Embracing circular thinking and the power of partnerships, we are making changes across all parts of our value chain to prevent edible food from being wasted and instead redistributed through our food rescue partners to reduce food insecurity in New Zealand communities. We are also proud founding supporters of Kai Commitment, a not-for-profit organisation that works with businesses, government and aligned partners across Aotearoa to reduce food waste and create a food system that nourishes people, supports communities and protects our environment.

We apply an end‐to‐end approach to how we responsibly manage food waste. We support our farmers upstream to reduce food waste to landfill through initiatives such as the Odd Bunch and in our own operations we partner with more than 30 food rescue organisations to divert surplus food to communities in need. Where non-edible surplus food remains, our stores divert this to pig farmers. Food that cannot be shared for human or animal consumption, is then sent to organics recycling to process into a range of products including nutrient rich compost and fertiliser.

We also educate and inspire our customers to reduce food waste, including through initiatives with

Love Food Hate Waste New Zealand. If you are looking for ways to reduce food waste at home, their clever tips are a great place to start!

We provide funding grants to our food rescue partners so that they can collect our safe, high-quality, unsold food and distribute it to those in need. During our financial year 2026 we donated more than $1 million in cash operating grants to about 30 food rescue organisations. Our customers gave about $150,000 more to food rescue from a ‘round up’ at our checkouts

Food Rescue funding application

Food rescue organisations can apply for food rescue funding online.
DO NOT apply for this funding unless you are an eligible food rescue organisation currently collecting from our stores.

During our Financial Year 2027 (1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027) there will be up to 4 food rescue funding rounds. We would prefer to receive a single application per year per food rescue organisation.