New FlashfoodApp Helps Fight Food Waste And Offers Grocery Savings For Consumers
Based out of Toronto, the Flashfood App is the newest way for Canadians to save money on groceries.
Oh, and if you are from Michigan or Wisconsin you may want to keep reading because you’re included too!
Would you buy near expired food products for 50% off for grocery savings and help conquer food waste?
If you just answered YES then the Flashfood app is definitely for you.
Sign Up For The Flashfood App To Get A Freebie
Honestly, right from the start, I will tell you that if you buy reduced products sign up for the Flashfood app now.
Every person who signs up gets $5 credit which is a freebie offered by Flashfood for new app customers.
DID YOU KNOW?
160 000 000 000 pounds of food in North America end up in the landfill
The Problem – Food Waste in landfills turns to methane gas
The Diversion – Retailers stocking based on need and working with agencies such as the food bank.
The Solution – Keeping as much food out of landfill by offering it at 50% off to consumers when it is close to expiry.
Grocery Savings in Canada
Groceries are one of the biggest expenses next to paying your mortgage or rent so of course cutting costs is a priority for many people.
When coupon savings apps such as Checkout51 came out Canadians jumped on the app wagon because any grocery savings are a bonus.
The Flashfood app is the same although their focus is on food waste in Canada and working with grocery stores and consumers to combat this problem.
After years of blogging over 300 grocery related posts for Canadians on CBB in my Ultimate Grocery Guide food waste became of great importance to me.
Both my wife and I shop the reduced rack at the grocery store all the time.
It doesn’t stop there.
We scour the grocery store for any reduced stickers in particular 50% off stickers at our local President’s Choice Loblaws stores such as Zehrs and RCSS.
Those grocery savings are huge for our monthly budget which is what has helped keep it so low over the years.
Related: How much should my grocery budget be?
It has also allowed us to eat foods we typically wouldn’t purchase because the prices are far too expensive for our budget.
This also ties in with the solution of the Flashfood App which allows consumers a larger variety of food choices.
By selling this food at 50% off the retail price through Flashfood, grocers are able to recover costs (i.e.: reduce shrink), and significantly reduce their carbon footprint.
Consumers are able to take advantage of healthier food items like produce, meat and prepared meals that they would ordinarily deem too expensive. – Flashfood and Food Waste in Canada
Can you earn PC Optimum Points On Your Flashfood App online order?
No, you cannot earn PC Optimum Points which may be a shortcoming however the savings are huge.
However, under the settings tab on the app, they do as for your PC Loyalty card number.
The reason for this is that they want to fill up their fridge with deals that you’ll actually want to buy.
In order for them to do that they want to learn about your historic purchases from your points card information.
As loyal PC customers, we already have a PC Elite MasterCard that helped us earn almost 5 million PC Optimum Points.
This is why we shop at grocery stores that fall under the Loblaws umbrella.
The great part about taking the liberty of buying reduced food items is that we are helping to control food waste in Canada.
In return consumers who buy these products that are about to expire save money.
Flashfood App 101
What is the Flashfood App?
With over 24 employees on the Flashfood App team, this is not a small empire it’s growing and will reach various heights since costs are getting expensive for Canadians.
We want to save money and so I took the liberty of signing up for the Flashfood app after a CBB fan asked if I had heard about it.
I had not heard about it so I thought it was new or I’ve been living under a rock because the Flashfood App is awesome.
It wasn’t until long-time CBB fan Christine McLean messaged me on Facebook to tell me all about it.
Here’s our conversation:
Have you tried the new Flashfood app?
No, I have not what’s it all about?
Food that’s going to expire in a few days deeply discounted usually at a store near you.
I have Superstore.
I pick items that I want, pay for it and pick it up at the Superstore.
Oh really? Cool.
Last night they had all kinds of mixed boxes of fruits and then veggies – for $5 a box
Not sure if it available in Ontario but my nephew in Saskatchewan can use it and we are in BC.
Cool tip to keep grocery costs down.
I’m going to look. What a great way to sell stuff.
Thanks for letting me know.
You’re welcome. I’m always looking for ways to save money.
Yes, they have it in Ontario.
Cool. So do I just go in?
Oh, add to the cart.
You place the order on your Flashfood app first then Pay for it and go pick it up.
I used my debit Visa card – so the money just came out of my bank account.
Make sure you take your bags with you. It’s quick and easy to pick up your products at customer service.
When you pick up – you go to customer service and they either get the items for you or you get it from the flash food cooler and then back to customer service to verify and then you leave
Just tell them you are there for flash food.
Have your phone handy with app opened so you make sure you get everything
Brilliant, OMG so happy.
Thanks again, Christine.
My first order cost me $31.74 and I saved $35.42.
The Best deal was the bag of 3 whole chickens for $8.04- I spent last night cutting up chicken and deep frying 2 chickens for lunches and the excess bones are thrown in a bag for soup broth.
You can also add your PC Loyalty card to the Flashfood app for points.
Flashfood App Tip – set up the notifications so when new items are posted- you are notified so you can get the best deals fast.
