Discovering Budget-Friendly Grocery Solutions: How Foodello is Tackling Food Waste in Belgium

2024-07-26 20:20:00

Finding tips and good deals for shopping at low prices is the challenge for many families, who juggle between the promotions of different stores and applications like Too Good to Go, which offer to buy unsold items before they expire and/or end up in the trash.

Belgians still waste too much: between “best before” and “use by” dates, there’s a significant difference.

Foodello offers an alternative, as the site provides products that have not been purchased by stores from suppliers, but which are not necessarily close to the expiration date. It features food products as well as cleaning or personal care items, with discounts that can exceed 70%. “Foodello is part of Fiksuruoka, a Finnish company founded in 2016. With our online shop, we strive to reduce food waste while providing our customers with a wide range of affordable food and household items, the brand announces. The assortment of our store mainly consists of excess lots and surplus goods that we purchase from producers, importers, and wholesalers. The lots we sell have not found their way to store shelves and are at risk of becoming waste. This can happen because a product’s production has stopped, the packaging has changed, or the expiration date is approaching.“

From its warehouse located in Westzaan, the Netherlands, Foodello offers home deliveries throughout Belgium, via PostNL. “All products we sell can be stored at room temperature“, Foodello adds.

We explored the site to analyze this seemingly enticing offer. First, we notice that many brands are rather unknown to the general public. The offers change almost daily based on available stock and new arrivals, so it’s essential to take the time to compare them with the sites of traditional sellers to see if they sell these lesser-known brands.

Food waste: Belgium is one of the worst offenders!

The best offer we found was tapioca pearls from the brand WuFuYuan, sold for €1.30 instead of €7, a discount of -86%, but with a very close expiration date. The same applies to water from the brand Badoit (-81%).

Another strong point is the considerable amount of organic products that are usually quite expensive and sold in specialized stores. We also found some baby products, like diapers at -43%. However, in this case, it is not an extraordinary discount, as stores and supermarkets compete with offers throughout the year, often through buy 2 + 2 free deals.

For pets, there were also good offers with kibble having far-off expiration dates (November or December), but featuring rather lesser-known brands. If your dog or cat has specific habits, it will be necessary to check the site regularly, as you never know.

Overall, we can say that the offers are interesting, but they are more about good deals that allow stocking up a bit or testing out certain brands. For big brands, it remains worthwhile to monitor ongoing promotions in the largest stores, as the difference is usually quite slim.

Future Trends in Sustainable Shopping and Food Waste Reduction

As families strive to find budget-friendly shopping solutions, the rise of innovative platforms like Foodello signals a shift in consumer behavior towards sustainability. These platforms not only offer substantial discounts but also tackle the pressing issue of food waste by providing products that retailers couldn’t sell, often due to branding or packaging changes, rather than nearing expiration.

With Belgium facing significant food waste challenges, the growth of such platforms is timely. The conscious consumer is increasingly looking for ways to reduce waste while saving money, leading to a surge in services that promote the sale of surplus goods. This trend is likely to persist, with more companies emerging to address the food surplus issue, allowing consumers to make more ethical purchasing decisions.

Additionally, as consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of their choices, there is an increasing demand for organic and eco-friendly products. Platforms like Foodello are already responding by offering a range of organic items that were once exclusive to specialty stores, making sustainable shopping more accessible. This integration of sustainability into everyday shopping habits is expected to grow, influencing major retailers to adapt their strategies as well.

Another trend is the shift towards local sourcing. As consumers become more health-conscious, they are showing a preference for locally sourced products, which tend to have a lower carbon footprint. Online marketplaces may start to emphasize local goods, further connecting consumers with their communities and promoting transparency in the supply chain.

Moreover, the popularity of collaborative consumption models will likely increase, wherein consumers participate in sharing resources and reducing waste. Services that allow individuals to share food, tools, or even household items could emerge, contributing to a culture of sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

As shopping habits evolve and the pressure to reduce waste intensifies, consumers can expect a more diverse array of options that combine savings with ethical considerations. Retailers that embrace these changes will not only meet the demands of today’s conscious consumer but will also contribute to a more sustainable future.