SPAR Scotland tackling food waste by trialling Gander

In a move that is a first for the Scottish convenience store market, two SPAR Scotland stores have begun a trial with food waste app Gander.

Launching in SPAR Abronhill and SPAR Stonehouse, Gander is now available to customers in the local area.

Following Gander exhibiting at CJ Lang’s tradeshow last September in Aviemore, the new trial will run for a minimum of 12 weeks in both SPAR stores with the view to reducing food waste and offering customers the opportunity to buy a selection of fresh food at reduced prices.

Sonya Harper, Central Operations Director at SPAR Scotland said: “As a convenience store business, we feel it is important to reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in landfill.

“Gander has a great partnership with SPAR International and this trial is a direct result of exhibiting at our annual tradeshow in Aviemore last year.

“SPAR Stonehouse and SPAR Abronhill were selected as they are two of our Keep it Simple innovation stores and they offer the home delivery service Snappy Shopper. The link between Snappy Shopper and Gander is important because over time we are looking to sell reduced products on the Snappy Shopper platform giving our customers additional value as part of the rapid home delivery service already on offer.

“We are looking forward to seeing how the trial develops especially as it is the first in Scotland and we hope the introduction of Gander to Scotland and to SPAR Scotland stores will help enable us to reduce food waste and change shoppers buying habits.”

Stacey Williams, Head of Business Development at Gander, said: “We are delighted to partner with SPAR Scotland’s Abronhill and Stonehouse stores. Consumer confidence remains weak amid the ongoing cost of living crisis and this partnership will help to tackle the issue head on.

“The ability to use the Gander app in store will allow local consumers to save money on reduced food. It will also help them to cut back on food waste and, by doing so, contribute to a greater reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Too Good To Go app is available in all SPAR Scotland company owned stores and participating independent SPAR stores around Scotland. Gander can easily integrate into the store operation in conjunction with Too Good To Go.