Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to investigate food retailers food waste reduction practices in Germany. The focus is on selling and redistributing agricultural produce with visual impairments and other surplus food items. In addition, drivers and barriers regarding the implementation of both waste reduction practices are explored. In total, 12 in-depth interviews with managerial actors in the food retail sector and a food bank spokesperson were recorded, transcribed and analyzed through a qualitative content analysis. In contrast to organic retailers, conventional retailers were reluctant to include agricultural produce with visual impairments in their product assortments, due to fears of negative consumer reactions. Another obstacle was EU marketing standards for specific produce. All retailers interviewed engaged in redistribution of surplus food. Logistics and the regulatory framework were the main barriers to food redistribution. The present study adds to the existing body of literature on food waste reduction practices as it explores selling produce with visual impairments and elaborates on the legal background of food redistribution in German retail. The results are the foundation for providing recommendations to policy makers and charitable food organizations.
Highlights
In Germany, 11 million tons of food waste per year (Kranert et al, 2012) occur throughout the supply chain from farm gate to consumer (Gadde and Amani, 2016)
Lowering quality standards German retailers reported on their experience selling produce with lower external quality standards
Results showed that produce with visual impairments is rarely part of the BFJ 119,12 2538
Summary
In Germany, 11 million tons of food waste per year (Kranert et al, 2012) occur throughout the supply chain from farm gate to consumer (Gadde and Amani, 2016). Prior research emphasized that food waste is generated mostly on the consumption level (Principato et al, 2015), food retailers play a pivotal role as brokers between producers and consumers (Midgley, 2014; Cicatiello et al, 2016). Food waste results from quality standards prescribed by retailers. Waste resulting from produce not meeting standards is attributed to earlier supply chain stages (Göbel et al, 2015). The problem of food waste was targeted by German and other European governments. Government agencies developed media campaigns and initiated projects to increase awareness and educate consumers
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