As Malaysians discard 13,800 tonnes of food daily, local app Value Food turns surplus meals into savings

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — With Malaysians facing rising living costs while thousands of tonnes of food are discarded daily, homegrown app Value Food is looking to tackle both problems by connecting consumers with unsold food from restaurants, cafés, bakeries and grocers at lower prices.

The surplus food marketplace allows businesses to sell excess food through “Surprise Bags”, giving consumers access to meals, baked goods and groceries at between 50 and 70 per cent below their original retail prices.

In a media statement, Value Food said the app has recorded more than 100,000 downloads and partnered with over 300 merchants since its launch.

The platform has also rescued more than 80,000 Surprise Bags from going to waste, which it estimates has prevented over 200,000kg of carbon dioxide emissions.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Malaysians generate about 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, with food accounting for 35.5 per cent, or an estimated 13,800 tonnes each day.

Value Food co-founder Hariharan Nagendran said the platform was created to address the amount of edible food that ends up in landfills simply because it remains unsold.

“Every day, perfectly edible food ends up in landfills simply because it isn’t sold.

“We built Value Food to change that. We connect businesses with surplus food to consumers looking to enjoy quality food at lower prices,” he said.

Nagendran said the model also allows businesses to generate revenue from otherwise unsold food while giving consumers access to more affordable options.

Currently operating across the Klang Valley, the platform works with a range of food and beverage businesses, from international and local chains to neighbourhood cafés and restaurants.

Participating merchants include Krispy Kreme, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Paris Baguette and BHC Chicken, as well as local businesses such as Lisette’s Café & Bakery, Touché Pastries & More and Noon Viennoiserie Cafe.

The app also features surplus food from banana leaf restaurants, mixed rice vendors and neighbourhood mamak eateries.

Users can browse available Surprise Bags from nearby participating businesses, make payment through the app and collect their purchases directly from the merchant.

According to Value Food, all food sold through the platform is prepared, packed and handled by participating merchants according to their respective food safety and operational standards.

Following its rollout in the Klang Valley, the company is now working towards nationwide expansion and is seeking to bring more hotels, supermarkets, cafés and major food and beverage chains onto the platform.

The Value Food app is available on iOS and Android.