Asda Surplus Swap allows suppliers to offer unwanted food items such as leftover ingredients, trimmings or finished products to other suppliers that might have a use for them.
The supermarket hopes the new platform will help reduce food waste in its supply chain and it has committed to doubling the amount of food it redistributes by 2020.
It described the platform as being similar to the online classified ads service Gumtree. Details and images of the unwanted goods are uploaded through an app where any interested user can contact the supplier directly. Asda claims the system is an industry first.
“This industry-leading app will give our suppliers the opportunity to redistribute excess food that would otherwise go in the bin,” said Charlotte Cool, vice president of corporate affairs at Asda.
