Save-On-Foods said Thursday it is now going the extra mile to reduce food waste. 

Through its food waste diversion programs, Save-On-Foods has undertaken initiatives in stores across Western Canada to divert surplus and potentially wasted food away from landfills and redirecting it to the best use in a consistent, safe and measurable way.

In addition to its original full organic diversion programs in areas like Metro Vancouver, Save-On-Foods has partnered with Food Banks BC, Mesh Exchange, Loop Resources and a number of local charity partners in an effort to reach their ultimate goal of having zero surplus and potentially wasted food waste going to landfill. 

“We have now rolled out our food waste diversion program in nearly 100 of our 170 stores,” said Darrell Jones, president of Save-On-Foods.

“We have been composting perishable waste where possible for a number of years, but we knew we could do better. This new goal furthers our commitment to insuring all unsaleable food in our operation is put to the best and highest use. We look forward to expanding our initiative across all of our stores in Western Canada.”

In the first three months of the FoodMesh pilot, the company has provided perishable food for over 250,000 healthy meals to those in need.

Across the country, over 1,500 family farms and thousands of food insecure residents are benefitting directly from this work.

“With close to 1.5 million metric tonnes valued at close to $6.4 billion dollars of surplus edible food wasted each year in BC and close to 100,000 individuals struggling to put food on the table, perishable food recovery with our partner, Save-On-Foods has been a true game-changer for food banks in BC,” said Laura Lansink, executive director, Food Banks BC.

“Now, fresh, healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry and dairy are made available to every person at risk of hunger rather than ending up as waste.”