Uber said Tuesday that it is partnering with Albertsons Companies to redirect excess food waste from stores to nonprofits and food banks, beginning in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
The retailer will use Uber’s logistics network to transport the food surplus.
“At Albertsons Cos., we are committed to fighting food insecurity in the communities we serve,” said Suzanne Long, chief sustainability and transformation officer at Albertsons Cos, in a statement. “We are thrilled to partner with Uber to create a reliable donation pick-up program for our partner food recovery organizations, ensuring that the food donated from our stores gets to those in need.”
Uber also revealed several initiatives focused on food access that the service is committed to implementing by 2025. These initiatives were unveiled as part of the 2024 White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. They are as follows:
• Offering access to SNAP/EBT grocery delivery to all eligible retail partners on the platform across the U.S.,
• Providing zero delivery fees on all SNAP/EBT orders for customers using a valid EBT card associated with their Uber Eats account in connection with their purchase for two months,
• Embedding SNAP/EBT eligibility and application information in the Uber Eats app to help increase access and awareness of the SNAP program,
• Enabling health providers and community-based organizations to order grocery items on behalf of their patients and members to deliver ‘food as medicine’ using an integrated Uber Health and Uber Eats experience,
• Using Uber Health, providers will be able to select fresh food options and will be able to pay for these items using patients’ existing benefits, including SNAP and health insurance plans.