What Flashfood does

Flashfood operates a two-sided mobile marketplace that connects shoppers in the U.S. and Canada with surplus grocery inventory from partner retailers, sold at discounts of up to approximately 50% off regular shelf prices. The platform is delivered through a free consumer iOS/Android app — supported by an Apple/Google/Facebook/email login, SNAP/EBT payment capability in select U.S. stores, a Give $5 Get $5 referral program and a Flashfood Rewards credits system — and a complementary B2B store-associate app, Flashfood For Partners, launched May 12, 2026. Flashfood serves both ends of the grocery value chain: budget-conscious shoppers seeking affordable fresh produce, meat and packaged goods, and grocery retailers seeking to reduce shrink, drive incremental foot traffic and capture full-price basket additions ($20 in additional monthly purchases per Flashfood shopper, 72% of shoppers taking more trips, average 27% shrink reduction in partner data).

The core technology stack includes a shopper-facing mobile marketplace, a retailer-facing app with Scandit-powered Smart Label Capture for high-accuracy barcode, weighted-item and best-by date recognition, and an AI-enabled inventory and shrink-management layer that supports dynamic markdown pricing, demand forecasting and replenishment optimization. Signature product features include the $9 Produce Box — a curated seasonal produce assortment launched as a Produce Box-only model with Gelson's Markets in Los Angeles in late 2025 and scaled to all 26 Gelson's SoCal stores in April 2026 — and AI-driven category insights disclosed in retailer press releases. Underlying AI and engineering capabilities are led by VP of Engineering Yixin Zhu (hired November 2025 from Uber and Archer), reporting into a recently refreshed executive team that includes CEO Jordan Schenck (appointed May 2025), CFO Rob Levy and CRO Steve Towarnicki (both May 2026).

Flashfood monetizes through two principal channels. On the consumer side, shoppers pay a 5% service fee per order, capped at $2.99. On the B2B side, grocery retailers pay for the shrink-reduction platform under multi-year contracts with non-public pricing, sold via an enterprise "Book a Demo" motion. The retailer base spans approximately 2,000 grocery locations across the U.S. and Canada, anchored by Kroger (expanded to 1,000+ Mid-Atlantic stores in April 2026), Loblaw Companies in Canada, Gelson's Markets, Meijer, Giant Eagle and a long tail of regional and independent banners. The company is B-Corp certified, has raised approximately $16.3 million in disclosed funding across a 2019 seed round led by General Catalyst and a 2022 Series A led by S2G Investments, and is privately held with no parent or controlling shareholder identified in available materials.

Name

Flashfood

Legal name

Flashfood Inc.

Website

https://flashfood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Flashfood is a Toronto-based B-Corp mobile marketplace that sells surplus grocery inventory at up to 50% off retail via a two-sided iOS/Android platform serving 1.4M+ shoppers and 2,000+ North American grocery retailer locations, anchored by Kroger and Loblaw.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surplus grocery marketplace

NAICS

Grocery and Convenience Retailers (4451), Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (445110)

SIC

Retail-Convenience Stores (5412), Retail-Misc General Merchandise Stores (5399)

akta.pro primary industry

Soft Discount / Discount Supermarkets (EDLP) (CRAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Grocery & Convenience Delivery Platforms (BPAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Surplus grocery marketplace
• Grocery deal app
• Food waste reduction
• Retail shrink management
• Discounted groceries app

