This Tunisian tech startup is solving food waste management issues in Tunisia. The main solution it provides, is that it lets people buy discounted unsold and surplus food from coffeeshops, restaurants, and supermarkets, which would otherwise end up in landfills.
It is estimated by the United Nations that over one-third of the total food produced worldwide is thrown instead of eaten. Not only food but the waste, land and other resources that get into producing the same also go waste. What’s more concerning about food waste is the emission of greenhouse gases. It is reported that if food waste were a country, then it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world trailing behind China and the USA.
In Tunisia, it is reported by the Tunisian National Institute for consumption that food wasted in the country represents 5 percent of food expenditures per year (572 million dinars or US$197 million – 2018 Stats). There is definitely a real challenge and an increased need on better food waste management techniques.
Having said that, here we are shedding the light on a Tunisian promising food waste management startup that is working towards tackling food waste and loss in the MENA region.
Foodealz — What It Does
Foodealz is the first and leading solution in the MENA region to fight food waste by providing discounts on surplus good quality food items of food businesses (e.g. supermarkets, restaurants, bakeries, coffeeshops, etc.). The startup has already released its mobile application that is available on Google Play Store last June 2020.
The Foodealz solution has started to operate with more than 30 partners in Greater Tunis, including restaurants, coffeeshops and has so far reached over 5000 users.
How Does this Tunisian Solution Work?
Rim Elfahem, founder and CEO at Foodealz, mentioned that “using Foodealz is very EASY and takes less than 2 clics!” She then provided the instructions on how to use and execute the app, “First, your browse through nearby stores to find surplus good quality food items at very little prices. Second, you generate coupon once on store. In the next version that will be available both in IOS & Android, the user can book his order & pay online”.
Main Mission & Goals
Foodealz’s main mission is to reduce food waste not only in Tunisia but also in all the MENA region. Our goal is to help the purchasing power of the consumer while reducing the food waste and to help food businesses especially in these COVID-19 times make surplus revenue from the unsold otherwise wasted food.
Cofounders & The Story Behind Foodealz
Rim Elfahem, CEO, holds a master’s degree in software engineering from the École de Technologie Supérieure in Montreal, Canada and a degree in Telecommunications engineering from the Higher School of Communication of Tunis (Sup’Com).
Iskander El Amri, COO, is an industrial engineer with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A & M University in the United States.
As the cofounders were abroad, each time they were back in Tunisia, they noticed a raise in the groceries and food items prices & the shrinkage in the Tunisian food budget due to inflation. In the meantime, a lot of surplus food is being wasted that can be otherwise consumed. That’s when the idea of Foodealz is BORN!
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