Giant Food tests Flashfood food waste reduction app

Ahold Delhaize USA’s Giant Food has kicked off a three-store pilot of the Flashfood, an app-based digital marketplace that gives shoppers access to savings on foods approaching their expiration date.

The Flashfood program is now available at supermarkets in Catonsville (6223 Baltimore National Pike) and Ellicott City (9200 Baltimore National Pike), Md., and Falls Church, Va., Landover, Md.-based Giant said yesterday. The free app from Toronto-based Flashfood offers customers exclusive deals on products — including meat, produce, seafood, dairy, deli, bakery and center-store groceries — that are nearing their best-by date. In turn, the significantly reduced prices drive purchases of food that otherwise would go to the retailer’s waste stream.

“Giant is committed to supporting our communities in making choices that are good for them as well as the environment and reducing food waste is a key part of that,” Steven Jennings, health and sustainability stakeholder relations and brand lead at Giant, said in a statement. “We’re excited to roll out this pilot program with Flashfood to offer our customers valuable savings on fresh foods, while also decreasing food waste and working toward our goal of achieving zero waste diversion by 2025.”

Flashfood app purchases are stored in a refrigerator or on a rack until picked up by customers. 

Related:Price Rite kicks off pilot of Flashfood food waste reduction app

Available on iOS and Android platforms, Flashfood’s app allows shoppers to browse deals at participating stores on foods approaching expiration. Purchases are made directly through the app, and shoppers pick up their order on the same day from the “Flashfood zone” area inside the store. Items purchased are stored in a refrigerator or on a storage rack until picked up by customers.

All Flashfood store locations can be found via the store locator, Giant said. Overall, the chain operates 164 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia.

“We’re thrilled to further our work with Ahold Delhaize USA through this new pilot program with Giant Food,” commented Flashfood CEO and founder Josh Domingues. “Food waste is a massive contributor to climate change, and about $37 billion worth of food is thrown out each year in the U.S. at the retail level. Sustainability-focused retail leaders like Ahold Delhaize USA and Giant Food are helping us work toward tackling this complex issue and in turn, bring more affordable fresh food options to shoppers.”

Giant Food’s Flashfood pilot marks the third Ahold Delhaize USA grocery chain offering the program, following The Giant Company (Giant/Martin’s stores) and Stop & Shop. Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant rolled out Flashfood chainwide this past June after a mid-May 2020 pilot, while Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop launched a test of the app at four Worcester, Mass.-area stores in April.

Related:The Giant Company goes chainwide with Flashfood

Other U.S. and Canadian grocery retailers partnering with Flashfood include Wakefern Food Corp. (Price Rite Marketplace), Tops Friendly Markets, Meijer, Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, SpartanNash (Family Fare and Martin’s Super Markets) and Loblaw Cos. (Loblaw’s, Real Canadian Superstore, NoFrills, Maxi, Zehrs, Dominion, Independent, Provigo and Wholesale Club banners).