Portuguese retailer Continente, part of the MC retail group, has joined food waste prevention app Too Good To Go's new initiative, 'Observar, Smeirar, Tavar' (Look, Smell, Taste).
The initiative aims to help consumers better identify and understand the actual shelf life of products.
Food Waste Initiatives
Committed to fighting food waste and raising awareness among consumers, the retailer is expanding its collaboration with Too Good To Go, whose app already has over one million users in Portugal.
In response to demand from consumers for brands to be more active in combatting food waste, Continente plans to roll out new products featuring the Too Good To Go seal in October 2022.
This seal, developed by Too Good To Go and already circulating on products and shelves all over Europe, asks consumers to rely on their sight, smell, and taste to evaluate the freshness of a product.
According to a recent study entitled Reflect. Rethink. Reconsider. Why Food Waste is Everybody's Problem by CapGemini, in the last year, there has been an 80% increase in online searches to understand how to extend the life of food at home.
Pedro Lago, director of circular economy and sustainability projects at MC, said, "As a leading food retailer in the country, we have made this commitment - to combat food waste - to the community and the environment.
"Our vision is to achieve 0% waste, but we are aware that this is a mission that must be carried out collectively, with everyone's participation and contribution. This partnership interconnects all parties and promotes a win-win dynamic: the business, the consumer and the planet."
Too Good To Go At Continente
Currently, users of the Too Good To Go app can purchase Magic Boxes with a selection of surplus food that has not been sold during normal store hours from the take away and bakery sections at any of the 41 Continente stores.
By purchasing these Magic Boxes, customers can avail of a 70% reduction compared to the value of the products in store.
"Our users are aware of the importance of a more conscious and sustainable consumption, and see in our application a cost benefit, which is also very relevant. A simple and practical way to acquire quality products at much more affordable prices, something that makes today, more than ever, a huge difference in the budget of families," commented Nuno Plácido, CEO of Too Good To Go Portugal.
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
