Supermarket Recovery Program

The Supermarket Recovery Program (SRP) is the first of its kind in Canada, and offers a unique and sustainable solution to waste and food insecurity problems, thanks to food retailer cooperation. The operation model that respects banner requirements and ensures the protection of consumers was developed by Moisson Montréal through a pilot project tested for two years. The Quebec Food Banks network (Banques alimentaires du Québec, BAQ) presently coordinates the implementation of the SRP with other Moisson throughout the province.

For the past 6 years, Moisson Outaouais has been operating the SRP, allowing it to recovery more than 36,000 kg of perishable highly nutritious food each month in more that 28 regional grocery stores. A variety of products is recovered through the SRP, but the most interesting part of the program is the recuperation of unsold meat still fit for consumption. Meat is indeed a precious commodity for food aid organizations, because it is rare, expensive and very nourishing. Since organizations have been receiving meat from Moisson Outaouais, their food purchasing budget has been greatly reduced. They can therefore concentrate their resources on people’s food autonomy.

In 2020-2021, thanks to the SRP, in the Ottawa Valley, 443,467 kg of perishable goods have been directed towards the food aid chain instead of terminating in waste containers.

The SRP offers a win-win solution by eliminating grocery waste of edible food products, while allowing deprived households to be fed decently.