our initial goals two months earlier than expected."
Sanjay Jadhav, Executive Chef at London Marriott Canary Wharf, emphasised the importance of data in reducing waste: “The analytics platform and the daily email reports provide detailed insights into our waste patterns, allowing us to identify trends and areas for improvement.” These Data insights drove practical changes in daily operations. For example, the hotel’s kitchen is busiest during breakfast, serving over 300 covers. Traditionally, this is a buffet service. With Winnow’s influence the buffet offering has changed to use smaller containers after 10:00am to minimise food waste. This data-driven approach resulted in both waste reduction and significant financial savings.
Winnow’s influence went beyond data. It inspired the culinary team to embrace creativity, leading to the development of zero-waste dishes that transformed leftover ingredients into delightful meals. Some of the hotel’s standout innovations include:
These dishes aren’t just sustainable—they’ve added a new layer of creativity to the kitchen. As Executive Chef Sanjay described “It’s fun to come up with innovative dishes using ingredients that would typically go to waste. It’s a creative challenge that brings the team together.”
The partnership with Winnow didn’t stop at the kitchen. It sparked a mindset shift throughout the entire hotel. Nucera Alessandro, the hotel’s marketing manager, highlighted how Winnow’s impact extended to all departments: “The biggest influence Winnow has had is on our mindset.” This shift in perspective led to several innovative, eco-friendly practices, including:
The London Marriott Hotel Canary Wharf’s partnership with Winnow serves as a powerful example of how technology and a commitment to sustainability can transform operations. The hotel is now a leader in the fight against food waste and continues to push boundaries in sustainability. As it looks to the future, the hotel aims to further reduce waste, increase its use of locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, and continue its journey towards a zero-waste kitchen.