Sainsbury’s has today announced the launch of a new online and mobile tool, designed to help families cut food waste and save money. The supermarket giant has developed the interactive tool, known as Sainsbury’s Food Rescue, in partnership with Google. Sainsbury’s Food Rescue offers people practical help and inspiration on using ingredients that can often be left at the back of the cupboard or tucked away in the depths of the fridge. So what are the key features of the innovative new tool? Let’s take a look:
Saving money
The new tool is aimed at the growing number of Brits whose desire to waste less and cut food costs has led to careful meal planning and the use of leftovers to make their hard-earned cash go that little bit further. Data from the efficiency experts at WRAP shows that 4.2 million tonnes of food and drink is wasted every year, with the average family losing around £60 a month. By offering households inspiration on how to use the groceries they already have, Sainsbury’s Food Rescue could save families hundreds of pounds every year.
Voice recognition
Google has also revealed that searches for recipes using leftovers have increased by a third since 2013, with 64% of those queries carried out on mobile devices. Sainsbury’s Food Rescue uses the latest mobile voice technology to offer instant recipe inspiration to those at home or on the move, allowing users to speak directly to the app or input information manually. Simply give the tool up to nine ingredients and then receive recipe inspiration from over 1,200 choices, featuring everything from simple snacks to show stopping suppers.
Making saving fun
To make the saving fun, Sainsbury’s Food Rescue uses live updates to record the weight of rescued food and the money saved per completed recipe. This is then displayed on a leaderboard that shows which parts of the country are leading the way in the food rescuing revolution. You’ll also be able to see the most rescued ingredient in your region as well as the most popular recipes being cooked across the country.
Speaking about the new tool, Sarah Warby, Marketing Director of Sainsbury’s said: “Shopping habits have really changed. Families are savvier than ever, looking for practical help to make the most of the food in their cupboards and fridges. We’ve created Sainsbury’s Food Rescue with Google to inspire people to turn the food items they already have into something delicious.”
Donal MacManus, Head of Agency Marketing at Google added: “More British people than ever are online and this growth is driven by tablets and smartphones. The average household in the UK has 3.1 devices – the highest in Europe. Using our voice search technology, the Food Rescue tool allows Sainsbury’s customers to use up the food that they might otherwise throw away.”
You can try the tool yourself at Sainsburys.co.uk/FoodRescue.
And why not try our top tips for avoiding food waste?
1. Bananas: Slice up overripe bananas and put them in the freezer. When you’re making a smoothie, pop them in to add some extra flavour!
2. Bagged salad: After you’ve opened your bag of salad, place a sheet of kitchen roll in the bag and put it back in the fridge to extend the salad’s life.
3. Celery: Wrap it in foil and keep it in your fridge to ensure its fresh for weeks.
4. French bread: If it seems on the stale side, sprinkle it with water and pop it in a hot oven for five minutes for a fresh and crusty loaf!
5. Tomato puree: Once you’ve opened your tube or jar, squeeze the remainder into an ice cube tray and pop the cubes out when they’re needed.
