What We Don't Waste does

We Don't Waste, Inc. is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 by Arlan Preblud that recovers surplus food from commercial donors and redistributes it to hunger-relief agencies and directly to individuals. Its operating model has three legs: (1) a Food Recovery Program that collects quality, unused food from over 200 active donors (restaurants, venues, caterers, distributors, producers, institutions) using a fleet of refrigerated trucks ranging from 10–26 feet and via the volunteer-powered We Rescue mobile app (built on the Food Rescue Hero platform); (2) Partner Distribution to over 100 nonprofit agencies including food banks, pantries, shelters, schools, and Project Angel Heart; and (3) Mobile Food Markets — free, choice-model markets held at eight rotating sites per month across the Denver metro area, with reservations managed through the Plentiful app. The 30,000-square-foot Food Recovery Hub at 6090 E 39th Ave houses refrigerated storage, four loading docks, and fleet operations.

The organization does not charge fees to donors or recipient agencies; all services are free at the point of use, and partners are required to offer food free of charge to participants. Funding comes from individual donations, monthly giving, peer-to-peer fundraising (Colorado Gives), corporate partnerships (KeHE Distributors, Odell Brewing Co., CoBank, Danone/Two Good, Bank of America, Anthem, Kiewit Meridiam Partners), government grants (Arapahoe County), and signature events such as Canstruction Colorado and the Bread to Beer Keg Tapping Party. Education and advocacy — including the At-Home Food Waste Audit, school programming, and Provecho Collective policy work — supplement the core recovery operations. Since 2009 the organization reports recovering more than 50 million pounds of food, distributing 220+ million servings, and preventing the release of 97 million pounds of CO2e; it carries a Candid 2024 Platinum Seal of Transparency and a 100% Charity Navigator Four-Star rating.

Name

We Don't Waste

Legal name

We Don't Waste, Inc.

Website

https://wedontwaste.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

We Don't Waste is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that recovers surplus food from over 200 commercial donors and redistributes it free of charge to 100+ hunger-relief agencies and to communities through eight monthly Mobile Food Markets across the Denver metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Recovery Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA), Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA)

Keywords

• Food recovery services
• Surplus food redistribution
• Mobile food markets
• Nonprofit hunger relief
• Food waste reduction

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

We Don't Waste recovers surplus, quality food from more than 200 food-industry donors in the Denver metro area and redistributes it free of charge through two channels: direct delivery to 100+ hunger-relief nonprofit partner agencies, and choice-model Mobile Food Markets held monthly in food-apartheid neighborhoods. Operations are supported by a 30,000-square-foot Food Recovery Hub, a fleet of refrigerated trucks, and the volunteer-powered We Rescue mobile app.

Product overview

We Don't Waste is a nonprofit food recovery organization offering a suite of interconnected programs focused on reducing food waste and increasing food access in the Denver metro area. The core offerings include a Food Recovery Program that collects surplus food from over 200 donors, a Partner Distribution network serving 100+ nonprofit organizations, and Mobile Food Markets providing free food directly to communities. Supporting services include Education & Engagement programs for schools and workplaces, the We Rescue volunteer app for crowdsourced food recovery, and the 30,000 sq ft Food Recovery Hub facility. The organization supplements its food assistance by providing fresh, nutritious foods difficult to access for families in food deserts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Recovery Program
• Partner Distribution Program
• Mobile Food Markets
• Education & Engagement Program
• We Rescue App