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Shopper service fee: Flashfood charges shoppers a 5% service fee on each order, capped at $2.99, for the convenience of placing orders through the app. Fee is described as not a surcharge and not tied to payment method.
2. Grocery retailer partnership / marketplace platform fee: Flashfood monetizes its B2B platform by partnering with grocery retailers who list their surplus inventory on the marketplace. Retailers pay for the shrink-reduction SaaS-like service (referenced as 'Flashfood For Partners') which delivers an average 27% reduction in shrink, attracts new customers and drives incremental full-price purchases ($20 in additional monthly purchases per Flashfood shopper on average). Specific contract economics are not publicly disclosed (Book-a-Demo sales motion).
3. Referral and rewards program (engagement-driven retention): Give $5 Get $5 referral program and Flashfood Rewards (Credits) program drive engagement and reduce churn. Credits are not redeemable for cash and have no monetary value; the program supports growth rather than direct revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Flashfood operates a two-sided mobile marketplace that connects grocery shoppers with surplus fresh produce, meat and grocery items from partnering North American retailers at up to 50% off retail shelf price; shoppers browse, reserve and pay inside the iOS/Android Flashfood app and pick up in store, while grocery retailers list inventory through the companion Flashfood For Partners B2B app that uses Scandit-powered scanning and AI-driven dynamic markdown pricing to reduce shrink. The platform charges shoppers a 5% service fee (capped at $2.99 per order) and earns a SaaS-style partnership fee from grocery retailers, with enterprise partners reporting an average 27% reduction in shrink and $20 in incremental monthly full-price purchases per Flashfood shopper.

Product overview

Flashfood operates a two-sided mobile marketplace platform for surplus groceries spanning the US and Canada. The core product is the Flashfood shopper app (iOS/Android), through which consumers browse and reserve discounted fresh produce, meat and grocery items from partnering retailers and pick them up in store; this is the consumer-facing surface that carries embedded loyalty (Flashfood Rewards), the Give $5 Get $5 Referral Program, and special offerings such as the $9 Produce Box. On the supply side, Flashfood For Partners is a complementary B2B mobile app that lets retailer associates post surplus inventory faster (with Scandit-powered barcode and best-by date capture) and track shrink-reduction ROI through a real-time reporting dashboard. Underpinning both apps is a shared inventory-and-shrink-management platform that uses AI for dynamic markdown pricing, demand forecasting and replenishment optimization; a separate channel track is also available for independent retailers. Flashfood additionally extends its brand into physical co-branded goods (e.g., the limited-edition Eat Well Lunchbox with Kids Worldwide).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Flashfood For Partners: A separate, distinctly branded mobile application for Flashfood's grocery retail partners, providing bulk posting, smarter scanning (powered by Scandit), and a real-time reporting dashboard for shrink management.

Products and services

• Flashfood Shopper App Consumer-facing iOS and Android mobile marketplace app that lets shoppers browse and reserve surplus fresh produce, meat and grocery items at up to ~50% off retail price from partnering North American grocery stores, pay in-app, and pick up in store. Includes the Give $5 Get $5 referral program, Flashfood Rewards credits and SNAP/EBT support in select U.S. stores.
• Flashfood For Partners (B2B store-associate app) Companion mobile app for Flashfood's grocery retail partners that lets store associates post surplus items faster (bulk scan up to 10 items in under 30 seconds), capture weighted items and best-by dates automatically, and track ROI through a real-time reporting dashboard showing posted and sold dollar value.
• Flashfood Produce Box ($9 mixed-produce bundle) Branded $9 mixed-produce bundle of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables offered through the Flashfood shopper app. First launched at Gelson's Markets in Los Angeles, where it is now available across all 26 Gelson's SoCal stores; the Produce Box-only model is the first of its kind for Flashfood.
• Flashfood Give $5 Get $5 Referral Program Referral feature inside the shopper app that lets users share a unique code or personal link. The referred shopper receives $5 off a first order of $7 or more and the referrer earns $5 in credits after the referee's first purchase; capped at 1,000 unique credits per referrer per calendar year.
• Flashfood Rewards Program (Credits) Embedded loyalty program inside the Flashfood shopper app that issues account-bound Credits earned through referrals (Give $5 Get $5), install promotional codes, and limited-time promotional offers. Credits can be applied toward item subtotals on future Flashfood orders and have no cash value.
• Flashfood platform for independent retailers Variant of the Flashfood platform built specifically for independent grocery retailers to list and sell surplus inventory through the Flashfood shopper app and dedicated partner tooling.
• Eat Well Lunchbox (limited-edition co-branded physical product) Limited-edition physical lunchbox co-developed with Kids Worldwide and The RIVER FUND, featuring artwork designed by children at a Flashfood x Kids Worldwide workshop. Sold at $38 via kidsworldwide.shop with proceeds supporting The RIVER FUND's anti-poverty mission.

