How Grocery Stores Reduce Food Waste (And How You Can Help)

Food waste is an ongoing challenge in the food industry, and grocery store food waste plays a major role in the problem. Every day, grocery stores manage large volumes of food, and not everything gets sold before its best-before date. The good news? Retailers are acting — and consumers have an important role to play too.

Here’s how grocery stores are reducing food waste, what happens to unsold food, and how you can be part of the solution.

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What Happens to Unsold Food?

When food doesn’t sell right away, it doesn’t automatically become waste. Grocery stores use several strategies to manage surplus food responsibly:

• Price reductions: Products approaching their best-before date are often discounted to encourage quick sales.

• Food rescue programs: Unsold, surplus items may be donated to local food banks or community organizations.

• Repurposing: Some stores transform surplus ingredients into ready-to-eat meals or prepared foods.

Despite these efforts, not all surplus food can be sold or donated in time — which is why innovative solutions, like FoodHero, are essential.

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Challenges for Grocery Retailers

Reducing grocery store food waste isn’t as simple as it sounds. Retailers face several ongoing challenges:

• Unpredictable demand: Customer traffic and buying habits can vary from day to day.

• Short shelf life: Fresh products like meat, dairy, and produce require careful timing.

• Strict food safety regulations: Stores must ensure that food is handled, stored, and sold safely.

• Operational costs: Managing surplus food requires staff time, storage space, and logistics.

Balancing food availability with waste reduction is a constant challenge — but technology is helping bridge the gap.

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How FoodHero Partners With Your Favourite Grocery Stores

FoodHero works directly with grocery stores to turn surplus food into an opportunity, rather than sending it to landfill.

Here’s how it works:

• Stores list surplus items on the FoodHero app at discounted prices.

• Close to expiration date food is frozen before its best-before date, ensuring quality and safety. Surplus, fresh, or non-frozen items have dates and details listed.

• Consumers purchase these items through the app and pick them up in-store.

• Stores recover value, reduce waste, and support food rescue efforts.

By partnering with FoodHero, grocery stores can reduce their environmental impact while offering customers meaningful savings — a win for everyone.

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The Consumer’s Role in Reducing Food Waste

Consumers are a powerful part of the solution. Small choices can make a big difference:

• Buy surplus food through apps like FoodHero.

• Embrace frozen food as a smart way to extend shelf life, and always ensure you have a dinner idea in the freezer!.

• Plan meals and store food properly to avoid spoilage at home.

• Understand best-before dates — many foods are still perfectly safe after them.

When you choose surplus food, you’re not just saving money — you’re actively helping reduce grocery store food waste and supporting food rescue efforts in your community.

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Every Action Counts

Reducing food waste takes collaboration between grocery stores, technology, and consumers. By choosing smarter ways to shop and supporting surplus food initiatives, we can collectively make a real impact — one rescued meal at a time.