Verdict Food Service

Daily Newsletter

08 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

KFC Philippines instals solar panels across 64 stores

The QSR brand is said to have established itself as the eco-friendly energy user in the region.

KFC Philippines has further reduced its carbon footprint in the country with its 64th solar-powered store, according to a report by the Manila Bulletin.

With this initiative, the quick service restaurant (QSR) has established itself as an eco-friendly energy user in the region.

So far, KFC is said to have installed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across 64 stores, which generate around 2.6GWh of clean energy while displacing 606,164kg of carbon emissions annually.

The publication quoted KFC Philippines general manager Maria Judith Marcelo saying: “We are committed to our journey toward sustainable growth and being model stewards to the environment, which is why we really walk our talk when it comes to planet-friendly initiatives.

“Aside from ramping up our solar panel project, we also pioneered the use of e-bikes for delivery in several branches while also shifting to more sustainable packaging.”

The QSR brand is said to have set a target to install solar panels on 80 of its store rooftops by the end of this year.

At the end of 2022, KFC Philippines is said to have completed the installation of solar panels across 47 stores.

It installed solar panels at its stores from Nueva Ecija in the North to KFC Iligan and KFC Lanang Davao in the South.

Additionally, KFC is reportedly planning to install solar panels in the parking lots of 22 stores.

Generative AI remains an untapped potential across the consumer industry

GlobalData estimates the total AI market will be worth $909 billion in 2030, growing at a CAGR of 35.2% between 2022 and 2030. The consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors are undergoing digital transformation, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and changing consumer preferences. AI can help companies operating in these sectors by significantly reducing costs and production times. In Nestlé's 2022 full-year results, the company announced a renewed focus on digitalization to drive growth. Financial and reputational pressures associated with supply chain disruptions and sustainability concerns are also driving interest in the digitalization of supply chains. Data science and ML are strong investments across all areas. However, the sectors cannot stop at AI-powered data analytics applications. They must also explore computer vision (CV), smart robots, AI sensors that automate manufacturing and distribution logistics, and generative AI tools that increase efficiency across corporate departments and customer service operations and enable innovation in product design. For the most part, the consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors will not play a significant role in creating and developing AI hardware or platforms. Instead, these sectors will help scale up the adoption of AI technologies, such as CV, conversational platforms, and smart robots. This adoption will be driven by the financial benefits and potential cost savings AI automation delivers across global supply chains.