Save Your Pocket And The Planet: Aotearoa’s Food Rescue App, Foodprint, Lands In Central Otago

Central Otago locals can now rescue food and save money, with Foodprint launching in Wānaka, Queenstown and Cromwell from Tuesday, 20 May. The Kiwi-owned and operated app provides food rescue at your fingertips, by partnering with local eateries who use it to sell surplus food, for a discount, preventing it from going to waste.

After downloading the app, customers can opt to receive push notifications from local eateries to let them know when food is available. The kai is purchased within the app and collected from the eatery before closing. Discounts start from 30% off the original price, with some eateries opting for 70-90% off. Food sells quickly and what you’ll find available on the app fluctuates both daily and throughout the day to suit the needs of the eateries. The app tracks how much money, food and even CO2-e emissions, customers save on every order.

Food waste is a large contributor to global warming, creating up to 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Not only that, wasted food fills up landfills and costs businesses and consumers thousands each year. The unpredictable nature of hospitality means some days are sold out hours before closing, while on others, shelves are left stocked with surplus as the doors shut. In a time where both the climate crisis and the cost of living are top of mind for consumers and businesses alike, wasting food simply makes no sense.

The team at Fedeli in Wānaka, shared why they were one of the first eateries to jump on board,

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“We’re all about the food at Fedeli - producing it, sourcing it, creating it, sharing it. Our local landscape is what inspires our recipes and creates these flavours. That’s why it is important for us to ensure minimal food wastage for a happy environment and a happy belly.”

Fedeli is joined by the likes of Scroggin Eatery & Cafe and The Good Spot Caravan in Wānaka; Bakers Lane, Gypsy Oven, Eatery By Franks and Bespoke Kitchen in Queenstown and Afix Cafe in Cromwell. For the full list of participating eateries, locals are encouraged to check the app.

Foodprint was started in 2019 by Michal Garvey, who says:

“To fight the challenges of today, we must get creative and we must innovate. Foodprint allows customers and businesses to come together as a community to reduce food waste in a way that’s fun, easy and tasty! Central Otago has been a heavily requested region that the team and I are very excited to be adding to the map this week.”

Foodprint’s mission to reduce food waste aligns with local and national goals to reduce food waste to landfill. The platform allows a wide range of food providers, from bakeries and cafes to wholesalers and retailers, to sell a variety of foods and works in a way that suits the needs of the eatery. One such business is Christchurch’s Pieroji Joint which has been with Foodprint for several years, finding it a useful platform to sell their ‘ugly’ dumplings. Owner Kate Grater, praises the app for not only reducing her waste but also introducing new customers and increasing her revenue,

“We've met so many new customers through Foodprint, and we've eliminated all [food] wastage… It doesn’t matter your age or tech ability – it's so easy to use. You control your products, set discounts, and can turn it on or off as needed. Plus, it eliminates food wastage and adds a little extra to your bottom line each week."

Garvey says you’ll find a range of food on the app, including “ready-to-eat meals, salads, sandwiches, cakes and sushi, to fresh fruit and veggies and cooking ingredients.” All of the food is safe to eat and is of the same quality that the eatery would otherwise sell in-store, but is perhaps coming to the end of its shelf-life or is imperfect.

Foodprint started in Auckland in 2019 and is currently available in select areas throughout the country including Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington. The app is simple to use and has won awards for its design and sustainability credentials, including Founder Michal Garvey being named as one of the country’s Top 50 Women in Food and Drink in 2024.

Eateries that are interested in selling via the platform can get in touch at foodprint.app and customers can download the free app by searching Foodprint in the Apple App or Google Play Stores.

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