Kroger Pilots Flashfood Tech to Reduce Waste in Richmond Stores

Kroger Food Waste Tech Initiative Expands Zero Waste Mission

Kroger is taking bold steps to fight food waste with new Kroger food waste tech in partnership with Flashfood. The pilot program, now live in 16 Richmond-area stores, enables shoppers to buy discounted surplus groceries nearing their best-by dates. This innovative move aligns with Kroger’s broader Zero Hunger | Zero Waste sustainability campaign.

courtesy of Kroger

By integrating technology that improves food access and reduces waste, Kroger aims to meet rising customer demand for value and sustainability.

Flashfood and Kroger Team Up for Smart Solutions

Through the Flashfood app, customers can browse and purchase discounted perishable items, including produce, meat, dairy, and bakery products. This process helps clear store inventory that might otherwise go to waste.

The partnership adds efficiency to store operations and affordability to household grocery budgets. Flashfood’s mobile-first model creates convenience while keeping food out of landfills.

Jordan Schenck, CEO of Flashfood, said the tech directly supports Kroger’s dual goals: eliminating food waste and increasing accessibility. Schenck noted, “We answer both sides of the equation.”

Kroger sees this program as a crucial piece of its strategy. In fact, the company stated in its 2024 ESG report that it wants 100% of stores donating surplus fresh food by 2025.

Richmond Serves as the Launchpad for Broader Rollout

Although Richmond is a new region for Flashfood, the response could set the stage for national expansion. The technology company plans to extend the pilot to more locations within months.

Flashfood has launched a new partner app for Kroger, now in beta, that includes advanced features like dynamic pricing and AI-driven analytics. These tools will help Kroger better manage inventory and reduce waste in real time.

As the Kroger food waste tech pilot grows, Flashfood’s backend capabilities will evolve too. According to Schenck, the latest updates provide smarter insights and help partners make quicker decisions on markdowns.

Kroger Aims to Divert 95% of Waste by Year-End

Kroger’s ESG goals show the urgency of this tech-driven approach. The company expects to generate 166,000 tons of food waste this year but wants to divert at least 95% of it.

By contrast, in 2023, Kroger diverted just under 52% of over 265,000 tons of food waste. Clearly, there’s room for significant improvement, and partnerships like this one with Flashfood are central to that mission.

Kroger also continues to donate unsold fresh food to community partners. Combined with the pilot’s success, this strategy may transform how major grocers handle excess inventory.

Flashfood Signals a Bigger Tech Future in Grocery

Kroger is the first major grocer Flashfood has partnered with since Schenck became CEO in May. Her leadership marks a new era for the company, which already works with Meijer, Loblaw, Tops, and Giant Eagle.

Schenck said the Kroger partnership represents a milestone. “It signals where we’ve grown as a business in a more meaningful way,” she explained.

The Kroger food waste tech program is not just a sustainability initiative—it’s a blueprint for how grocery chains can use technology to solve real-world problems.

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