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What began as an idea to merge surplus food from restaurants with the technology used in on-demand food delivery has now evolved into a leader in food waste and hunger relief solutions. Award-winning entrepreneur and TED Speaker, Jasmine Crowe, founded Goodr in 2017 and recently announced that the company will be taking its mission to the streets with a new mobile truck.
The entrepreneur announced – on International Women’s Day – that Goodr was officially launching its mobile grocery store. It is a 26-foot truck stocked with free items such as fresh produce, milk and eggs. The Goodr mission focuses on cultivating resources for communities through a chain of dedicated partners who are equally committed to eliminating food waste and relieving hunger.
Crowe initially started the company after years of feeding people from her own pockets and kitchen. In the announcement post, she noted that the vision for the mobile Goodr grocery store began in 2020, but a need for funding delayed the process.
The Goodr technology model works by tracking an organization’s surplus food from pickup to donation as well as working with organizations to sponsor pop-up grocery stores for communities in need. The food waste portion of the company works by diverting inedible food waste from landfills to reduce greenhouse emissions, while the hunger relief portion brings food to underserved areas. Goodr associates transform an unused space into a temporary grocery store and in the case of schools, the company works to create an easy-access food pantry for children and their families. One of the unique features of the Goodr model is that the company takes on the coordinating and logistics of the pop-up shops. “This is about more than just a meal. It’s feeding hope, connecting families, and building better futures,” says Crowe.
The mobile truck allows patrons to scan the QR code on the vehicle to stay updated on its upcoming locations. The mobile grocery store truck was made possible through partnerships with companies, including Amazon, Verizon Wireless and Mail Chimp. Interested parties are able to partner with Goodr in its food waste management program and hunger relief program, or non-profits have the option of signing up to receive food donations.
Major corporations are not the groups that can take part in working with Goodr. Individuals can make donations to the company’s foundation by completing a form on the donation page. Since its inception, Goodr has provided more than 140,000 meals, with that number likely to increase due to the mobile grocery store and new partnerships.
