FoodoBox is an innovative mobile application that aims to reduce food waste. It’s the first company in Bulgaria that tackles this issue and serves as a bridge between the end-user and the business. The app is offered on the Bulgarian market, and its main mission is to help us throw away less food. The project is based on an already existing, successful business model, which is present in several countries in Northern Europe and the United States.
Food (waste) fight
The idea came from Jane Dimitrova, who lives in Italy. There she came across a similar application that is very popular in some Western countries. Returning to Bulgaria, she saw an opportunity and adapted the already operating business model to the Bulgarian market with the help of other young entrepreneurs.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), unused food worldwide is 1.3 billion tons per year. At the same time, 690 million people across the globe are starving.
Staggeringly, almost one-third of all food produced is discarded, which translates to economic losses, a worsening food crisis, and higher CO2 emissions.
Food waste is a global issue that affects everyone, from ordinary households to shops and restaurants, and organizations like the UN, with its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, are increasingly prioritizing the issue, reflecting a growing global awareness.
FoodoBox: a box of surprises
FoodoBox offers customers access to excess foods via a “surprise box” around their cities at a reduced price of at least 40%. The food ranges from cooked restaurant dishes, surplus items from lunch menus, unsold bakery goods, and much more. You can also find products with a close expiration date from supermarkets or grocery stores. With each box, the company tries to reduce harmful CO2 emissions.
The app was officially launched in June 2021 and has already amassed over 200 business partners who sell food at a discount in 11 Bulgarian cities, including Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas. Foodobox is currently the third most downloaded application in the Bulgarian App Store under the category ‘Food & Drinks,’ with over 10,000 downloads so far. People often find out about the initiative from friends who have already bought a surprise box.
The start-up’s business model is based on sales revenue, and if it all goes to plan, the company hopes to start turning a profit by the end of 2022. The company is considering incorporating a donation option for surplus products purchased through the platform as one of its next steps.
FoodoBox is not only an app where you can purchase some delicious meals or a successful business model – it is a way of living that helps maintain a sustainable envrionment.
See Also: From Bulgaria With Love: Vegetables
