Give residual streams a second life

Every year, one-third of all food produced worldwide—about 1.3 billion tons—is lost. This food waste has a massive impact on the environment, with unnecessary use of water, raw materials, and CO₂ emissions. It’s also a missed opportunity to create value. InstockMarket offers a solution by rescuing and repurposing these residual food streams.

InstockMarket is a foodservice wholesaler that connects supply and demand for residual products. Think of vegetables, fruits, and other food items that can no longer be sold through conventional channels. The reasons can vary: overproduction, cosmetic imperfections, packaging issues, an approaching expiration date, storage shortages, or products that simply didn’t perform as expected. The platform gives these products a second chance, preventing them from being wasted. It is the first B-Corp-certified foodservice wholesaler in the Netherlands, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, social impact, and transparency.

A valuable destination

“We collaborate with farmers, growers, and other suppliers—around 200 in total—who make these products available to the hospitality, catering, and retail sectors,” says Bart Roetert, co-founder of InstockMarket, along with Selma Seddik. Both are responsible for the company’s daily operations. “Some suppliers reach out occasionally to offer surplus products, while others deliver weekly,” Bart explains. “By smartly matching supply and demand, we ensure that as many products as possible find a valuable destination. Today, more than 700 customers rely on us for their purchases! We also inspire chefs and hospitality entrepreneurs to get creative with available ingredients, because the quality and taste of these products are often perfectly fine.”

Safety first

Getting started is simple. “Suppliers identify their residual products—such as those resulting from production errors, packaging defects, or unexpected demand shifts—and offer them to us,” Selma explains. “We collect these products and bring them to the Food Rescue Center, a 1,700 m² facility that serves as the heart of InstockMarket. Here, the incoming residual products are checked for quality, sorted, and stored daily. They are then listed online on InstockMarket.nl, where chefs can make their purchases.” Refrigerated units, freezers, and smart software ensure that product quality is maintained and that everything is processed efficiently. Precision is key. “All incoming products are checked according to the strict FSSC 22000 standards, an international benchmark for food safety,” Selma assures. “This standard gives businesses the confidence that we handle their surplus products safely and responsibly.”

Bart adds, “Our software also calculates the environmental impact of each product, including land and water use during production and CO₂ emissions. The data reveals how much impact is saved by rescuing these products instead of discarding them. We share this information with our suppliers and customers by adding it to the product details. About 70% of the rescued products are sold to the hospitality sector, 20% goes to charities like food banks, and the remaining 10%—when safety or quality cannot be guaranteed—is converted into energy through fermentation. Suppliers also receive compensation for the products sold through the platform, based on pre-agreed terms.”

Practical benefits

For businesses in the food industry, InstockMarket offers not only a sustainable solution but also practical advantages:

• Saving CO₂ emissions, land and water consumption: By giving food a second life, the emissions and consumption of land and water created during food production are not wasted unnecessarily. 
• Sustainable image: Actively preventing food waste helps businesses enhance their sustainable reputation and create value for customers and partners.
• A fitting destination for products: Many items find their way to the hospitality sector, where chefs and entrepreneurs use them to their full potential.

Join us!

“The food industry plays a crucial role in fighting food waste,” say the founders. Selma adds, “Companies looking to give their residual streams a new purpose can get started with us right away and contribute to a more sustainable world.” Bart concludes, “Together, we’re helping build a circular economy by turning residual streams into valuable products that are fully utilized. Do you see opportunities to reduce food waste while increasing the value of your products? Sign up!”

Instockmarket.nl