The Lost Food Project

What The Lost Food Project does

The Lost Food Project (TLFP) is a Malaysian not-for-profit food bank founded in 2015 by Suzanne Mooney and headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. It rescues quality surplus food from supermarkets, manufacturers (Unilever, Nestle, DKSH, P&G, Colgate Palmolive, Danone), and wholesale markets (Pasar Borong KL) that would otherwise go to landfill, and redistributes it to a network of 80+ vetted charity partners and 30+ People's Housing Project (PPR) communities across Kuala Lumpur, Klang Valley, and Johor Bahru. The organization operates a logistics platform comprising 4 trucks and 2 warehouses, including the TLFP Central hub launched in March 2023, and runs programs such as the BITES loyalty points donation program with Village Grocer, the Rice Bucket Challenge, MYCleanPlateChallenge, and 20/100 Campaign. As of recent disclosure, TLFP rescues 40-45 tonnes of food per week, has provided 5 million+ meals since 2016, and reaches 40,000+ people on a regular basis, while preventing 3.02 million kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions.

TLFP's business model is donation-based across four streams: monetary donations (individual and corporate, channeled via SenangPay, Give.Asia, SimplyGiving, and bank transfer), in-kind food donations from corporate donors, corporate grants and sponsorships (Chubb, Mubadala Petroleum, Ikano Insight, Levi Strauss, 3M, Unilever, Danone), and loyalty points donations through partner retail programs. Donation pricing is benchmarked at RM20 per 100 meals for individuals and RM200 per 1,000 meals for corporates. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on 70+ volunteers, corporate CSR volunteer programs, and awareness campaigns delivered via social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok), email newsletters, media coverage (SCMP, Nikkei Asia, NST, BERNAMA TV), and outreach workshops. The underlying technology is a food rescue and redistribution logistics system; no proprietary software, AI, or API platform is offered. TLFP accepted into the Global FoodBanking Network Accelerator Program in June 2024, gaining access to a global network of food banks across nearly 50 countries.

Name

The Lost Food Project

Legal name

The Lost Food Project

Website

https://thelostfoodproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lost Food Project is a Malaysian not-for-profit food bank founded in 2015 that rescues surplus food from supermarkets, manufacturers, and wholesale markets and redistributes it to 80+ charity partners and 30+ PPR low-income communities across Kuala Lumpur, Klang Valley, and Johor Bahru.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank / Food Rescue Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH), Commercial Food Waste Programs & On-Site Solutions (Cafeterias, Grocers, Hospitality) (BPALAEAE)

Keywords

• Food rescue services
• Food bank operations
• Surplus food redistribution
• Food waste reduction
• Hunger relief programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Monetary Donations: Individual and corporate donations via bank transfer, credit/debit card through SenangPay and Give.Asia platforms. Donation benchmarks: RM20 provides 100 meals, RM200 provides 1000 meals.
2. Food Donations: Surplus food and products donated by supermarkets, manufacturers, and wholesalers that would otherwise go to landfill.
3. Corporate Grants and Sponsorship: Corporate grants such as Chubb's US$10,000, truck sponsorships from Mubadala Petroleum, and general corporate sponsorships from companies like Unilever and Danone.
4. Loyalty Points Donation: BITES loyalty points program where customers donate 500 points (RM5 value) to provide 25 meals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Lost Food Project rescues quality, nutritious surplus food and other goods from supermarkets, manufacturers, and wholesale markets that would otherwise go to landfill. It operates two warehouses in Kuala Lumpur (including TLFP Central) and a fleet of four trucks to collect and redistribute this food to 80+ vetted charity partners and 30+ People's Housing Project (PPR) communities across Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley, serving 40,000+ B40 urban poor families and people in need regardless of religion, gender, age, disability, or ethnic group. The organization also runs volunteer programs, corporate CSR partnerships, and educational outreach to raise awareness about food waste and climate change.

