The Netherlands’ Crookedest Supermarket in Utrecht

De 'Kromste Supermarkt Van Nederland' is open at Utrecht Central this week. No Waste Army and NS Stations opened the temporary supermarket on Monday 7 September. It is located near platforms 18 and 19. The store will remain open throughout 'Verspillingsvrije Week 2026', which runs from 7 to 13 September this year.

The supermarket sells fruit and vegetables with an unconventional appearance. Their shape or size often means these products do not make it into shops. In most cases, however, there is nothing wrong with their quality. No Waste Army wants to draw attention to food waste and, together with consumers, save as much good food as possible.

From rejected to sold

The supermarket stocks products including crooked cucumbers and small pears. Other fruit and vegetables are also available. Regular supermarkets often reject these products because of appearance standards. Due to the drought, for example, pears remained smaller this year. Their size may be different, but their quality remains good.

The store also sells shelf-stable products made from rescued harvests. Visitors can buy apple juice, potato crisps and pickled red onions. For the latter, No Waste Army works with Oos Kesbeke. Signs next to the products explain why growers face rejection and what the consequences can be for farmers.

Thibaud van der Steen is co-founder of No Waste Army. He finds it striking that appearance carries so much weight. Farmers often care for their crops for an entire growing season, yet they may still receive less money because their produce has a different shape.

“It is actually absurd that we are opening a supermarket for food that does not meet our beauty standards. A farmer can spend an entire season carefully growing a product, only for it to be rejected because of its appearance. It is like working hard for a month and then having your employer tell you at the end of the month: you will receive 60 per cent of your salary, but not the other 40 per cent. We are proving that consumers do want this food and that supermarkets need to stop body-shaming fruit and vegetables.”

Taking part outside Utrecht

During Verspillingsvrije Week, the store sells individual fruit and vegetables. It also offers a range of shelf-stable products to take home. Travellers can easily pick up something for their journey as well.

People outside Utrecht can also contribute to the campaign. Boxes containing rescued products are available via nowastearmy.nl/kromste-supermarkt. The same website also allows people to donate vegetables to the Voedselbank. No Waste Army also offers boxes containing fresh and shelf-stable products, which it delivers throughout the Netherlands.

During the campaign week, boxes are also available through Too Good To Go. Consumers can order them via the app. In this way, No Waste Army aims to save as much food as possible across the Netherlands. The campaign target is 100,000 kilos.

More information: No Waste Army