Shop bins modern waste culture to sell ‘rescued’ food

A new food store is taking its tips from the days before perfectly presented food was readily available – by selling what’s no longer wanted by the big retailers, for whatever shoppers are willing to pay.

OzHarvest’s latest initiative — a minimart in Sydney’s east — aims to reduce waste by selling rescued food for what shoppers think it’s worth.

No price tags sounds a little nutty but anyone who remembers rationing will find it hard to stomach the $8 billion worth of edible food Aussies throw out every year. 

Inspired by the world’s first ‘surplus food supermarket’ in Denmark, the OzHarvest Market opened its doors today in Kensington.

With a philosophy of “take what you need, give if you can”, customers are encouraged to pay what they think the donated food is worth; and if you can’t afford it? Don’t sweat it.

Food that can no longer be sold by major supermarkets and food retailers is donated on a daily basis, with stock changing regularly, depending on what’s available.

OzHarvest founder and and chief executive Ronni Kahn says everything on the shelves was “within date” and has never seen the inside of a bin.

Produce, dried and frozen goods and even some basic essentials (like toothpaste and soap) can be found on the shelves. There’s even bread and pastries up for sale; baked the night before by refugees trained in artisan bread-making as part of the non-profit Bread and Butter Project.

Aussies currently waste 4 million tonnes of food each year, which is about 20 percent of what we purchase (or one out of every five grocery bags).  

Fast Food Facts 

• Up to 40 per cent of the average household bin is food waste
• $1,036 of food is thrown away each year by the average Australian household; that’s the equivalent of 375kg
• We annually produce enough food to feed approximately 60 million people but two million Australians still rely on food relief

Would you consider buying your food at an OzHarvest outlet?