Smart Surplus Tackles Food Waste With Local Start-Up Solution

Smart Surplus Tackles Food Waste With Local Start-Up Solution

​Smart Surplus is a new local start-up led by a small team of two brothers and a colleague. “We are really just a few people who hate food waste and love a good deal,” says founder Jack Parsons.

He has over 10 years of experience in the food industry, and is joined by Fintan Parsons, Head of Software Development, and Michael O’Neill, Head of Business Development. The business is backed by a small team of funders.

In the pilot phase of the project, the platform is being tested in town, and will soon expand to Athlone. So far, the businesses who have signed up include Baked by Trina, Bistro 18, and Dolan’s Centra, all of whom will be listing their last-minute deals on the site.

Food waste is a growing environmental and social problem at a time when we’re all urged to reduce what we throw away. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over 853,000 tonnes of food waste were generated in Ireland in 2023, with restaurants and food service outlets estimated to account for over 175,000 of that total.

The new local business, Smart Surplus, aims to help restaurants, cafes, delis, and other food outlets reduce the amount of food they send to refuse by turning it into surprise deals for customers.

“This project is about fixing a real problem with something simple,” says Jack Parsons, one of the founders. “It’s about helping get great food eaten.”

Smart Surplus works by giving businesses an opportunity to sell off goods they would normally throw out at the end of the day, not because they’re bad, but because they didn’t sell in time. “Think a bag of pastries that didn’t sell, delicious sandwiches left after the lunch time rush, or carvery dinners going to waste,” says Jack.

Consumers and businesses register on the project website, and businesses can then offer last-minute deals, which customers can reserve and pay for with a few taps. Customers then pick up their surprise deal during a particular time slot. Registration is free, the service is fast, and buyers will find some incredible deals.

The project has a zero-waste mission, and a counter on the website shows each user how much food they’ve saved from landfill. Not only does the initiative reduce rubbish, but it gives businesses working off tight margins the opportunity to attract customers before food waste, increasing revenue and attracting new customers.

Consumers also get the opportunity to eat better for less, reducing their food bills at a time when the weekly grocery shop is trending endlessly upwards, and they can try out foods they wouldn’t normally eat.
“Food businesses waste less. People eat better for less. Everyone wins,” according to Jack.

To register, customers can go to www.smart-surplus.com and complete the registration form. Interested businesses can find Smart Surplus on Instagram @smart_surplus. “We’ll get you set up in minutes and help you make money from what used to be waste,” Jack says.
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They plan to stay focussed on small towns and cities where, as Jack says, “people know their food spots...we think it can make a real difference... [so] follow along, sign up, and tell your local cafe. Let’s get good food off the shelf and onto plates.”