Mill Lands Amazon & Whole Foods Deal to Tackle Food Waste at Scale
How did a home food waste startup snag one of retail’s biggest partnerships? Mill—the brainchild of former Nest executives—has officially closed a deal with Amazon and Whole Foods to deploy its commercial-grade food waste bins across all U.S. stores by 2027. For consumers searching “how does Mill reduce food waste” or “who is Mill partnering with,” the answer is now clear: the company is moving from kitchens to supermarkets, aiming to transform how grocers manage—and prevent—waste.
Founded by Matt Rogers, co-creator of the Nest thermostat, Mill launched its sleek, smart food waste bin for households a few years ago. The device grinds and dehydrates scraps into a dry, odorless “grounds” that can be used as chicken feed or compost. But behind the scenes, the startup always had bigger ambitions. “This has been part of our plan since our Series A deck,” Rogers told TechCrunch. Now, with Amazon’s backing—Whole Foods’ parent company—the vision is becoming reality.
From Living Rooms to Produce Aisles
Whole Foods will roll out Mill’s commercial-scale bins in every U.S. store starting in 2027. The machines will process waste from produce departments—think wilted greens, bruised fruits, and vegetable trimmings—grinding and dehydrating them on-site. The result? A dramatic reduction in landfill-bound waste and associated disposal costs, which can run grocers thousands per store annually.
But the savings aren’t just financial. The dehydrated output will be sent to egg producers as feed, closing a loop in the food system. For a brand like Whole Foods, which markets itself on sustainability, this partnership aligns with both operational efficiency and environmental values. “It’s not just about managing waste better—it’s about generating value from what was once trash,” Rogers explained.
Data-Driven Waste Reduction
Beyond physical processing, Mill’s bins are smart. Equipped with sensors and connectivity, they’ll collect anonymized data on what types of food are being discarded, when, and in what quantities. This intelligence gives Whole Foods unprecedented visibility into its waste streams.
“Most grocers don’t know exactly what they’re throwing away—they just know how much,” Rogers said. With Mill’s insights, store managers can adjust ordering, rotate stock more effectively, or even tweak displays to reduce spoilage. The ultimate goal? To “move upstream” and prevent waste before it happens. That’s where real savings—and sustainability—kick in.
Consumer Roots Built Trust
Interestingly, Mill’s path to this corporate deal began in homes. Many Whole Foods executives and team members were already Mill customers before formal talks began. “Starting in consumer was very intentional,” Rogers said. “You build the proof points, you build the data, the brand, loyalty.”
That grassroots adoption created a built-in advocate base within Whole Foods itself. When the two companies started exploring a partnership, it wasn’t a cold pitch—it was a conversation between users and creators. Even TechCrunch’s Tim De Chant noted his own kids enjoyed using the household bins, calling them “a delight to use”—a rare compliment for a waste appliance.
Silicon Valley Meets Sustainable Retail
Mill’s design ethos—clean, intuitive, almost playful—carries the DNA of Nest, the smart thermostat company Rogers co-founded with Tony Fadell before its $3.2 billion acquisition by Google. That legacy lends Mill instant credibility in both tech and sustainability circles.
Now under Amazon’s umbrella via Whole Foods, Mill gains access to a massive physical footprint and logistical infrastructure. For Amazon, which has pledged to reach net-zero carbon by 2040, this deal supports broader environmental goals while potentially opening new B2B revenue streams for Mill’s platform.
Why Grocery Waste Matters
Food waste isn’t just a moral issue—it’s a business one. U.S. grocery stores discard nearly 43 billion pounds of food annually, much of it still edible. Landfill fees, methane emissions, and lost inventory represent billions in avoidable costs.
Mill’s solution tackles all three: reducing disposal volume by up to 80%, lowering emissions (dehydrated grounds don’t rot), and providing actionable data to curb overstocking. In an era of shrinking margins and rising eco-consciousness, this trifecta is irresistible to retailers.
Scaling Without Sacrificing Mission
Some startups lose their way when scaling to enterprise. But Mill’s team insists its core mission remains unchanged: eliminate food waste, not just manage it. The commercial rollout is designed to feed learnings back into the consumer product—and vice versa.
“We’re building a system, not just a bin,” Rogers said. That system includes partnerships with farms, waste haulers, and now, the country’s most visible organic grocer. If successful, the Whole Foods deployment could become a blueprint for supermarkets worldwide.
What’s Next for Mill?
While 2027 may seem distant, the pilot phase is already underway in select Whole Foods locations. Early results show waste volume reductions of 60–70% in test stores. If those hold nationwide, the impact could be massive—both environmentally and financially.
Mill isn’t stopping at grocery, either. Rogers hinted at future partnerships in hospitality and institutional food service. But for now, landing Amazon and Whole Foods is the ultimate validation that a homegrown solution can scale to solve industrial problems.
A Win for Planet and Profit
In a world where sustainability often clashes with profit, Mill’s deal with Whole Foods proves they can align. By turning waste into insight—and chicken feed—Mill offers a rare win-win: lower costs for retailers, less trash for landfills, and a smarter food system overall.
As consumers increasingly demand accountability from brands, this partnership signals a shift: waste isn’t just something to hide in the back room—it’s data waiting to be used, and value waiting to be reclaimed. With Mill’s bins rolling into stores in just two years, the future of food waste might be drier, smarter, and far less wasteful than we ever imagined.