Named customers13 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core technology partner, flagship / strategic anchor partner, core strategic partner, major retail partner, cause-marketing partner and regional retail partner.

• Scanditcore technology partnerTechnology or Integration · 12 May 2026Scandit powers the enhanced scanning capabilities of Flashfood For Partners (B2B store-associate app launched May 12, 2026). By leveraging Scandit's Smart Label Capture, the app instantly captures and processes multiple barcodes and product details with high accuracy, supports bulk posting workflows, and captures best-by dates directly from product labels.
• Gelson's Marketsflagship / strategic anchor partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Flashfood and Gelson's Markets expanded their partnership on April 28, 2026 to all 26 Gelson's Southern California stores. Gelson's is the first Flashfood partner to launch the Produce Box-only model (signature $9 Produce Box). Since the November 2025 LA pilot, shoppers have purchased 1,000+ Produce Boxes and most stores sell out daily. The expansion is timed with California's peak produce season.
• Kroger (Mid-Atlantic Division)flagship / strategic anchor partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Flashfood and Kroger expanded their partnership on April 8, 2026 across all 100+ Kroger stores in the Mid-Atlantic Division (Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky). Builds on a successful 16-store Richmond pilot launched summer 2025, which saved shoppers nearly $700,000 and diverted 290,000+ pounds of food from landfills. The expansion also includes a co-developed Food-as-Medicine collaboration with Kroger Health, offering free virtual nutrition classes for Kroger shoppers.
• Kroger Healthcore strategic partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 April 2026Kroger Health (Kroger's health-and-wellness division) is collaborating with Flashfood on free virtual nutrition classes for Kroger shoppers as part of a collective Food-as-Medicine initiative. Classes share tips for preparing easy, healthy meals on a budget and making the most of fresh ingredients found on Flashfood.
• Meijermajor retail partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 April 2026Midwestern supercenter/grocery chain listed as a Flashfood retail partner on the For Grocers and Locations pages; part of the 2,000+ North American store footprint.
• Kids Worldwidecause-marketing partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 November 2025Flashfood partnered with apparel brand Kids Worldwide on November 12, 2025 to launch a limited-edition 'Eat Well' Lunchbox featuring fruit-and-veggie artwork designed by children at a Flashfood x Kids Worldwide workshop at The RIVER FUND. Lunchboxes sell for $38 at kidsworldwide.shop with proceeds benefiting The RIVER FUND's mission to fight poverty and food insecurity.
• The RIVER FUNDcause-marketing partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 November 2025The RIVER FUND is a New York City nonprofit and the main charity partner in Flashfood's collaboration with Kids Worldwide. Lunchbox proceeds benefit The RIVER FUND's mission to fight poverty and food insecurity in Queens and The Bronx.
• Earth Fareregional retail partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 February 2025Flashfood expanded its partnership with Earth Fare (natural/organic Southeast US chain) on February 6, 2025. Earth Fare is among Flashfood's regional retail partners featured on the Locations and For Grocers pages.
• Loblaw Companiesflagship / strategic anchor partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2025Loblaw is Flashfood's long-standing Canadian flagship partner. As of January 22, 2025, Loblaw and Flashfood announced that Canadians had saved over $50 million on groceries through the platform in 2024. The partnership spans multiple Loblaw banners across Canada.
• Giant Eaglemajor retail partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMid-Atlantic regional grocery chain listed as a Flashfood retail partner on the For Grocers and Locations pages.
• Tops Friendly Marketsregional retail partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNortheastern US regional grocery chain listed as a Flashfood retail partner on the For Grocers and Locations pages.
• Lucky Californiaregional retail partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCalifornia private-label/value grocer listed as a Flashfood retail partner on the For Grocers and Locations pages; sister banner of Save Mart and FoodMaxx under The Save Mart Companies.
• Family Fareregional retail partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMidwest independent banner listed as a Flashfood retail partner on the For Grocers and Locations pages.
• Piggly Wigglyregional retail partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouthern US independent banner; CNBC coverage (April 17, 2026) explicitly names Piggly Wiggly as a regional Flashfood partner alongside Kroger, Loblaws and Gelson's.
• Martin's (Count On Us!)regional retail partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMid-Atlantic independent chain listed as a Flashfood retail partner on the For Grocers and Locations pages.
• VG's Groceryregional retail partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMichigan independent chain listed as a Flashfood retail partner on the For Grocers and Locations pages.
• Stripecore technology partnerTechnology or IntegrationStripe is Flashfood's third-party payment processor for transactions on the Flashfood app (and, per the Privacy Policy, in the future on the website). Payment data is collected and stored by Stripe under its own privacy terms.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Too Good To Go: Europe-based surplus-meal marketplace connecting consumers with discounted surplus food from local businesses; operates the same two-sided consumer-app + B2B retail-partner model Flashfood runs in North America. Closest direct competitor and benchmark on take-rate and partner-economics design.
• OLIO: Free app for sharing surplus food between neighbors and businesses. Direct peer in the consumer surplus-food marketplace category with a similar two-sided network model, though OLIO leans more community/neighbor-sharing than Flashfood's retailer-led surplus.
• Karma: Mobile marketplace for surplus restaurant and grocery food at discounted prices. Direct peer in the surplus-food marketplace category with a similar consumer-app + retailer/restaurant B2B model, primarily operating in Europe.
• Phenix: France-based B2B marketplace helping retailers and food brands manage unsold inventory via real-time dynamic pricing. Closest peer to Flashfood For Partners in retailer-side surplus monetization and dynamic-pricing technology.

