Dutch chain HEMA will soon collaborate with the Too Good to Go application in Belgium to allow users to buy unsold products which are nearing their expiry date or are no longer on shelves, RTBF reports. The move is aimed at avoiding food waste and providing affordable food to customers.
In total, 98 stores in Belgium will begin working alongside the food recycling service. According to industry website Retail Detail, in one recent test in Turnhout, HEMA saved 155 meals from going to waste, thereby saving 287.5 kilos of CO2 emissions.
After an initial trial period, the chain is now rolling out the project nationwide. The initiative is particularly intended to stop seasonal products, such as Christmas biscuits and chocolates, from going to waste after the festive period. Each year, HEMA sells around 4,000 tonnes of ginger nuts and Dutch “chocolate letters.”
Belgium wastes large amounts of food, even in comparison to its neighbours. On average, 345 kilograms of food are wasted per year, per person in Belgium.
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“At HEMA, we are determined to step up the fight against food waste. It is a collective commitment that we entered into with our customers and employees, and that we are now expanding nationwide during the end-of-year period. The knowledge that we will not lose any food during the month of December and the first promising results make us feel extra festive,” said Carla Velghe, HEMA country director in Belgium.
Through the Too Good to Go app, customers will be able to purchase, at ultra-low prices, large quantities of biscuits, chocolates, and other holiday goods. The app also partners with local restaurants, supermarkets and bakeries to sell unsold food.
