Mail Online

Firm saves £51m of food from the bin

By Molly Clayton

MANY everyday products can be bought at half price – simply because their packaging is out of date.

After finding success in Europe, an online grocery store has now launched in the UK. It sources items that would otherwise be discarded because of changes in brand marketing.

‘Think of seasonal goods, such as Christmas-branded chocolate or fizzy drinks that have had their packaging updated,’ said Karl Andersson, founder of retailer Motatos.

‘If a brand changes its packing or name, other retailers stop taking the old versions. There’s nothing wrong with the goods and they usually have months left on the use-by date.’

He added: ‘We stop them from being thrown away and sell to families that want them.’

The company – which was founded in 2014 in Sweden and expanded into Denmark, Finland and Germany – claims to have saved £51million of food from going to landfill worldwide.

In the UK, the retailer says it has saved £798,000 worth of food from going to waste in the past six months.

It buys direct from producers such as Unilever, Nestle and Coca-Cola and claims to be up to 60 per cent cheaper than its rivals.

One of its best-selling items is two bottles of Heinz mayonnaise for £2.30.

In Tesco, just one bottle – in up-to-date packaging – is £2.50. Similarly, a box of Kellogg’s Special K cereal is £1.50 at Motatos, compared to £3 in Sainsbury’s. Starbucks cappuccino pods are sold for £2, while at Asda they are £4.50.

Motatos also sells Sprite, Fairy, Dove and Colgate products in old packaging.

With food prices rising at their fastest rate since 1977, Mr Andersson said: ‘Families are struggling to make ends meet. We’re here to make it easier for them to access the food they love at much lower prices.

‘On average, consumers are saving 60 per cent on household staples.

‘We know this won’t solve all the issues the nation is facing but it’s a simple switch that can make a difference.’

China In The Dock

en-gb

2023-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/282544432441279

dmg media (UK)