Managing Food Waste: A Thematic Study on Restaurants of Dhaka city

Main Article Content

Nusrat Jahan
Shahinor Khanum

Abstract

Food waste represents a significant challenge within Bangladesh’s food and hospitality industry and globally. Effective prevention strategies and technological management approaches are essential to maintaining food quality and enhancing the economic performance of the hospitality sector. The research aims to identify the most effective prevention and technological management practices. The research used 12 semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, relying on deductive techniques to generate thematic content. The findings reveal several causes and stages contributing to food waste, with the highest levels observed during preparation and cleaning, as well as from leftover food on guests’ plates. Recovery strategies and technological interventions, such as freezing and cooling systems, vacuum machines, intelligent packaging solutions, and other management tools, were identified as effective in mitigating food waste. Future research in food waste management will be necessary to identify and collect data and to develop operational recommendations, advancing sustainability and operational efficiency in the hospitality sector.

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Author Biographies

Nusrat Jahan, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dr Jahan is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of Dhaka. She earned her doctorate in Tourism from the University of Surrey, UK. Her current research interests are experiential marketing, experiences, and tourism. Besides, she has a passion for research on women travellers and women's participation in the hospitality and tourism industry, as well as experiential marketing, emotions, and memory in tourism.

Shahinor Khanum, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Shahinor is a graduate student specializing in Tourism and Hospitality Management at University of Dhaka. Her academic work is deeply focused on sustainability and operational efficiency within the hospitality industry.

How to Cite

Jahan, N., & Khanum, S. (2025). Managing Food Waste: A Thematic Study on Restaurants of Dhaka city. Bangladesh Journal of MIS, 11(01), 27-46. https://doi.org/10.61606/BJMIS.V11N1A2

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