Meijer mobilizes effort to reduce in-store food waste

A regional Midwest discount retailer is applying a BOPIS strategy to move soon-to-expire products off shelves.

Meijer is testing an app at a handful of its metro Detroit supercenters that allows customers to purchase food nearing its best-buy date at a reduced price. Customers can purchase close-dated fresh food items, including meat, produce, seafood, deli and bakery products, on the third-party Flashfood grocery deal app at up to 50% off. 

Flashfood is a Canadian company that allows retailers to upload surplus close-dated foods to an app that are available for purchase. Customers go to the app, select a Meijer store, choose the items they want to purchase, and pay for them directly on the app. 

Shoppers then confirm their order with customer service and pick up their discounted items at the Brighton, Waterford, Commerce, and Howell Meijer stores. The purchased food will be stored in a refrigerator or storage rack located in the front of each of the participating Meijer stores until picked up by the customer.

“Food is at the core of what we do, and we are constantly looking at ways to minimize in-store waste because it’s the right thing to do for our communities and our customers,” said Don Sanderson, group VP of fresh for Meijer. “We are excited to work with Flashfood and learn how much food can be spared from landfills.” 

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates more than 245 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.