PENNSYLVANIA & NEW YORK - In the industry’s collective battle against food waste, several innovators have created solutions to mitigate the challenges. Flashfood is one such company, and it has teamed up with the likes of The GIANT Company and Tops Friendly Markets to implement solutions at the retail level. The Flashfood app was recently rolled out to all GIANT and MARTIN’S stores following a successful pilot, and Tops expanded the Flashfood program to an additional 17 stores throughout the Western New York region.

“Our ongoing partnership with Flashfood is two-fold, providing our customers with access to fresh foods, while also helping to divert more than 250,000 pounds of additional food waste away from landfills,” said Glennis Harris, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, The GIANT Company. “We’ve received great feedback over the past year from our customers, many of whom have told us they can eat more fresh food because of the program. We can’t wait to offer this program at all of our stores and to all of our customers this summer.”

A press release stated that GIANT’s Flashfood program was first introduced in May 2020 at four stores in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is now available at more than 30 locations. Additionally, the rollout is expected to place Flashfood at 170 participating GIANT and MARTIN’S stores by this fall. The chainwide rollout of Flashfood begins with stores in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia, PA, counties, with additional stores planned to join each month.

Josh Domingues, Flashfood Founder and CEO, also commented on how the company’s expansion into GIANT stores furthers its mission to fight food waste.

“Food waste is a massive contributor to climate change, and we’re eager to tackle this complex issue in partnership with The GIANT Company, a clear leader on sustainability,” said Domingues. “Flashfood is a triple-win for our partners, the planet and, most importantly, people. By introducing Flashfood chainwide, The GIANT Company is making it possible for more than a hundred thousand families to access more fresh food this year.”

To date, Tops and Flashfood have worked together to feed more than 3,000 families affordably; save customers an average of $108 on their grocery spending each month; divert more than 150,000 lbs of food from landfills; and save the emissions equivalent of 667,885 miles driven by the average vehicle.

“Many of our customers were among those hit hard by financial challenges over the past year, and partnering with Flashfood allows us the opportunity to help the communities we serve gain access to discounted groceries,” said Jeff Culhane, Senior Vice President, Merchandising for Tops. “We are excited to expand the program with Flashfood and believe it will help us divert food from being thrown in landfills while also saving our shoppers thousands of dollars.”

By partnering with Flashfood, according to another press release, grocers can reduce shrink, improve EBIT by 3 to 5 percent, all while making a positive impact on their carbon footprint. Flashfood can also help retailers attract and retain customers, providing high-quality, fresh foods at more affordable prices and backing shoppers’ personal connections to sustainability.

“We’re proud to be working with sustainability-focused retailers like Tops Friendly Markets to help consumers who are looking to feed their families affordably access discounted, perfectly good food nearing its best-by date—all while ensuring less food goes to waste,” Domingues said of Flashfood’s partnership with Tops. “Approximately $37 billion worth of food is thrown out each year in the U.S. at the retail level, while an estimated 1 in 9 Americans are food insecure. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by all of us working together toward smart, forward-thinking solutions that help people and the planet.”

With successful rollouts like these on the books, where else might Flashfood step in along the supply chain? Keep reading ANUK to find out.

The GIANT Company Tops Friendly Markets Flashfood