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Meijer goes chainwide with Flashfood

Pilot of app for buying near-expired food yields sizable cuts in food waste

Russell Redman

January 24, 2020

2 Min Read
Meijer-Flashfood refrigerator.jpg
A test of the Flashfood app at four Meijer locations reduced in-sore food waste by 10%.Meijer

Meijer plans to roll out the Flashfood mobile app to all stores after slashing the amount of food waste in a pilot of the technology last fall.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer said Flashfood cut in-store food waste by 10% in a test launched in November at four stores in metropolitan Detroit: Brighton, Waterford, Commerce and Howell. The app allows shoppers to purchase near-expiring products at a discount. During the pilot period, there were more than 1,000 active users.

Plans call for Meijer to bring the program to all of its 246 supercenters and grocery stores beginning next month, reaching all of the retailers locations — in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin — by the end of 2020.

“In just a few months, we diverted thousands of pounds of food from landfills,” Don Sanderson, group vice president of fresh at Meijer, said in a statement. “Minimizing in-store food waste is the right thing to do for our communities and our customers. We’re excited to expand upon these efforts and offer this opportunity to all our customers.”

With Flashfood, customers can browse and buy foods nearing their “best by” date at up to 50% off regular prices. Items available for purchase include meat, produce, seafood, deli and bakery products. Shoppers choose a Meijer location, shop near-expired items and pay for them directly through the app.

Related:Meijer pilots app to help reduce food waste

Upon arrival, customers pick up their items in the designated “Flashfood zone” in the front of the store and confirm their order with customer service. The purchased food will be stored in a refrigerator or storage rack until picked up.

“Our team is really impressed with Meijer’s pace, their exceptional ability to execute with us and their commitment to meaningfully reduce in-store food waste in their communities,” commented Josh Domingues, the founder and CEO of Toronto-based Flashfood. “Going from a pilot to the decision to roll out chainwide in less than three months with Meijer is indicative of how significant our collective impact is for everyday Americans. I can’t wait for more Meijer customers to have access to the Flashfood app, save money on their groceries and collectively reduce food waste in an innovative, fun way.”

The free Flashfood app comes in iOS and Android versions. The company said its app works in more than 420 grocery stores in Canada, Michigan and Wisconsin. Besides Meijer, current Flashfood retail partners include Hy-Vee and Loblaw Cos. (under the Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, Dominion, Maxi, Provigo and Zehrs banners). Flashfood also has piloted the app with Canadian grocers Longo’s and Farm Boy (part of Sobeys Inc.), as well as with Target Corp. Flashfood has said it plans to make its app available at more U.S. stores.

Related:Loblaw steps up rollout of Flashfood

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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