Online against food waste

On 23 May, Instock launched an online marketplace against food waste! With InstockMarket.nl, Instock connects surpluses and imperfect products to the hospitality industry. The products are collected at the new food rescue center; the sorting center where everything is checked and put online. Chefs can order what is 'in stock' online on a daily basis. In this way, the company wants to stimulate the hospitality industry to serve what is available in the Netherlands. 

From pilot to realisation

The concept has been running for a year and a half as a pilot. The founders Selma Seddik, Bart Roetert and Freke van Nimwegen are now convinced that it is possible. "The hospitality industry is a good solution for the surpluses and imperfect products in our country. If the regular trade is no longer willing or able to accept it, we can use InstockMarket.nl to take over the products and offer them to chefs. The chefs we work with are flexible and creative and make culinary creations from products that would otherwise have been thrown away." In addition, at least 30% of what is collected is donated to charities such as the Voedselbank.

Chain cooperation

More than a quarter of all food is wasted in the Netherlands, which is about 1.8 to 2.5 million tonnes in the entire food chain. Food production has a major impact on the earth and by wasting it we unnecessarily burden the environment. Toine Timmermans, director of Foundation Together Against Food Waste confirms: "Initiatives such as InstockMarket.nl are desperately needed. The only way to come up with solutions is by entering into collaborations throughout the food chain".