Supermarket WeFood opens its second store that sells food past its sell-by date

By ISN Editorial on 02/01/2017Comments Off on Supermarket WeFood opens its second store that sells food past its sell-by date

Danish Supermarket Wefood sells goods that regular supermarkets can no longer sell due to overdue ‘best before’ dates, incorrect labels or damaged packaging. The products found in Wefood are still edible and safe to consume according to the Danish food legislation, but have simply lost their value to the partner donating them. The first nine months of the operation sold more than 40 tons of food, which would otherwise have been destroyed.

Wefood’s range of products varies from day to day depending on the donations on each particular day. It is mainly food products sold at a significant discount of 30-50% of the market price. Unlike similar surplus supermarkets around Europe, Wefood is for everyone; whether you want to support the fight against famine, stop food waste or simply want to save money on your groceries. The project’s overall aspiration is to benefit consumers, impoverished countries and the environment.

Wefood’s volunteer staff served more than 10.000 customers and sold goods for a total amount of 250.000 DKR during the first two months. The profits contribute to DanChurchAid’s projects providing emergency aid and social protection schemes as well as projects promoting agro-ecological production.

The sale of expired food is legal in Denmark, where sellers have made it clear that there is no cause for alarm or immediate risk to the health of buyers. “We look, smell and grab the product to make sure it is still edible,” explains the director of the project, Bussell Chmeintan.

Foods sold at low prices up to 50% below the original price to not end up in the trash and donated to Wefood producers, export companies and local supermarkets. The collect its employees who are volunteers and supermarket profits are channeled to charitable organizations also endeavor undertaken by the non-profit organization DanChurchAid.

The idea of Wefood found imitators in England with the supermarket Real Junk Food Project opened in September near Leeds. However, the main goal is to help the poor and for that motto is “pay what you can and want.”

Also, since last February is prohibited by law in France to fly supermarkets unsold products. The shops are required to donate food to charities and food banks, rather than destroy them throwing up their bleach or to fly in landfills.

In a similar wavelength moves and Italy in the summer, when it passed a measure under which companies will offer expired food will not face sanctions, while paying less tax as much food they give. Also, farmers will be able to donate their products are not sold to charities.