Patricia Sand, Head of Brand & Trade Management SSP Germany

SSP Germany is a leading provider of food & beverage services at highly frequented transport hubs such as airports and train stations. With a broad portfolio of franchise brands such as Starbucks, Burger King, Kamps, Backwerk, Pret A Manager and Dean & David, SSP is strongly represented in the DACH region.

SSP places particular emphasis on innovations in the catering sector in order to meet the constantly changing needs of customers. Sustainability plays an important role in this: By using innovative technologies such as foodforecast's AI-based solution, SSP not only optimizes production planning, but also reduces food waste, improves product availability and increases sales.

The Introduction of the AI-based Solution

In 2023, SSP Germany launched a trial phase at three Kamps locations in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Kassel, using FoodForecast's AI-based production planning solution for the first time. The aim was to make production more efficient and save personnel resources at the same time. In the trial phase, historical sales data as well as external influences such as weather conditions, holidays and regional events were taken into account in order to dynamically adjust production volumes.

Collaboration results and successes

The results of the trial phase were promising: By implementing AI technology, the availability of goods was increased by 10-15% during peak times, while at the same time reducing food waste to single-digit percentages. The technology also showed a significant increase in sales, as production was now adjusted exactly to actual demand.

A particularly remarkable success was the reduction of out-of-stock situations, which fell by 90%, while sales rose by up to 11%. This improvement not only optimized operational efficiency, but also increased customer satisfaction as products were always available and fresh.

Another advantage that SSP Germany was able to realize by working with foodforecast was the relief of staff. AI took on complex planning and forecasting tasks so that employees could concentrate on other important activities. This automation made a significant contribution to reducing workload, a decisive factor in view of the shortage of skilled workers and high turnover in the industry.

Future Prospects and Further Rollouts

The successful results of the trial phase and the positive response from employees and customers meant that the rollout of the technology will continue in 2025 at other locations in the DACH region. SSP Germany plans to implement the solution in other important regions in order to increase efficiency at all levels. The Collaboration with FoodForecast not only optimized operational processes, but also had a lasting impact on the profitability of the company. The reduction in CO2 emissions, which was achieved through reduced food waste and optimised production processes, underlines SSP Germany's ecological commitment.

“The results confirm the effectiveness of the technology and form the basis for planned, nationwide launches at other locations.” Patricia Sand, Head of Brand & Trade Management

A successful partnership for sustainability and efficiency

The Collaboration between FoodForecast and SSP Germany has impressively shown how a significant contribution to sustainability, efficiency and profitability can be made through the use of artificial intelligence and intelligent production planning in system catering. With FoodForecast's AI Technology, SSP were not only able to significantly reduce food waste, but also increase product availability and turnover while relieving staff. This Partnership shows how modern technology and human collaboration can work together to achieve top performance.

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