Food rescue app Foodprint is stepping up to help both consumers and local eateries. The platform connects businesses with customers looking to purchase surplus and imperfect food at discounted rates. Their service has grown significantly since its launch in Auckland in 2019, now covering major cities like Wellington, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty.
Founder Michal Garvey says the app is filling a crucial gap in the market: “With the cost of living crisis, customers are buying from their locals more sporadically based on their financial situation week to week,” she explains. This erratic demand has led to more food waste, something Foodprint helps mitigate by offering eateries a way to sell surplus food at reduced prices instead of sending it to landfill.
Foodprint’s appeal to local eateries is clear: it provides an additional revenue stream by rescuing food that might otherwise go to waste. “
We keep Foodprint’s margins low to ensure as much money as possible flows back to the businesses,” says Garvey. The app now partners with over 600 outlets across New Zealand, benefiting businesses from cafés to food wholesalers.
Many businesses have welcomed this model, especially as the pandemic and rising costs have made it difficult to predict customer traffic. Garvey notes that the app not only helps cut down on waste but also boosts local economies by connecting businesses with customers eager to support them.
Foodprint gives its customers a chance to stretch their budgets whenever they’re cash-strapped. “We regularly get messages from customers saying money is ‘super tight’ and they’re grateful the app lets them enjoy food from local businesses they want to support,” Garvey adds.
The app’s flexible offerings, ranging from bakery items to fresh produce, change daily and seasonally, making it an accessible option for those willing to be flexible with their grocery shopping. In fact, users can now do much of their grocery shopping through the app if they are open to different options.
Foodprint has prevented an estimated 320 tonnes of emissions from food waste since its founding. Garvey is proud of this achievement, saying, “To stay true to our cause, the app calculates for customers and eateries how much money, food, and emissions they’ve saved through food rescue.”
Foodprint plans to expand further across New Zealand, particularly into smaller towns where food waste can be a major issue. “We’re only working with a fraction of our target market. Our capacity for scale is yet to be reached,” Garvey says.
Foodprint continues to offer a tangible solution, helping Kiwis save money while also contributing to the fight against food waste.