Iceland Foods is scaling up its partnership with food-sharing app Olio, extending the rollout of its ‘Lucky Dip’ food waste reduction initiative to more stores across the UK.

The trial, currently active in 14 Iceland stores, offers Olio users the chance to purchase a mystery bundle of at least eight reduced-to-clear items for just £2, around 75% less than the usual retail price.

The scheme, which builds on a successful pilot held in seven stores last year, aims to cut down on in-store food waste while making food more accessible for local shoppers.

Customers reserve Lucky Dip bags through the Olio app and pay in-store, with items typically including short-dated chilled and ambient goods.

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The frozen food specialist says the initiative allows Iceland colleagues to manage Lucky Dip sales via the same integrated system already used for community food donations through Olio, helping to further minimise waste.

It is understood the food rescued through Iceland and Olio’s collaboration so far has prevented an estimated 4.5 million kilograms of food from going to waste, the equivalent environmental impact of saving 2.2 billion litres of water.

“As a part of our ‘Doing It Right’ philosophy, we’re committed to reducing food waste while supporting our customers and communities,” said Iceland director of product, process and sustainability Stuart Lendrum.

“The expansion of our partnership with Olio through the Lucky Dip scheme is a great example of how we can combine innovation and sustainability to make a real difference, ensuring good food is never wasted.”

Olio co-founder and COO Saasha Celestial-One added: “Working with Iceland on Lucky Dip bags has been a wonderful addition to our already highly impactful partnership.

“We’ve loved developing another way for retailers to fight food waste through Olio, streamlining discounting and surplus redistribution into one simple system, and taking the operational burden off store colleagues. We’re looking forward to seeing where this new discounting chapter takes us next!”