Why more shoppers are turning to food rescue apps to save on groceries

A partnership with the app FlashFood is also diverting millions of pounds of food waste from landfills. Pat Foran reports for Consumer Alert.

Scarborough resident Crystal Tong has been using a food rescue app for the past few years to purchase grocery items nearing their best-before date at a discounted price.

“I am a single mother, and this allows me to buy high-quality products at a discounted price, a significant discount,” said Tong as she picked up items at The Real Canadian Superstore, where a FlashFood zone is located.

Shoppers use the FlashFood app to see what’s available for purchase, place their order, and pay online, then stop by the store to pick up their discounted items.

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The Loblaw group started its partnership with FlashFood five years ago, saving customers $238 million and diverting 86 million pounds of potential food waste from landfill sites.

According to Loblaw, the idea is to sell food nearing its expiry date at affordable prices to customers seeking a deal and, at the same time, reduce the amount of food waste.

In 2024, Loblaw said its group of stores, in conjunction with the app, helped save its customers more than $50 million.

“There is a tonne of value in the program whether you are buying meat, produce, or whatever it might be to build a meal or the whole meal,” said Evan Magee, the district manager of The Real Canadian Superstore’s Toronto locations.

One of the app’s most popular items is its produce bags. For $5, you can get about five pounds of fruits and vegetables. Loblaw says they sold 900,000 of them last year.

Magee showed examples on the app of pies, bagels and salads, all at about half price.

“For a $30 piece of fish, you’ll find this in the app for $15, which is an incredible value,” said Magee.

Retail analyst Bruce Winder said that as food prices continue to rise, consumers will look for more options to lower their grocery costs.

“Consumers have really identified with these kinds of apps,” said Winder.

Other food rescue apps like ‘Food Hero’ and ‘Too Good To Go’ also offer discount items to save money and prevent food waste.

“I think it’s a mega growth area, and I think you will see a number of apps playing in this field, whether it’s a restaurant or a grocer,” said Winder.

FlashFood is available in 850 different Loblaw stores and may be a good option to check out if you are trying to save money on your grocery bill.

The apps are free to download, but there may be service charges to use them. While many discounted products are available, many people search for deals on the app several times a day and the popular items go fast.