New grocery store aims to reduce food waste

With support from Kavli Trust, Skåne Stadsmission will open Matmissionen, a social grocery store focusing on sustainability both socially and environmentally.

“Everyone should be able to afford proper food. This is our contribution to reducing food waste, while also providing long-term, sustainable support to more people in vulnerable situations,” says Alireza Mobasheri, Regional Manager for Social Enterprises at Skåne Stadsmission.

The store will open in October, in collaboration with co-founder Willys and Kavli Trust, which is the main partner of Skåne Stadsmission.

The Kavli Group also produces food in Sweden. As a result, part of the profits is distributed by Kavli Trust to charitable causes in neighbouring countries.

Two million NOK from Kavli Trust

“Kavli Trust is proud to collaborate with Skåne Stadsmission. We are pleased to contribute to this important expansion of their work,” says Guro Sundsby, Grant Manager for Sweden at Kavli Trust.

This year, Kavli Trust has contributed nearly two million NOK to the development of Skåne Stadsmission’s food centre and distribution channels.

According to Mobasheri, there is a significant need to scale up capacity in this area.

Widespread food poverty

Up to two-thirds of the Stadsmission’s work involves helping people meet basic needs, such as food.

“Every day we meet people who cannot afford food. People come to us for their only hot meal of the day, or to collect a food parcel to stretch their household budget and fill the fridge. Food poverty in Skåne is a reality,” he states.

The property owner, Atrium Ljungberg, also supports the establishment of the store.

The proceeds cover the costs of safe food handling in logistics and the supply chain, while also ensuring the continued distribution of free food parcels to families with children who need them.

Saving food from being wasted

Matmissionen is a store concept developed by Stockholms Stadsmission in collaboration with Axfood. Here, food that would otherwise be thrown away is salvaged and sold at a third or less of the usual retail price through a membership system.

Matmissionen is open to members with low incomes who struggle to make ends meet in regular supermarkets.

“In other Matmissionen stores across the country, non-members can also shop, but at full price,” says Alireza Mobasheri.

“Since the need in Malmö is so great, we will initially open exclusively to members to ensure that the food reaches those who need it most.”

Members also have access to support from the Stadsmission’s social workers and legal advisors to help improve their opportunities for a better future.

Additionally, the stores offer work training opportunities for people outside the labour market.

A concrete way to make a difference

Matmissionen is a registered food business in Sweden and complies with all relevant food-handling regulations.

The goods sold are donations from other food retailers and producers, consisting of food that would otherwise be wasted due to overproduction or approaching best-before dates.

“We want to extend our sincere thanks to all suppliers who choose to donate food to us rather than throw it away. Ensuring that food waste is put to good use is a very tangible way to contribute to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals in Agenda 2030,” says Mobasheri.

“Fantastic to contribute”

“We look forward to seeing the store in operation. This initiative will impact many people, while also being beneficial for the environment and the climate,” says Sundsby.

Kavli Sweden has a factory in Eslöv, Skåne.

“It feels fantastic for us to be involved and support Skåne Stadsmission in this project,” says Jessica Sehlin, HR and Communications Director at Kavli Sweden.