This new Croatian “food outlet” will knock food items, hygiene products, and cleaning products to prices that are 50% – 90% off – while helping the larger problem of food waste in Croatia and throughout the world.
Inspired by the fact that the world annually destroys or throws away around 1.3 billion tons of food, and in Croatia some 400,000 tons of food alone, two entrepreneurs launched Croatia’s first ‘outlet’ food store where patrons can shop at reasonable prices from products that were factory surplus, had defective packaging or were reaching expiration dates. Meet Žabac Food Outlet, located in Zagreb.
The idea for the project came about by Mario Žamboki, who said at this food outlet you can buy everything from food to toiletries at a very large discount of the usual cost. The products are purchased from different manufacturers, but due to high demand in stores, there are always varied new products and mainly well-known brands.
Mario and his wife Maja are trying to change people’s consciousness about the consequences of food waste, and are trying hard to prevent it from happening at all.
The couple began operating in early August, selling products like the surplus goods produced in factories, broken products that were damaged in production and/or had bad packaging, and goods just before their expiration date – confirming that everything is completely safe.
In hopes that this will also help people of lower social status – ensuring that they can afford name brand items – Mario and Maja believe that this idea can be extended to other Croatian towns.
“The ethical and economic point of view we noticed is that food waste is not acceptable, because you eat while some people can not afford to, and we are exhausting the natural resources, such as water which is polluting the environment.”
In Zagreb, the couple plans to open larger stores in addition to the existing one Tkalčićeva 4, and they also anticipate a mobile commerce food outlet as well.
Source: Jutarnji List
