Tech-Enabled Food Waste Reduction

Sobeys Uses FoodHero to Redirect Surplus Grocery Inventory

Tech-enabled food waste reduction is helping Sobeys keep surplus groceries in circulation while reducing the amount of edible food sent to landfills. Through programs including FoodHero, available in more than 850 stores across Canada, customers can purchase discounted surplus products before they become waste. In fiscal 2026, shoppers purchased 2.3 million kilograms of food through the platform, while Sobeys also donated 40.6 million pounds of food and supported more than 2,600 local charities. Together, these efforts helped Empire reduce food loss and waste by 50.3% compared with its 2016 baseline.

For grocery retailers, combining digital discount platforms with donation networks creates opportunities to recover value from excess inventory while meeting sustainability targets. These programs can also attract price-conscious consumers, strengthen community partnerships and reduce disposal costs, demonstrating how waste-reduction strategies can deliver both environmental and commercial benefits.

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