Lowes Foods has partnered with Flashfood to launch a pilot program at five stores in the Columbia, South Carolina, market. Through the program, guests can purchase surplus meat, produce and other fresh foods at discounted prices, with deals listed on the Flashfood app.
By using the Flashfood app, Columbia-area customers can buy fresh groceries that are in surplus or nearing their best-by date – including meat, dairy, produce and baked goods – at discounts of up to 60 percent off retail price. Shoppers browse available items in the app, purchase directly and collect orders at the store’s customer service area, known as the Front Porch.
“We’re honored to partner with Flashfood to provide another way for our guests to get fresh products and save money, while creating less waste. This pilot program is a win-win-win for shoppers in the Columbia area,” said Tim Lowe, president of Lowes Foods. “The Flashfood program will help support Lowes Foods’ longstanding commitment to the communities we serve.”
If the pilot proves successful in the Columbia region, Lowe said, Lowes Foods may introduce it to additional markets in coming months.
The five pilot stores are:
- Forest Acres at 4711 Forest Drive;
- Sandhill Village at 120 Forum Drive;
- Lexington at 5222 Sunset Blvd.;
- Lexington at 2440 Augusta Highway; and
- Red Bank at 5436 Platt Springs Road.
Affordability and waste reduction in one app
Flashfood shoppers have saved more than $55 million in 2026 alone, said Jordan Schenck, CEO of Flashfood. “We want shoppers to be able to put fresh meat and produce on the table without stretching their grocery budget, and working with Lowes Foods gives their guests another way to save on those staples, while helping their stores sell quality food that might otherwise go to waste.”
In a 2025 shopper survey cited by the company, 70 percent of Flashfood shoppers reported a healthier diet since using the app and 65 percent reported eating more fruits and vegetables. The B Corp-certified marketplace has rerouted more than 140 million pounds of food from landfills while saving shoppers more than $355 million, with more than 2,300 partner stores in North America.
Founded in 1954, Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Lowes Foods operates more than 80 full-service supermarkets in the Carolinas plus one in Georgia, with nearly 9,000 employees and services including Lowes Foods-To-Go personal shopping. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hickory, North Carolina-based Alex Lee Inc.