SpartanNash revealed today it achieved a significant milestone in its collaboration with food rescue company Flashfood. In its first three years, the grocer and the app-based marketplace have successfully diverted one million pounds of food waste and saved families $1.9 million on their groceries.
Reducing food waste and providing affordable access to nutrition are key elements of SpartanNash's environmental, social, and governance strategy, which aims to promote healthy lives and well-being, according to the grocer.
"At SpartanNash, we're focused on innovative ways to meet shopper needs," said SVP and CMO Amy McClellan in a statement. "This solution has made a tremendous difference in preventing food waste while helping families save on imperfect produce and other products that might otherwise end up in landfills."
SpartanNash introduced Flashfood, an app that allows shoppers to buy discounted grocery items nearing their best-by date. Shoppers purchase items in the app and then pick up their order from the designated "Flashfood Zone" within participating stores. The program was first piloted in Michigan and Indiana with Family Fare and Martin's Super Markets in 2020. It expanded last year with the addition of 44 Family Fare and VG's Grocery stores in Iowa, Michigan, and Nebraska.
"Partnerships with mission-aligned grocers like SpartanNash play a vital role in addressing the connected problems of food waste and food insecurity," said Brody Slacer, Flashfood head of impact, in a statement. "We sincerely appreciate the company's early commitment to our alliance and the hard work of their team members that have made it all possible."
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