Sprouts Farmers Market has diverted more than 30 million pounds of unsold food from landfills since 2022 through a partnership with Careit, a food donation app that connects retailers with nonprofit organizations. The initiative addresses a significant sustainability challenge in the grocery sector, where nearly six million tons of unsold food is generated annually.
The partnership enables Sprouts to redirect surplus food to 216 independent nonprofits across the United States, preventing edible products from entering waste streams. The retailer has made food waste reduction a central component of its environmental, social, and governance strategy, donating more than 14 million pounds of surplus produce to food rescue agencies.
“We’re very produce-centric and proud that we can provide fresh food to our local community partners that feed those with diet restrictions who need a nutritious meal,” said Natasha Tofil, Sprouts Farmers Market Environmental Compliance Manager. “In the past, we would have to turn away nonprofits who requested donations, but with Careit, we have been able to easily onboard them to our program and foster more meaningful connections at a local level—the heart of our communities.”
The Careit platform handles administrative tasks including compliance tracking and environmental, social, and governance data collection, while connecting Sprouts locations with local nonprofit partners. The app provides a simplified donation logistics process, enabling nonprofits to document and track food diversions from landfills.
Sprouts Farmers Market expands waste diversion strategy
Carol’s Kindness Food Pantry has received nearly 1.05 million pounds of food from Sprouts since joining the Careit platform. “Before we joined Careit, we didn’t document anything. Now that we weigh everything and keep records, it’s amazing to see how many pounds are redirected and kept out of the landfill,” said Carol Rabun, the organization’s CEO.
Sprouts plans to expand its waste diversion efforts by incorporating an animal feed donation tracking component through the Careit platform. “The next evolution is expanding our animal feed program to get farmers on the Careit app who utilize our food that can’t be donated. This food has good life left in it that can be used for animal feed and soil regeneration,” Tofil said.
The retailer is also expanding weekend pickup options to accommodate smaller nonprofit organizations that cannot collect donations during weekday business hours. “We’re helping smaller organizations with a hope and a dream, to lift them up so they can feed the heart of local communities,” Tofil noted.
The partnership demonstrates how digital platforms can enable large-scale food retailers to implement systematic waste reduction programs while supporting community organizations addressing food insecurity.
