KUALA LUMPUR, November 21 – In a remarkable effort to combat food waste and extend support to vulnerable communities, foodpanda’s grocery store, pandamart, has undertaken a significant food surplus donation initiative. The primary beneficiaries of this initiative are the Food Aid Foundation and Kechara Soup Kitchen, organizations committed to food redistribution for those in need. This philanthropic partnership aims to reduce food wastage and provide essential nutrition to the less fortunate.
Since its partnership with the two non-governmental organizations in February of this year, pandamart has consistently addressed the critical issue of food surplus and wastage, donating a substantial 6,676 kg of food, equivalent to 16,486 meals. The surplus includes a focus on fresh produce, particularly vegetables, which often go to waste once their shelf life expires. This initiative aligns with the principles of World Food Day, celebrated every October 16, which seeks to raise global awareness about hunger and food security.
Shintaro Matsuno, Head of pandamart, emphasized their commitment to minimizing wastage while meeting customers’ expectations for ultra-fresh products. Despite best efforts to optimize orders and stock data, some surplus is inevitable. Hence, their collaboration with Food Aid Foundation and Kechara Soup Kitchen provides a crucial solution to redistribute edible surplus food to those in need. Malaysia faces a significant challenge of food wastage, with the United Nations Environment Programme reporting that 91 kg of household food waste is generated annually per person in the country, making it the ‘most wasteful’ in Southeast Asia.
Sadly, less than 10% of Malaysians are believed to comprehend the environmental impact of food waste. Rick Chee, Founder of Food Aid Foundation, expressed gratitude for foodpanda’s participation in their mission to reduce food wastage and provide nutritious meals to those in need. This unique partnership opens doors to further collaborations with similar companies, offering a total of 16,125 meals donated through foodpanda’s support. To date, pandamart has donated over 6,000 kgs of fresh produce, dried goods, and toiletries to Food Aid Foundation and Kechara Soup Kitchen.
The food redistribution process is streamlined with the participation of pandamart outlets in Mont Kiara, Subang, Setapak, KLCC, and Cheras. Each morning, these outlets assess fresh produce for quality and notify the partner organizations for collection and direct delivery to charity homes and B40 communities at the People’s Housing Projects (PPR). In honor of World Food Day, foodpanda has announced its plans to expand the food surplus donation campaign to more pandamart outlets, aiming to positively impact additional communities through this meaningful initiative.
