TOMRA is a Norwegian company with a global presence, founded in 1972 to design, manufacture and sell machines to automatically collect used beverage containers. Between 2011 and 2018 they acquired multiple companies possessing patented technologies for food sorting, and by 2022 had become one of the world’s leading food sorters (TOMRA 2022). Today they have developed automated sorting solutions in two additional areas: recycling, where they use sensor-based sorting technology to prepare materials for recycling; and food, where their technology grades, sorts, peels and analyses both fresh produce and processed foods (TOMRA 2024) The spread of TOMRA’s technology is wide both geographically and across food types; they have developed machines suitable for sorting fresh and dried fruit, nuts, seeds and grains, vegetables, confectionary, coffee, meat, seafood and pet foods. Within the UK, sugar confectionary company Swizzles Matlow used a TOMRA optical sorter to automate sorting of ‘Drumstick Squashies’ by detecting, and removing, defective products based on colour and outline (TOMRA, n.d.-c). GA Pet Food Partners and J G Pears animal by-products processor both use a TOMRA sorter to removed foreign bodies from raw materials (“Customer Story from GA Pet Food Partners, United Kingdom,” n.d.; TOMRA, n.d.-b), and the Jersey Royal Company utilises a sorter to help pack and ensure the quality of Jersey Royal new potatoes (TOMRA, n.d.-a). In 2016 Zeina Foods, a nut packing company in Yorkshire, began using a TOMRA sorting product, the NIMBUS, to help with their roasting, cleaning and distribution of pistachios among wholesales. After utilising the NIMBUS for two years, Zeina Foods reported processing approximately 5,000 tons of pistachios a year, compared to the approximately 730 tons they processed before its installation. As well as allowing for their business to operate at scale, the NIMBUS also allows them to improve the quality of their final product, as it is able to accurately identify and remove foreign matter (like glass, stone or shells) from the pistachios despite the challenges offered by the nuts’ multi-faceted and multi-coloured surfaces. The model is also able to classify by biological characteristics to detect and remove aflatoxins and hard-to-find nut defects. The same model of machinery is used by GA Pet Food partners to sort pet food. Capacity to scale TOMRA sorting technologies seems very high; Zeina Foods is a growing but still medium-sized family-owned operation (Zeina, n.d.), with around 18 employees as of March 2024, but they were able to purchase and implement TOMRA technology (“Zeina Foods | LinkedIn,” n.d.). TOMRA is also constantly developing new machinery, appropriate for use by different food groups. The horizon scanning revealed that TOMRA has just launched three new AI-powered sorting solutions, including a blueberry pre-grader that uses AI modelling to distinguish between clusters and groups of berries, a deep learning technology for grading apples, and a deep-learning grading platform for cherries which is able to identify half cherries, open sutures, cosmetic blemishes and stem pulls (Haynes 2024). As well as developing tools optimised for use with differing food groups, TOMRA also offers a high level of support to combat a skills-gap which may deter investment in their offer. They have a service department based in the UK who can help with preventative maintenance, supplying spare parts, and offering upgrades to (TOMRA 2024). They also offer an ‘Academy’ to train operators in how to use and understand TOMRA machinery (“TOMRA Academy,” n.d.).