Meijer Aims to Reduce In-Store Food Waste with New App-Based Pilot Program
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Meijer is rolling out a pretty unique strategy to minimize food waste while still boosting sales. This has led the grocer to partner with Canadian-based Flashfood to unveil a new app that allows shoppers to purchase produce and other fresh food nearing its best-buy date at a reduced price. While the app is not officially on the market just yet, Meijer is piloting the strategy at its Detroit supercenters.
“Food is at the core of what we do, and we are constantly looking at ways to minimize in-store waste because it’s the right thing to do for our communities and our customers,” said Don Sanderson, Group Vice President of Fresh for Meijer. “We are excited to work with Flashfood and learn how much food can be spared from landfills.”
Flashfood works to help retailers upload surplus close-dated foods to an app for consumer purchase. With this know-how to tap in to, Meijer has teamed up with the company to sell close-dated fresh food items, including those in the produce, meat, seafood, deli, and bakery aisles, for up to 50 percent off, which shoppers can then pick up in-store once ordered.
“Bringing the Metro Detroit community the ability to buy such great food at huge discounts while reducing food waste is exciting. Meijer is a well-respected market leader focusing on innovation and it’s evident through our partnership. Both teams are thrilled about the impact we’re bringing to market in this pilot,” said Josh Domingues, Founder & CEO of Flashfood.
Meijer’s latest strategy builds on the work it’s been doing to eliminate food waste, including launching a Food Rescue program that donated more than 10.6 million pounds of food in 2018 to local food banks, according to a press release. In addition, Meijer is transforming waste from its manufacturing facilities into animal feed and compost.
“Reducing food waste is an important goal at Meijer,” said Erik Petrovskis, Meijer's Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability. “There are creative solutions throughout a food’s life cycle that can reduce landfill use and production of greenhouse gases, and I’m pleased we’re looking at another in-store option that benefits our customers.”
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