On September 29, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is celebrated, a date that has been observed since 2019 at the initiative of the United Nations General Assembly. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of reducing food loss and waste. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 13% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail.

In this context, SMU and its subsidiaries, Unimarc, Alvi, Mayorista 10, and Super 10, aim to make a significant difference in climate action. One of the company’s sustainability pillars is to promote responsible production and consumption practices, contributing to the circular economy and social well-being.

SMU's food waste reduction program focuses on cutting down greenhouse gas emissions from food that would otherwise go uneaten. This requires collaboration across various company departments, defining an appealing product assortment for customers, and planning proper supply aligned with demand. Since 2021, SMU has successfully implemented two programs that have rescued more than 21,492 tons of food: “Pronto consumo” and “-Desperdicio+Conciencia”.

Marcela Salas, SMU's Sustainability Manager, highlighted, “We are very proud of what we've accomplished so far. Preventing food waste is a global challenge and a key objective for our company, forming one of our strategic pillars and a comprehensive commitment that we are working toward with conviction across the country. We continue to explore new ways to mitigate the social, economic, and environmental impact we create.”

“Pronto consumo” and “-Desperdicio+Conciencia”

The "Pronto consumo" program allows for the sale of products that are nearing their expiration date but are still in optimal condition for consumption. These items are offered at significant discounts, ranging from 30% to 50%, encouraging customers to purchase them, thus helping reduce food waste while benefiting from savings.

The "-Desperdicio+Conciencia" program is responsible for donating products to social organizations that can use them. Additionally, items that are unfit for human consumption are given to animal rescue and care organizations. Lastly, some product categories, although not suitable for sale or donation, can still be repurposed as raw materials for the production of new goods.

In 2024, SMU has donated a total of 590.1 tons of food and recovered 39 tons. Since the start of these initiatives, SMU has donated 2,108.2 tons of rescued food to institutions, while 258.6 tons have been recovered for other uses. Furthermore, in 2023, the company increased its non-wasted food tonnage by 11.3% compared to 2022, reflecting the growing impact of the implemented initiatives.