Emerging players

• Imperfect Foods: Subscription-based delivery service selling 'ugly' and surplus produce and groceries directly to consumers. Comparable in addressing food waste and offering curated produce boxes, but operates a DTC subscription model rather than Flashfood's retailer-anchored pickup marketplace.
• Misfits Market: Online grocer specializing in surplus and 'imperfect' produce and pantry items sold via subscription. Comparable curated-produce value proposition to Flashfood's Produce Box, though delivered-to-home rather than in-store pickup.
• Afresh: AI-powered fresh-food ordering, inventory and waste-reduction platform for grocers. Comparable on the B2B shrink-management and AI-driven demand-forecasting dimension of Flashfood's retailer offering, though focused on ordering/inventory rather than consumer-facing marketplace.
• Wasteless: AI-based dynamic pricing solution for grocery retail, applying markdown optimization to perishable items. Comparable on the AI/dynamic-pricing-for-shrink dimension of Flashfood's platform, though B2B SaaS only — no consumer marketplace.

Broad incumbents

• Instacart: Largest North American online grocery marketplace. Adjacent incumbent that touches both shoppers and grocers and could expand into surplus/discount sub-categories, posing a competitive threat on both sides of Flashfood's marketplace.

Regional players

• 312 Food Rescue: Nonprofit food-rescue platform redistributing surplus food to communities in need. Comparable mission (reducing food waste, feeding families) and partial functional overlap with Flashfood's surplus marketplace, though nonprofit and region-limited.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubetiktok.com/@flashfood
• Facebookfacebook.com/Flashfood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flashfoodinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/flashfood
• TikToktiktok.com/@flashfood
• Xx.com/Flashfoodinc

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Flashfood