In times of high inflation, especially with basic food baskets reaching record prices, how about buying some food items 50% cheaper?
The way to this great discount is simple and is called Flashfood, an app that helps you find discounted products at nearby supermarkets.
The secret behind the 50% lower price is the expiration date. That is, through this app, supermarkets sell products with expiration dates approaching instead of throwing them in the trash.
The creators of the app explain that the company’s goal is not only to help consumers save money but also to contribute to reducing food waste and, consequently, to curb global warming.
But what does one thing have to do with the other?
The initial spark for creating Flashfood came when the chef and sister of Josh Domingues, the founder and president of the company, told him that she had just thrown away $4,000 worth of food. Initially, he thought it was a joke, but then he realized that this was a common practice in the food industry.
He began to think about the amount of food that ends up in landfills daily and how much this practice contributes to the increase in global warming.
Food that ends up in landfills is covered by other types of waste and eventually rots in an anaerobic state, meaning without oxygen. This decomposition process creates methane gas, one of the main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect, which is creating a hole in the ozone layer and contributing to climate change.
Supermarkets often have a surplus of food items that reach their ideal consumption date in just a few days or at most in one or two weeks. Of course, business owners in the field try to minimize waste through improved operational procedures, reducing supply chains, and donating to charity and food banks. However, the amount of food that still goes to landfills is significant.
The solution
By selling these foods at a 50% discount on the Flashfood app, supermarkets recover costs and significantly reduce their contribution to methane gas emissions.
Consumers, on the other hand, can take advantage of healthier food items, such as vegetables, meats, and ready-made meals, at a much more affordable price.
Success
After about 6 years of existence, Flashfood now has over 3 million users in the United States and Canada, who together have contributed to preventing over 30 million pounds of food from ending up in landfills. This means that about 2.49 million pounds of methane gas have also been prevented from entering the atmosphere.
Flashfood partners with various supermarkets in several states. To find out if there is a market offering this great discount near you, download the app for free on your smartphone.
For more information, visit: https://www.flashfood.com