Melbourne based food waste start-up Forkful has received a local government grant to launch its platform across 27 suburbs in Melbourne’s southeast.
Forkful was founded in 2020 by Natalie Sarau and Simone Marini. It is a digital marketplace that connects hospitality venues and food retailers with consumers, to selling surplus food at a discounted price.
The Circular Economy Living Grant from the City of Casey is the first major roll-out of the platform, after a trial earlier this year in the City of Darebin in Melbourne’s north.
Sarau said, “Our trial run earlier this year was an incredible learning curve for us. We were able to see that the demand was there, and it gave us an invaluable opportunity to further streamline and simplify the process for consumers and business owners.”
Forkful works directly with businesses including cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and food retailers, allowing them to offer surplus food – that would otherwise go to waste – at a discounted rate to the local consumers. Consumers can browse the Forkful website to see what’s available in their local area.
“As the largest and fastest growing municipality in Melbourne, we’re thrilled to be launching in the City of Casey in 2023. We’re in the process of connecting with local businesses to get them on board with our mission to divert delicious surplus food from landfill and into the mouths of hungry local consumers.
“This grant and subsequent launch are an exciting step towards our goal of rolling out to Greater Melbourne within the next 12 months.
“Times are tough right now, so if we can get extra dollars in the pockets of business owners, save food from landfill, and help consumers get cheaper meals, then it’s a win for all involved,” said Sarau.
Sarau said the trial program showed 75 per cent of purchases were made by people that hadn’t been to the venue they purchased from before, creating more opportunities for local businesses to connect with new consumers in their area.
“Everyone has a part to play in creating a more circular economy and lessening our impact on the environment. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Forkful and we’re looking forward to connecting with hospitality venues and business owners across Australia to further our reach and increase our impact in the months to come,” said Sarau.
