New Grant in the Fight Against Food Waste
With a grant of NOK 5 million, Kavli Trust is extending its multi-year partnership with Sveriges Stadsmissioner to combat food waste and food poverty.
The foundation’s support will enable Sveriges Stadsmissioner (a Swedish network of city missions working to combat poverty and homelessness) to establish five new Matmissionen stores in 2025 and 2026, in areas of Sweden where the need for food assistance is greatest.
The sustainable grocery store concept allows people living in economic hardship to purchase surplus food donated by the retail sector at heavily reduced prices.
The stores, set to total 20 after the expansion, also redistribute food to organisations that support people who are unable to shop for or prepare their own meals.
New Opportunities for Food and People
Like Norway, Sweden aims to reduce per capita food waste by 50% by 2030. Despite this goal, the amount of food waste per person in Sweden has remained relatively stable since 2020.
At the same time, the number of Swedish households living in economic hardship is rising, meaning that the services offered by Matmissionen are in increasing demand across more regions.
OPENING MORE STORES: The new stores will handle around 2,000 tonnes of surplus food per year and improve food security for 15,000 new members.
The project aims to help reduce food waste while improving access to sufficient, nutritious food for people experiencing food poverty. Matmissionen also provides work training for individuals outside the labour market, and the establishment of new stores will create opportunities for even more people to gain valuable experience in areas ranging from customer service and cashier work to food handling, warehousing, and logistics.
As the stores are non-profit, the work training programmes for each participant can be tailored to their individual needs and development. Close, personalised support helps ensure that around one-third of participants go on to secure employment or pursue further studies.
Long-Term Partnership
Kavli Trust has previously supported a number of food rescue projects run by regional city missions that are part of Sveriges Stadsmissioner. This support has contributed to the establishment of several food distribution centres and the development of a logistics system for receiving and managing surplus food.
Read more: Continuing the Fight Against Food Poverty and Food Waste
Supporting projects that promote responsible consumption and production is one of Kavli Trust’s priority areas.
LESS FOOD WASTE: In 2024, the 15 Matmissionen stores received and redistributed more than 6,000 tonnes of surplus food.
“Sveriges Stadsmissioner is a strong and reliable organisation with which we have extensive experience, and we are delighted to be part of their work in the fight against food waste and food poverty,” says Ingrid Paasche, CEO of the Kavli Trust.
Paasche emphasises that long-term partnerships such as this reflect the foundation’s values.
“This approach ensures that, over time, we can help create positive ripple effects for both people and the environment,” she says.
By redistributing food to those experiencing food poverty and providing work training opportunities to people outside the labour market, the project also addresses social inequality and promotes inclusion – another key priority for Kavli Trust.
Research conducted by Matmissionen shows clear positive effects on the health, finances, and overall quality of life of those using the service.
A Major National Project
Once the five new stores are established in 2026, Sveriges Stadsmissioner plans further expansion of the concept.
The ambition is to open an additional five stores by the end of 2027, with the hope that support from Kavli Trust will act as a catalyst for further contributions.
About Sveriges Stadsmissioner and Matmissionen
- Sveriges Stadsmissioner works to combat poverty and homelessness in Sweden.
- Through a range of services offered by its ten regional city missions – including open meeting places, programmes for children and families, housing and care services, and work training for people far from the labour market – it supports individuals living in social or economic vulnerability.
- All city missions also have access to a logistics system for receiving and managing surplus food, which is redistributed through food bag schemes, community meeting places, and the social grocery store concept Matmissionen.
- Matmissionen was established by Stockholms Stadsmission in 2015 to combat food waste and food poverty, and now operates in nine areas across Sweden.
- It is a chain of social grocery stores combining ecological and social sustainability by selling surplus food from the retail sector at heavily reduced prices to people experiencing food poverty. The stores also provide work training for individuals outside the labour market.
- In 2024, Matmissionen handled approximately 6,000 tonnes of food, and 170 people completed its work training programme.
- Kavli Trust’s grant of NOK 5 million will contribute to the establishment of five new Matmissionen stores in 2025–2026. The aim is to reduce food waste, fight food poverty, and provide work training to more people.