According to the latest UN research, 17% of the food produced worldwide is wasted every year, starting in 2021. In addition, 8% to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions come from food that is produced and not consumed. And since these ugly products, even if they were born like this from the ground, are not sold in department stores, no one escapes. Now they have a job opportunity too.
This is how the French company Bene Bono, born in 2020, arrived in Madrid at the beginning of February and is about to start operations in Barcelona and Valencia, understands this. The company sells organic fruit and vegetable baskets online, which are not accepted in major supermarkets. “Because they have spots, strange shapes or calibers. [tamaño] that prevents them from being sold there,” he explains. camille martinez, the manager of the company in Madrid. The company billed two million euros worldwide last year.
Bene Bono claims to have saved 27.5 million liters of water by reusing around 55 tons of fruit and vegetables that would have been wasted since his arrival in Spain. Approximately 2,250 liters are saved for each basket. And globally, the numbers are growing rapidly. Since birth, 300,000 kilos of CO2 emissions saved and, according to their data, approximately 490,000 million liters of water.
neighborhood trade
Via a weekly subscription, users can pick up the cart at home or go to pick it up at physical locations, usually small businesses. “We want to connect customers with small neighborhood stores,” he explains. Martinez. They start the experience with 130 in Madrid and 42 in Barcelona. The customer can buy 4.5 kilos of fruit and vegetables for 14 Euros or 9 kilos for 27 Euros. Products that cannot be selected are currently determined by the company.
While the company chooses not to disclose its affiliations with growers, it acknowledges that the price it pays for these ugly fruits and vegetables is less than it would pay for standard ones. “Our business opportunity is really out there,” he says. Martinez– but the farmer also earns income for a product whose sales amount will be zero,” he said.
What it calculates is the benefit to the consumer. According to the manager, customer saves up to 30% more than would be spent in a store specializing in organic products.
“Long-term relationship
“Our relationship with farmers and cooperatives is very close and long-term. We work with them for a long time so they understand what level of quality we need,” he explains. They operate in Spain with around 30 producers scattered throughout the region. With them, the conditions of the product, which must be at the “optimal ripening point”, are agreed. The company knows “exactly what to buy each week” and “buying too much doesn’t make sense because it will go to waste.”
Bene Bono goes through both product quality and responsible employment filters to select professionals. Martinez. And while she understands that there are some farmers who might consider embarking on the adventure alone, she thinks they “may have a hard time marketing these products alone.” Its aim with this argument is to continue expanding in Spain and “bring this fruit and vegetable recovery mission to Europe”.
Next landing in Barcelona and Valencia
Next Monday, May 29, Bene Bono will launch in Barcelona and in June in Valencia. Although the purchase of products will continue to be made in Madrid, they will be shipped from there to these cities. And that transportation has a cost in emissions. However, by not wasting a produced food, it is “balanced” by the water and CO2 saved, he continues. camille martinez. But the idea is to increase the number of warehouses so that there is one in each area where they operate. “We’ve been in Spain very little and we’re still not getting paid due to the volume of demand. We will decide based on growth,” he says.
The company has so far 1,500 customers who buy about 1,000 baskets per week. However, the forecast will reach 4,000 users by the end of the quarter. 22 employees work in Madrid, the same number will be in Barcelona and Valencia.
Currently, the user can change one of the products included in the offer. And the goal from the end of the year is that you can make your own basket. In addition, as of September, there will be an option to purchase other products such as oil, oats and jam.
“We bring a product that is more beneficial for health and the environment by offering a more accessible price to customers who cannot afford it at the market price,” summarizes the head of the company in Madrid.