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A boom, a backlash, and a pivot with teeth—this conversation traces how Zoono Group turned a pandemic-era hygiene surge into a durable, data-backed strategy to cut food waste and boost supermarket margins. We unpack the science behind a dry-active antimicrobial coating that bonds to packaging, survives heat and storage, and delivers a mechanical kill through cell disruption. The result is a protective surface that prolongs freshness, reduces shrink, and moves retailers from cost-centre thinking to a measurable return on investment.

We walk through the road from lab to store shelf: multi-year regulatory and safety validation in the UK, proof-of-concept with Marks & Spencer across soft fruit categories, and the durability tests required for real-world packaging lines. Then come the commercial wins—Sharpak in the UK, Mpact in South Africa, and Multisteps in Australia—adding up to roughly $50 million in contracted sales over five years. The economics are striking: one extra day on 150 million punnets of raspberries can save an estimated £11 million, while coating those trays costs about £1 million. For packaging suppliers, the technology becomes a point of difference; for retailers, it’s a direct line to less waste and stronger margins.

We also touch on capital discipline—remaining debt-free, fully subscribed rights issues, and guidance to return to profit by year-end. Looking ahead, we explore growth in Asia and India, including trials on bananas and mangoes, and the network effects that could take the UK model into Europe at larger scale. If you care about food waste reduction, packaging innovation, or the business of fresh produce, this is a clear-eyed look at how a durable antimicrobial platform can create value across the supply chain.

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