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NEWS 450,000KG OF SURPLUS FOOD SOLD IN WASTE-WAR VENTURE A partnership to tackle commercial food waste in Australia is said to be “successfully selling” high-quality surplus food that might have otherwise gone to waste. Yume, an online marketplace for high quality surplus food, has teamed up with waste and recycling company Suez, to offer food manufacturers an option to get a financial return on surplus products. Katy Barfield, founder of Yume, says her company is seeing powerful results using its technology to offer an innovative market for surplus food. “Several multinational companies who are also Suez customers have now listed high-quality surplus food on Yume and we are working with them to ensure those products find a new avenue to market and are consumed as intended,” she said. “These companies join our network of over 500 food manufacturers, wholesalers and importers that list and sell quality stock through our online marketplace.” Only formed a few months ago, the partnership with Suez, according to Yume, has resulted in the sale of 450,285kg of surplus food which has returned almost $700,000 to these businesses. Yume is expecting this number to grow as the market adjusts to the coronavirus impact. These results, says the company, add significantly to its growing impact. To date, Yume claims to have provided a new route to market for close to two million kg of food returning more than $6 million to Australian businesses and farmers. “One of the companies, Patties Foods, joined the war on waste and listed a surplus consignment of caramel slices,” Ms Barfield said. “Yume identified a new avenue to market their caramel slices and sold the product to independent retailers and caterers all around Australia, getting them a great return. “Importantly, our work together is having a positive impact on the planet. The partnership has saved water and carbon dioxide equivalent to saving the water of 519,560 showers and taking 195 cars off the road for a year, and this is just the beginning.” DECLINING FISH STOCKS DRIVE DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD Research released by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) last month reveals the importance of education on the labelling of sustainable seafood, as well as the desire for such information. While Australia is often known as a nation of seafood lovers and home to some of the best seafood in the world, a quarter of Australians are consuming less than five years ago. This increased to four in 10 among 18-24-year-olds. As a more environmentally conscious population than ever before, says MSC, it’s no surprise that the primary reason for this dip is not just price perception, but concern for declining fish populations and the effects of fishing on the ocean. Seventy-eight per cent of surveyed seafood consumers say protection of fish is vital to ensure the next generations can enjoy it future years. Many are already said to be using their purchase power to conserve fish stocks, with more than one-fifth of respondents saying they have switched to a brand or product that says it helps protect the oceans or fish, and another 33 per cent saying they would “take the plunge” in future. “Concern for our ocean is driving Australians to ‘vote with their forks’ for sustainable seafood,” MSC Oceania and Singapore Program Director Anne Gabriel said. “Sales in Australia of sustainable seafood with the MSC’s blue fish tick label have more than doubled in the last five years thanks to the collective action of seafood consumers, retailers, brands, scientists, the fishing industry and celebrity chefs. “As consumers, we’re bombarded with so many mixed messages about what to buy and what not to buy. When it comes to seafood, the science- based blue fish tick label is being trusted more and more as a simple and empowering way to recognise and reward sustainable fishing efforts globally. Those concerned about climate change can be assured that sustainable seafood is a healthy, low carbon animal protein. You can find the blue fish tick across a wide range of price points to suit every budget, on canned, frozen and fresh fish.” With 70 per cent of respondents agreeing supermarkets’ and brands’ claims need to be independently labelled, ALDI Australia Seafood Buying Director Rebecca Eichfeld says having sustainably sourced seafood on shelves and in freezer cabinets is vitally important. “We work with the MSC to empower our customers to choose seafood, which is not only delicious and healthy, but good for our oceans too,” she said. “Well-managed and sustainable fishing is essential for the future health of our marine ecosystems. Independent certifications and labels such as the blue fish tick ensure we can enjoy seafood now and be confident there’ll be plenty more to enjoy in the future. ALDI is proud to offer the largest range of own- brand seafood products carrying the MSC blue fish tick of any Australian supermarket, and to be recognised as Mid-Sized Retailer of the Year in the MSC’s Sustainable Seafood Awards Australia 2020.” 14 RETAIL WORLD AUG, 2020