Dive Brief:
- SpartanNash and food waste technology company Flashfood have diverted 1 million pounds of food waste since partnering just over three years ago, according to a Wednesday press release.
- The companies said they have saved shoppers $1.9 million on groceries through their partnership.
- This is SpartanNash’s latest achievement in meeting key elements of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy as the company continues to find ways to address food waste.
Dive Insight:
SpartanNash and Flashfood’s collaboration began in 2020 with a pilot program in Michigan and Indiana Family Fare and Martin’s Super Markets stores. In February 2022, SpartanNash brought the Flashfood service to 44 more Family Fare and VG’s Grocery stores in Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska.
In announcing the expansion, SpartanNash noted that in less than two years, the collaboration with Flashfood had diverted 180,000 pounds of food from landfills and provided more than 150,000 affordable meals for families.
The Flashfood service allows shoppers to purchase discounted food that is nearing is best-by date using an app and pick up their order from a participating store’s “Flashfood Zone.” Available items include meat, produce boxes, dairy, bakery items and center-store foods.
In addition to its work with Flashfood, SpartanNash is also using artificial intelligence-powered predictive ordering and inventory management technology from Afresh Technologies to help minimize food waste. The companies launched a pilot of Afresh’s tech in December 2022 at 10 Family Fare locations in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area.
Flashfood is continuing to expand its partnerships with other grocery companies, not only helping with food waste, but becoming more accessible to consumers. This year, Tops Friendly Markets and Meijer began accepting SNAP benefits as payment for Flashfood purchases through the tech company’s app.
