Milestone achieved in less than two years
In honor of Stop Food Waste Day, Flashfood and The Giant Company announced a major milestone in their sustainability and food waste reduction efforts. Since first partnering with Flashfood, a digital marketplace that connects consumers to heavily discounted food nearing its best-by date, in May 2020, The Giant Company has diverted six million pounds of food from landfills.
“At The Giant Company, we’re constantly seeking out ways to deliver on our purpose and do our part to heal the planet, and teaming up with Flashfood has helped us do both,” said John Ruane, interim president. “Our team members and customers have really embraced Flashfood. 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 locations across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
Efforts made to reduce food waste by everyone in the fresh food supply chain are important considering that today it is estimated that the food system accounts for nearly one-third of global emissions. The Giant Company and Flashfood have together saved more than 10 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere. This is the equivalent of taking 1,186 cars off the road for a year. The food saved also equates to more than two million meals that fed families instead of ending up in landfills.
“Today marks an exciting milestone in our partnership with The Giant Company, and it is just scratching the surface of the impact that our partnership will have for both shoppers and the planet,” said Brody Slacer, head of growth and impact at Flashfood. “The Giant Company set out to leverage innovative technologies and solutions to make a real impact in the fight against food waste. Their commitment to sustainable practices demonstrates their deep dedication to uplifting and supporting the communities they serve, and we are excited to be a part of their efforts.”
Flashfood shoppers turn to the app to save up to 50 percent off high-quality items nearing their best-by date, such as meats, dairy, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables and other grocery items. Shoppers browse and purchase discounted food items directly through the Flashfood app on their mobile phone, and then pick up their order from the Flashfood Zone located inside their participating Giant or Martin’s store.
For more information on The Giant Company’s community impact efforts, visit giantfoodstores.com/pages/purpose.
