Industry app has saved 7 million kg of food from waste

Tech startup Yume is working to prove that food waste prevention benefits both businesses and the environment. It has redistributed 7 million kilograms of surplus food from manufacturers to other businesses and charities that can use it. As a result, Yume has returned over $19 million to companies that use the platform to commercialise surplus food.

Tested by pilot partners Unilever, Mars Food and Nutrition and Kellanova, the technology also provides data to help manufacturers measure their environmental impact.

Kellanova ANZ Sales Director Ben O’Brien said, “In the first three months of using Yume technology, Kellanova sold 150,000 kilograms of excess food, at significantly increased returns.”

Yume’s tools are being used for surplus food sales across a range of product categories and brands, including Certified B Corporation, Unilever Australia and New Zealand.

Nick Bangs, Head of Country for Unilever Australia and New Zealand, said, “As one of the world’s biggest food producers, we want 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.

Unilever is committed to achieving its goal of halving food waste in its direct operations from factory to shelf by 2025. It has worked with Yume to help deliver on the goal, effectively commercialising surplus stock and reducing environmental impact. Since 2017, Unilever has redistributed over 498,733 kilograms of food and redistributed approximately 40.3 million litres of water and 3700 tonnes of CO₂.

Yume technology also supports donation of surplus food from manufacturers to their preferred food rescue organisations. The technology has donated an equivalent of 1,075,364 meals to people in need to date.