In honor of Stop Food Waste Day, Flashfood and The Giant Co., Carlisle, Pa., achieved a milestone in its sustainability and food waste reduction efforts.
Since first partnering with Flashfood in May 2020, the supermarket has diverted 6 million pounds of food from landfills, according to a news release.
Flashfood is an app-based marketplace striving to eliminate retail food waste by connecting consumers with discounted food nearing its best-by date. The mobile app operates in more than 1,700 grocery locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, according to the company. Shoppers can buy items from grocery retailers through the Flashfood app and pick them up in-store at discounted prices while collectively reducing food waste.
“Our team members and customers have really embraced Flashfood,” Giant Co.’s interim president, John Ruane, said in the release. “This milestone demonstrates the power of partnership and how together, we can have a real impact on reducing food waste, one of the most pressing issues facing our industry and society, while providing another way for our customers to save when shopping with us.”
The Flashfood program started as a four-store pilot in 2020 and has since been integrated across 190 Giant Co. locations across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
These leaders say these efforts are critical, as the food system accounts for nearly one-third of global emissions.
This food-diversion milestone by the partnership of The Giant Co. and Flashfood equates to saving more than 10 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere — the equivalent of taking 1,186 cars off the road for a year, the company said. The food saved also equates to more than 2 million meals that fed families instead of ending up in landfills.
Related: The Giant Co. expands Flashfood app rollout nationwide
Related: Meijer to support SNAP benefits on Flashfood
“The Giant Co. set out to leverage innovative technologies and solutions to make a real impact in the fight against food waste,” Flashfood Head of Growth & Impact Brody Slacer said in the release.
Flashfood shoppers can use the app to save as much as 50% off items nearing their best-by date, such as meats, dairy, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables and other groceries.
To date, Flashfood has diverted nearly 80 million pounds of food and saved shoppers more than $180 million, according to the company.
Flashfood also partners with other retailers, such as: Meijer, Tops Friendly Markets, Loblaw, Martin’s Markets, VG’s, Family Fare, Giant Eagle, Giant Food, Ren’s Pets, Save A Lot and Stop & Shop.
Part of Ahold Delhaize USA, The Giant Co. is an omnichannel retailer with 193 stores, 132 pharmacies, 107 fuel stations and more than 180 online pickup hubs and grocery delivery service in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and New Jersey. The Giant Co. family of brands includes Giant, Martin’s, Giant Heirloom Market, Giant Direct and Martin’s Direct.
