Context
Every year, supermarkets receive large amounts of food that is still good to eat but is thrown away. Converting this potential waste into food donations represents a major opportunity to both reduce waste and tackle food insecurity. However, setting up an effective food donation programme poses several challenges, particularly in terms of logistics, compliance and coordination between stakeholders.
A major Belgian retailer called on Intysify's expertise to structure and optimize its food donation programme, ensuring more efficient management, better traceability and compliance with current regulations, particularly those of the FASFC (Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain).
The main objective of the assignment was to optimize the management of food donations to maximize their impact while ensuring compliance and minimizing waste. Specifically, it was expected to improve the allocation of donations, ensure a more fluid and equitable distribution between beneficiary organizations, and improve traceability to ensure compliance with health standards and make the process safer. Secondly, it was to simplify and standardize processes to facilitate operational management in shops and warehouses. It also aimed to increase collaboration with local associations and food banks to extend the reach of the program.
Our impact.
To meet these challenges, Intysify worked on several strategic but tangible areas. First, the team optimized the logistics and allocation of donations by implementing a data collection tool for more efficient redistribution of unsold food based on the real needs of the associations. This has streamlined internal processes and reduced waste. At the same time, in-depth work was carried out on traceability and compliance. A tracking system was set up to ensure full traceability of donations in accordance with FASFC requirements. To support this change, Intysify also trained the store and warehouse teams on better ways of managing unsold food, ensuring that the new procedures were more easily adopted.
The mission also focused on standardizing practices across the network by introducing harmonized protocols to ensure simplified and consistent management of food donations. Improved communication between stores, warehouses and beneficiary associations helped improve the coordination and responsiveness of the whole system. Finally, Intysify helped the client develop new partnerships with local food banks and associations, thereby expanding the distribution network for unsold food and maximizing its social impact.
Thanks to this support, the chain has significantly reduced food waste by turning its surplus into a valuable resource for local associations. Improving traceability and compliance has ensured a safe and efficient process, while optimizing distribution has ensured that food reaches beneficiaries according to their real needs.
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