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ million pounds of food recovered since 2009
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• KeHE DistributorsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerKeHE Distributors partnered with We Don't Waste for its 2026 Summer Show in Denver, donating over 44,000 meals to the Denver community. We Don't Waste serves as a sustainability partner, helping KeHE achieve its community giving and food waste reduction goals at industry events.
• Odell Brewing Co.flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on the annual Bread to Beer Keg Tapping Party event. Odell Brewing Co. creates the Wheat Don't Waste Ale, brewed with recovered bread (from Rebel Bread), and the event celebrates food recovery. We Don't Waste receives visibility and donations through this partnership.
• WeecyclecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTypically attends Mobile Food Markets to provide diapers, formula, and other baby supplies to market participants. Supplies are limited and quantities rationed to ensure more people are served.
• Colorado Pet PantryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner that typically attends the Bruce Randolph Mobile Food Market location to provide pet food and supplies.
• Provecho CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWe Don't Waste participates in the Provecho Collective, a collective focused on advocacy and policy work. All legislation supported by the collective results from committee votes. This is part of We Don't Waste's advocacy strategy.
• Frontline FarmingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWe Don't Waste partners with Frontline Farming to distribute surplus food. They are a Black-led organization doing food justice work in the Denver area.
• Food Rescue HerocoreTechnology or IntegrationWe Don't Waste uses the Food Rescue Hero platform to power its We Rescue volunteer-led food recovery app. Volunteers use the app to claim food rescues and coordinate deliveries to nonprofit partners.
• Second Chance Center Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBlack-led nonprofit partner that We Don't Waste provides food to. Both organizations work together to improve food access in the community.
• Struggle of Love FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBlack-led nonprofit organization that We Don't Waste partners with to distribute food. Both organizations collaborate on food access efforts.
• Abby CareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerResource provider at Mobile Food Markets, offering additional family support services alongside food distribution.
• Book GiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDenver-based partner that attends Mobile Food Markets to provide books to families.
• Denver Public LibrariesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization that attends Mobile Food Markets to provide library services and resources.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Too Good To Go: European-origin mobile marketplace connecting consumers directly to businesses with surplus food. Partial overlap with We Don't Waste's mission of reducing food waste, but operates a consumer marketplace model rather than nonprofit redistribution to hunger-relief agencies.
• Copia: Technology platform that connects businesses with surplus food to nonprofits in their area. Comparable to Food Rescue Hero / We Rescue as a software-enabled food recovery intermediary, but operates as a B2B SaaS model rather than a direct service nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Food Forward: Southern California nonprofit that recovers surplus produce and perishable food from wholesale markets, grocery stores, and farms for redistribution to communities in need. Comparable mission, volunteer-driven recovery model, and produce-focused donation mix.
• Food Rescue US: National nonprofit that connects surplus food from donors to recipients via volunteer-led app-based pickups. Directly comparable to We Don't Waste's We Rescue / Food Rescue Hero model and overall food recovery mission.
• City Harvest: New York City's largest food rescue organization, recovering surplus food and distributing it free to soup kitchens, food pantries, and mobile markets. Comparable because of the identical 'rescue → redistribute → mobile market' structure across a large urban geography.
• Food Bank of the Rockies: Hunger-relief and food distribution nonprofit operating across Colorado and Wyoming. Directly comparable because it is a regional food redistribution organization working with donor and agency networks in overlapping Denver-metro territory, though it operates a traditional food bank model rather than mobile market distribution.
• 412 Food Rescue: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit using volunteer-powered app technology to redirect surplus food from businesses to nonprofits serving food-insecure communities. Closely aligned model: app-mediated volunteer rescues, agency distribution, and direct community food access.

Regional players

• FoodCloud: Ireland-based social enterprise connecting retail food donors to charities via a tech platform — directly analogous to Food Rescue Hero / We Rescue. Operates primarily across Ireland and the UK rather than in the U.S. market We Don't Waste serves.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida: Regional Feeding America affiliate distributing donated food to partner agencies across Central Florida. Comparable as a regional food redistribution organization of similar scale, though serving a non-overlapping geography.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella network of 200+ regional food banks, including partners like Food Bank of the Rockies that We Don't Waste distributes to. Represents the larger, broader incumbent in food rescue and redistribution with national donor and policy leverage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wedontwaste
• Facebookfacebook.com/WeDontWasteDenver
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wedontwaste

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 We Don't Waste