More than seven million kilograms of surplus food have been saved from landfill and redistributed using a sales and donation tech platform created by purpose led tech start-up Yume. Tested by pilot partners Unilever, Mars Food and Nutrition and Kellanova, companies across the food industry have begun implementing the solution.
Over $19 million was returned to companies who use the platform to commercialise surplus food.
Yume founder and CEO Katy Barfield said inefficient management of excess finished goods had been flying under the radar.
“It is a significant contributor to food waste and a major untapped sales opportunity for businesses.
“By plugging in to Yume, manufactures are selling 128 per cent more excess food with a 150 per cent increase in returns. The technology also provides data so manufacturers can measure their impact as they deliver on the triple bottom line,” said Barfield.
Kellanova ANZ sales director, Ben O’Brien said that within the first three months of using Yume technology, Kellanova sold 150,000 kilograms of excess food, at significantly increased returns.
“By digitising our processes and expanding our sales channels with Yume, we’re continuing to combat the environmental impacts of excess food, while seeing positive returns for the business,” said O’Brien.
Unilever ANZ head of country Nick Bangs said Unilever, which recently became a Certified B Corporation, wanted to protect and preserve food for everyone across our value chain.
“No one wants to see food go to waste, especially with the current cost of living challenges impacting so many Australians.
“We have a dedicated business waste squad focused on achieving our goal to halve food waste in our direct operations from factory to shelf by 2025. One of the key ways we’re delivering on this goal is through our work with Yume which has enabled us to efficiently commercialise surplus stock while reducing our environmental impact,” said Bangs.
Since 2017, Unilever has redistributed over 498,733 kilograms of food, and redistributed approximately 40.3 million litres of water and 3,700 tonnes of CO2.
Yume is encouraging businesses to trial the technology today, which also supports the donation of surplus food from manufacturers to preferred food rescue organisations. The technology has donated an equivalent of 1,075,364 meals to people in need to date.
