Karma - Discounted food & sustainability

We are slackers—today’s climate champions. We contribute to making the planet a better place by engaging in one of life’s simplest pleasures: eating. We are spearheading the least ambitious yet most delectable climate initiative: Radical Slacktivism, aimed at combatting overproduction and addressing food waste.

Become part of Karma's Slacker Movement, which will provide you with meals from heavily discounted food that would otherwise be discarded.

Currently featuring over 9,000 participating restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, and cafes across the UK and Sweden where you can purchase takeaway food. The great news? New establishments join every week!

FEATURES

- Discounted food. 

Indeed, it is. You can get excellent food at reduced prices.

- Satisfaction guaranteed

All types of meals available. Whether you're feeling hungry, down, joyful, or simply looking to indulge.

- Contributing to a better world, one meal at a time.

Combat food waste through the simple act of dining.

If you’re still reading, you’re likely curious for more details. Here’s how it works (it couldn’t be simpler).

- Food is posted on Karma

Restaurants, grocery outlets, bakeries, and cafes share their surplus food during specific hours, typically between 2 PM and 6 PM.

- Secure your food with a tap

You can select and purchase desired items directly within the Karma app at a lower price.

- Enjoy your takeout

Present your order to the staff to collect your takeaway meals.

Together, we’re making sustainability an effortless choice.

In Stockholm: Shop at Vassa Eggen, Nybrogatan 38, Nytorget 6, Grand Central by Scandic, American Table Bar & Brasserie, Gateau, ICA Kvantum Liljeholmen, Freshii, Österlånggatan 17, Bröd & Salt, Doctor Salad, Wayne’s Coffee, Panini, PONG, among others.

In Göteborg: Get food from Swedish Taste, Le Croissant, The Barn, Francks Kök & Catering, Tiger Deli, Govindas, Lilla Bommen Smörgåsbutik, Cederleüfs & Svenheimers, Kök: 17, Bistro Italiano, Muchacho, St. Agnes, Gateau, and more.

We are also active in over 200 additional cities including Malmö, Uppsala, Umeå, Enköping, Norrköping, Borås, Kalmar, and Västerås!

Blog

Anti-food Waste Tips from Karma's Partners

Some call food waste the “dumbest problem in the world”

They're not necessarily wrong!

However, you'd be surprised at how much organisation is now needed to overcome it. At an individual level, we all know how tricky it can be to buy just the right amount to avoid binning some at the end of the week. However it is not impossible, and together we are already on the way towards our goal of making food waste history.

One thing is clear to us, zero food waste is not about adding more to your mental load. Simple habits can help you make the necessary changes - whether you live alone, in pairs, in shared accommodation or with your family.

Our Karma partners in restaurants, grocery stores, and bakeries have made key changes by using the following tips. But they are also useful for you at home!

1. Buy according to your needs

It's part of our partners' business plan to plan for enough food to satisfy as many customers as possible, without having too many unsold items. At home, aim to follow the same type of thinking – and take a little time to plan and buy ingredients according to your needs. You can also do a monthly (or weekly) scan on what ingredients you have at home already and can use up instead of buying more!

Fun fact: One day, a fish shop we know bought too much broccoli. Frankly, they were at a loss as to what to do with it all. Luckily, we worked together to put it all on Karma and they were all bought and used - each and every one! If you have bought too many things, be creative and think outside the box! Below, you will find food hacks to have some more inspiration.

2. Mix it up!

In poke places, there are some boxes that come filled, but others are left for customers to decide what should be included.

That is how we came up with the idea of a "no waste bowl". Instead of following traditional recipes, the box is filled with what is left. The bowl changes every time and offers unusual, but always delicious combinations!

At home, you can be creative too. Instead of sticking to your usual favourites, create new recipes with your leftovers: what about lunchtime rice with cashews from the cupboard, some cucumber slices from the half left in the fridge, and a good dressing.

3. Cook with what you already have

In some of our cafes, they've started selling cappuccinos at half price as a way to ensure all their milk is consumed before expiry. We love that spirit.

It's worth keeping an eye on what is in your fridge or pantry for food that won't be good tomorrow. We bet that there are plenty of delicious recipes online with that item as the star of the show! For example, if you have extra milk, why not make a rice pudding with cinnamon or vanilla.

4. Twist your leftovers

If you carefully study the menus of some restaurants, cafes or bakeries (don't worry we already have, so you don't have to), you will see that they are cooking dishes from the previous day's surplus. Thus the Tuesday fish becomes the Wednesday fish soup! At home, this is also a perfect way to reduce your waste.

Take a leftover dish, and we can almost guarantee you can put it in a frying pan and add one or two eggs for a delicious meal. For a vegan version, tofu is the perfect substitute. Don't forget to spice it up!

The good news is that being part of the Zero Food Waste Generation not only helps to save our planet, but can also boost your creativity in the kitchen.

And don't forget, if you make too much of something, you can always bring it to work and share it with your colleagues. We are sure they will be delighted to share!

NEWS

Expansion of Karma app shows tech industry is taking food waste problem seriously--Food waste apps are increasingly becoming a competitive market

Amelia Heathman 15 August 2018

The food waste app Karma has raised $12 million in Series A funding to expand its mission to counteract food waste across the globe.

Investors in its Series A round include Bessemer Venture Partners, the oldest venture capital firm in the US, Kinnevik which also backs Babylon Health, and Electrolux, the global appliance manufacturer.

When Karma launched just under two years ago in Sweden, its founding team Elsa Bernadotte, Hjalmar Ståhlberg Nordegren, Ludvig Berling, and Mattis Larsson, wanted to work with restaurants and supermarkets to sell unsold food at a discount to consumers.

It now counts 1,500 food sellers among its cohort, including hotels, cafes and bakeries, who are distributing their surplus food to 350,000 Karma users.

In London alone, Karma works with over 400 restaurants including Aubaine, Polpo and Caravan, who post meals on the app at half price or less.

It’s a win-win for both the restaurants and the customer. The customer gets half-price tasty food, knowing that they’re helping the environment because the food isn’t going to waste.

As well, the restaurant can make money on food they would otherwise be throwing away. According to Karma, its partners can increase their yearly revenue by an extra £30,000 on food that would otherwise end up in the bin.

Hjalmar Ståhlberg Nordegren, CEO and co-founder of the start-up, said: “We are delighted to announce this investment which will accelerate our mission to reduce food waste globally. We have known the team at Kinnevik for a long time, and they have the long-term perspective and operational expertise that we were looking for in partners.

“We are also delighted to be working with two new top-tier partners in Bessemer and Electrolux who bring unparalleled expertise in their respective fields.”

Since its launch, Karma has now raised $18 million, proving that investors are taking the problems of food waste seriously. It will use the new funds to expand into new markets across Europe and increase its team from 35 people based in Stockholm, to over 150 by mid-2020.

Food waste apps are a competitive market now. In the UK alone there is Olio, which helps neighbours redistribute food amongst themselves, as well as FoodCloud which connects supermarkets with surplus food to local charities that need it.

All this work is having an impact. According to the Waste and Resources Action Programme, surplus food redistribution from retailers, hospitality and food waste has increased by 50 per cent in just two years.

Whilst the charity believes that UK restaurants lose £700 million a year because of unused food, a lot more needs to be done to continue the fight against food waste.