Product overview

The Lost Food Project (TLFP) is a Malaysian not-for-profit food bank organization that operates as a social impact service rather than a technology product company. It does not offer a software platform, SaaS product, or technology modules. TLFP's services consist of food rescue and redistribution programs, including collecting surplus food from supermarkets, manufacturers, and wholesale markets and distributing it to vetted charity partners and low-income communities (PPR housing residents). Additional programs include education and outreach workshops, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and fundraising campaigns such as the 20/100 Challenge, MY Clean Plate Challenge, and Rice Bucket Challenge. The organization also runs volunteer programs and accepts both food and monetary donations. No branded software products, APIs, or technology offerings were identified in the source material.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Rescue and Redistribution Service Core service that collects quality, nutritious surplus food and other goods from supermarkets, manufacturers, and wholesale markets and redistributes them to 80+ vetted charity partners and 30+ PPR communities across Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley. Rescues 40-45 tonnes of food per week.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer engagement program recruiting dedicated individuals to support food sorting, packing, warehouse operations, and distribution. The organization is almost entirely operated by a group of professional and dedicated volunteers.
• Outreach and Education Program Education team delivers Lunch and Learn workshops, presentations to organizations, and attends markets and bazaars to raise awareness about food waste issues and encourage public support.
• Corporate CSR Partnership Program CSR program enabling companies to engage through corporate volunteering events, truck sponsorships, fundraising campaigns, and grants. Partners include Unilever, Chubb, Mubadala Petroleum, Danone, CIMB, AmBank, Levi Strauss, HEINEKEN, PepsiCo, and others.
• Awareness Campaign Programs Public awareness and fundraising campaigns including the 20/100 Campaign, MY Clean Plate Challenge, World Food Day campaigns, and Rice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness and drive donations.
• BITES Loyalty Points Donation Program Customer loyalty program partnership where customers from partner supermarkets (Village Grocer, B.I.G.) can donate 500 loyalty points (RM5 value) to provide 25 meals through TLFP.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 million+ meals provided since 2016
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Global FoodBanking Network (GFN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Accepted into GFN Accelerator Program. Over next three years, TLFP will benefit from resources, expertise, and mentorship from food banks in nearly 50 countries across six continents. Hosted Hazel Quek Xue Fang for three-day visit.
• Standard Chartered Group Internal AuditminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2024Team members traveled from various corners of globe to volunteer time and skills at TLFP on World Environment Day.
• POS MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024National courier and logistics provider partnered with TLFP. Helped transport more than 4 tonnes of food over 280km, equating to 11,000+ meals, by delivering 100+ pallets of surplus goods.
• DanonemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2023Made significant donation of 1256 cartons, 8898 packets, and 9394.2 kilograms of milk powder to support TLFP's mission and provide nutrition to families in need.
• CIMB Wholesale BankingmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2023Team of volunteers sorted and prepared 4792 kg of food in single evening. Led by Lisha, team contributed to warehouse operations for two consecutive weeks.
• AmBank MalaysiamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 202350 volunteers participated in full-day CSR program at TLFP Central during Ramadan. Sorted, packed, and cleaned surplus fresh produce donations.
• Junior Marriott Business CouncilminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2023Collaborative event featuring 'The Lost Food Talk' presentation by CEO Ab Wahab, home composting workshop, and food waste quiz session.
• HEINEKENminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2022HEINEKEN Cares 2022 collaboration with TLFP and other NGOs supporting sustainable food sources nationwide in Peninsular Malaysia.
• KelloggmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2021Partnership to distribute breakfast and snack items to essential frontliners throughout October 2021.
• Ceva Animal Health MalaysiamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2020Coordinated donation of 100,000 eggs from local poultry farmers (CP Malaysia, Heap Soon Farming, Liang Kee Farming, Teo Seng Capital, Zenxin Agriculture) to 56 charities and 7,500 B40 communities.
• Malaysian Red Crescent SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Co-organized Rice Bucket Challenge 2020 response to COVID-19 in line with World Food Day. Distributed food aid and hygiene kits to vulnerable communities.
• The Social GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2019Exclusive drinks menu 'We're Endangered Too' with 50% of drink cost donated to TLFP and Free Tree Society. Features special drinks using Trigona honey to raise climate change awareness.
• UnilevercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2018Global manufacturer partnered with TLFP for Super Brand Day sale on Lazada Malaysia. Raised enough from online sales to provide over 200,000 meals. Also partnered for World Food Day celebrations and regular food donations.
• Lazada MalaysiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2018Online retailer partnered with Unilever and TLFP for Super Brand Day sale supporting food rescue efforts and meal provision.
• The Food Purveyor (Village Grocer, B.I.G.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Long-standing food partner since January 2017 operating Village Grocer and Ben's Independent Grocer supermarket brands. Regularly supplies leftover food for redistribution. Extended operations to Johor Bahru. Also partnered for BITES loyalty points donation program engaging 180,000+ members.
• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with TLFP for ASEAN CARES project supporting urban poor and rural communities impacted by COVID-19.
• ASEAN FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASEAN COVID-19 Active and Robust Response (ASEAN CARES) project supporting vulnerable communities in JB & KL.
• PepsiCominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuild Real Connections Campaign turned offline hours into meals for less fortunate via Kechara Soup Kitchen Society and TLFP.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• FoodCloud: Ireland-founded social enterprise that connects retailers with charities via a technology platform for surplus food redistribution. Comparable food rescue mission but differentiated by proprietary matching technology that TLFP lacks.

Direct peers

• Robin Hood Army: Volunteer-driven, zero-funds organization that redistributes surplus food from restaurants and bakeries to the less fortunate across South and Southeast Asia. Closely comparable volunteer-led, low-overhead operating model in adjacent emerging markets.
• OzHarvest: Australia's leading food rescue charity, collecting surplus food from commercial donors and redistributing to charities. Closely comparable operating model, established brand, and government/Corporate partnerships make it a benchmark for TLFP's scale-up trajectory.
• The Felix Project: UK-based food rescue charity founded by a former journalist, redistributing surplus food from supermarkets and wholesalers to charities and schools. Highly comparable founder profile, donor mix, and volunteer-led operating model to TLFP.
• FareShare UK: UK's largest charity fighting hunger and food waste by redistributing surplus food to a national network of charities. Comparable scale, warehouse operations, and corporate-donor-driven model.
• The Food Bank Singapore: Singapore's largest food bank with a comparable food rescue and redistribution model serving charity partners and low-income households. Operates in a similar regulatory and CSR environment to TLFP and is part of the same Global FoodBanking Network.
• FoodForward SA: South Africa's largest food redistribution organization with a comparable food rescue model serving urban poor communities. Useful emerging-market peer with similar volunteer and corporate-donor mix.
• Second Harvest (Canada): Canada's largest food rescue organization, redistributing surplus food to non-profits and communities. Provides a comparable operational benchmark at national scale, including warehouse and logistics infrastructure.
• Yayasan Bank Makanan Indonesia (Indonesian Food Bank Foundation): Indonesia's leading food bank foundation operating a food rescue and redistribution model similar to TLFP. Serves as a directly comparable Southeast Asian peer for food-bank scale, donor base, and beneficiary reach.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: Largest hunger-relief organization in the United States operating a network of 200+ food banks. Relevant as the broad incumbent benchmark for scale, donor relationships, and government partnerships in the food banking sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thelostfoodproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lost-food-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/thelostfoodproject?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• TikToktiktok.com/@lostfoodproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Lost Food Project