Flashfood app helps grocery retailers reduce shrink by selling surplus food nearing its best-by date at a discount for shoppers

‍CHICAGO (September 14, 2021) — The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA), the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network, today announced a partnership with Flashfood, a digitally-driven solution that allows retailers to reduce shrink by connecting customers with discounted food nearing its best-by date through their app.

The partnership will provide up to about 1,100 independent, local grocery stores in the United States access to integrating the Flashfood solution into their operations. Flashfood enables online sales of surplus food items, that would otherwise go to waste, by offering them to customers to purchase at up to a 50% discount. Members who sign up for the program will work with IGA to source equipment and in-store marketing, and will receive support from Flashfood to implement the program in-store.

“We’re thrilled to work with the Independent Grocers Alliance to offer local, independent grocers the ability to easily reduce shrink — without any costly integrations or time investment,” said Josh Domingues, Founder & CEO of Flashfood. “Food waste at the store level is an important industry issue, and working with IGA’s network will have a positive impact in tackling it while making sure that their communities have more access to affordable, fresh and healthy food.”

The IGA comprises about 1,100 stores in 45 states coast-to-coast. IGA grocers are hometown store owners, many of them second, third and even fourth generation, who are integral parts of the local communities they serve. By partnering with Flashfood, IGA provides added value to these independent grocers, helping them reduce shrink, improve EBIT by 3 to 5%, make a positive impact on their carbon footprint and ultimately maintain competitiveness among other retailers in their region. 

“As the grocery business changes and evolves, the IGA’s goal is to ensure that we’re equipping members with innovative solutions that help them sell more and reach more of the communities they serve, regardless of their size,” said John Ross, CEO of IGA. “Partnering with Flashfood is one of the ways we are helping hometown grocers compete with large retailers in areas like e-commerce and improving sustainability.”

To date, Flashfood has partnered with several grocery chains across North America to divert more than 25 million pounds of food. To learn more about Flashfood, visit www.flashfood.com.

About the Independent Grocers Alliance

The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) is the world’s largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $36 billion per year. The Alliance includes more than 6,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 36 distribution companies and nearly 40 major manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers known as IGA’s Red Oval Family partners. IGA has operations in 46 of the United States and more than 30 countries, commonwealths, and territories. Visit www.iga.com for more information, or click here to subscribe to The IGA Minute for weekly updates.

About Flashfood

Flashfood is an app-based marketplace that strives to eliminate retail food waste by connecting consumers with discounted food nearing its best-by date. The mobile app operates in over 1,000 grocery locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Shoppers can buy items from grocery retailers through the Flashfood app and pick them up in-store at great prices while collectively reducing food waste. To date, Flashfood has diverted over 27 million pounds of food, saved shoppers over $70 million and more affordably fed hundreds of thousands of families. Flashfood is currently partnering with Loblaw Companies, The GIANT Company, Meijer, Tops Friendly Markets, SpartanNash, Giant Eagle, Stop & Shop and Price Rite Marketplace. Flashfood is a free app available on iOS and Android. For more information, please visit www.flashfood.com.