A new supermarket in Copenhagen, Denmark, is now making a name for selling surplus or damaged food for a very low price. The said store aims to cut food waste in the country.
According to Metro, the WeFood supermarket, which is located at Amagerbrogade 151, sells good and produce at a rate that is 50 percent lower than other supermarkets in the country. It was reportedly made possible through the efforts of the group called Folkekirkens Nodhjaelp.
Since Feb. 22, volunteers from this group go around supermarkets and gather together products which are already expired. Metro said these efforts have already reduced food waste by as much as 25 percent.
Folkekirkens Nodhjaelp's Per Bierre told Independent that this is the "first of its kind" in the country. He claimed that their project is not only aimed at helping low-income buyers but also address the problem of food waste.
"Many people see this as a positive and politically correct way to approach the issue," Bierre said. He also noted that they already have deals with supermarket chains and importers of various products in the country to better run WeFood.
Bierre claimed that they eventually want to reduce as much as 700,000 tons of food waste annually in the country. This plan is greatly supported by the government.
"It's ridiculous that food is just thrown out or goes to waste," said Danish Minister for Food and the Environment Eva Kjer Hansen in the Independent report. "It is bad for the environment and it is money spent on absolutely nothing."
On its official website, WeFood said the first store was set up after they were able to crowdfund about 1 million Danish Krone ($147,000). "It came from the sale of public shares. At the same time many people wanted to be a volunteer in WeFood or otherwise help the store," it noted.