“I’m never doing a regular shopping trip again!”- Christine McLean
How to start using the Flashfood App
If you have an Android, Tablet, iPad or iPhone you must download the Flashfood App
- Set up your profile and location information in the app
- Click on the shopping carts on the map or your preferred stores below
- Browse for deals that are 50% off to see if you are interested in any of them
- Purchase what you would like at the discounted price from your phone
- Go to the grocery store and pick-up your items at the Flashfood Zone
That’s it!! It’s so awesome and we love this idea at Canadian Budget Binder and 100% back them up on the concept.
By purchasing the grocery products online you also save time so you’re not doing it at the store.
You can also grocery shop for other items on your shopping list and pick up your Flashfood products at the same time.
I suggest checking the Flashfood app often as they add new 50% off deals often.
Canadian Grocery Stores That Use The Flashfood App
The grocery stores in Canada currently involved with the Flashfood App are:
- Loblaws
- Zehrs
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Dominion
Keep in mind this may expand as this concept grows across Canada since Food Waste is a huge issue for Canadians.
Locations For Flashfood App
Not only is the Flashfood app debuting in Canada but they also offer the app to Americans in Michigan and Wisconsin although it is still a small entity over there.
I’m sure that will grow to new heights in no time.
Let’s have a look at the different Loblaws locations across Canada and how many Flashfood app grocery stores are available to each.
By the time you read this the numbers may change but just to give you an idea based on where you live.
If you don’t see your city location on the list you can let the Flashfood app team know what city you’d like to see the app in next by filling in an online contact form.
- Alberta – 31 Locations
- British Columbia – 28 Locations
- Manitoba – 11 Locations
- New Brunswick – 19 Locations
- Newfoundland and Labrador – 11 Locations
- Nova Scotia – 28 Locations
- Ontario – 125 Locations
- P.E.I – 4 Locations
- Quebec – 139 Locations
- Saskatchewan – 8 Locations
- Yukon- 1 Location
The United States Of America
- Michigan – 4 Locations – Meijer Stores
- Wisconsin – 3 Locations (Various location stores)
You can also sign-up on the app for new location notifications by entering your email.
By doing so the Flashfood app will send you a notification to let you know if your area has a new grocery store added to the list.
You can also visit the Flashfood App online for all of the above info and more.
Don’t forget to click on my credit code link so you get $5 off your second Flashfood App order BEFORE you add the app. 🙂
Discussion: Would you buy near expired food products for 50% off for grocery savings and help conquer food waste?
Drop me your comments below as I’d love to read your feedback about this app.
Note: The Flashfood app links may be affiliate links available to all Flashfood app users after sign-up.
Linda says
sadly only android 5.0 and above for the Google app- I have .4.4.2 and not ready to go get a new phone!
Linda
Mo CanadianBudgetBinder says
Oh that sucks and I don’t blame you. I did ask the owners if they were going to make it online as well but they said not at this time maybe in the future.
Thanks for letting us know Linda.
Mr.CBB
Cheryl says
That’s kind of troubling about discriminating against people without a smart phone.
I downloaded the app, but I find it annoying that a person can’t choose categories they’re interested in and not see items there’s no interest in purchasing. Specifically, I’m a vegetarian and I will never buy meat products, but there they are!
Most memorable 50% off I got at Save On Foods many years ago and it was a key lime pie.
Mo CanadianBudgetBinder says
Hi Cheryl,
The app is new and those who have tablets and ipads can also use the app. I found out this evening from speaking with flash foods. Right now they don’t have the platform for this on a desktop but hope in the future to. If you have an optimum card you can add it to the app so they customize based on what you buy in their stores just as they do for the PC Optimum App. I hope that helps.
ann s says
Sadly this app is not available to people without a smart phone. Many struggling people do not have this, nor many seniors, as I am. I wrote the company about this bit of discrimination but their reply was almost “too bad!” … no help at all. Yes I would buy this food, but must pass these bargains when shopping, as I cannot afford the cost and plans of a smart phone. I carry a flip phone on a $10 plan for emergencies. So this wonderful idea is only available to those who can afford smart phones. I think it is wrong, but the company does not seem to care.
ann so very frustrating.
Mo CanadianBudgetBinder says
Hi Ann,
You’re right that is a bit of a pit-fall and might segregate the people who want to use the app for the discounts. I just asked their team if they plan on implementing a web platform for users without a phone. I will update you once I hear back from them. My in-laws would miss the savings as well as they had a flipphone too.
ann lee s says
Thanks very much for your caring about this problem, I’m sure there are lots of people (seniors esp) out there using flip phones that would love to buy bargain food. I appreciate your interest in writing their team and hope they do reply! ann lee s
Mo CanadianBudgetBinder says
Here is their response and I will update my post to add ipads and tablets.
“For now, we don’t have the resources of building a platform for non smartphone users but perhaps in the future we’ll revisit this! We’re also available on iPads and tablets for those who have either. Since the stores have wifi they can easily connect there as well!”