Muhammad Agung Saputra: Innovative Solutions To Food Waste

Summary

Surplus, founded by Muhammad Aun Saputra, is an Indonesian marketplace app that connects users to food suppliers selling excess, untouched food at a 50% discount. Launched in 2020, the platform addresses food waste and food insecurity by offering businesses a way to sell overstocked or near-expiry food. Surplus not only helps users save money but also contributes to environmental sustainability. Despite initial stigma, the app has gained traction and expanded to multiple cities in Indonesia. With a goal to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030, Surplus is making a significant impact on food security and climate action.

Takeaways

• 😀 Surplus is an Indonesian online marketplace that helps reduce food waste by offering excess food from restaurants, hotels, and cafes at a 50% discount.
• 😀 The platform was founded by Muhammad Aun Saputra in 2020 and initially began as a community-driven initiative to tackle food waste and food loss.
• 😀 Surplus focuses on food security in Indonesia, a country with high food waste rates and challenges caused by overpopulation.
• 😀 Despite initial skepticism and negative stigma around selling excess food, Surplus successfully shifted public perception and grew its user base to over 50,000.
• 😀 The app works by notifying users about discounted food offers from nearby businesses, usually at the end of the day or just before closing time.
• 😀 During Ramadan, Surplus helps F&B businesses manage surplus food after iftar (breaking the fast) and avoid financial losses from unsold food.
• 😀 Surplus differentiates itself by using the term 'off-stock products' instead of 'waste,' emphasizing that the food is still edible and safe to consume.
• 😀 The Surplus app offers consumers three main benefits: saving 50% on food costs, contributing to environmental sustainability, and reducing food waste.
• 😀 Surplus operates in multiple Indonesian cities, including Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Malang, and plans to expand further into Bali and Surabaya.
• 😀 Surplus has already saved over 2 tons of food and avoided potential losses for over 2,000 businesses, contributing to both financial recovery and environmental sustainability.
• 😀 Surplus aims to halve food waste in Indonesia by 2030, aligning with global sustainability goals and reducing CO2 emissions from landfills.

Q & A

What is Surplus, and how did it start?

Surplus is an Indonesian online marketplace that partners with food and beverage businesses to sell excess, perfectly edible food at a discount. It started as a small community project in 2019, focusing on raising awareness about food waste. The company then expanded by combining sustainability with technology through an app, which was launched in 2020.

Why did Surplus choose to focus on food waste in Indonesia?

Surplus was founded out of concern for food security in Indonesia. The country faces a significant population problem, and with Indonesia being the second largest food waster in the world, the founders were worried about the potential poverty and criminality caused by food insecurity in the future.

How does Surplus work for consumers?

Consumers can download the Surplus app to access discounted food items from partner restaurants, cafes, and hotels. The app notifies users about available offers for food that would otherwise go to waste, with discounts of up to 50%. These offers are posted during specific time windows before business closing hours.

What challenges did Surplus face when first launched in 2020?

When Surplus first launched its app in 2020, there was a significant negative stigma surrounding the sale of excess or near-expiry food in Indonesia. Many people were skeptical, even mocking the company, but Surplus persevered by educating the public and demonstrating the value of rescuing perfectly edible food.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Surplus' growth?

The pandemic caused a shift in consumer behavior, with more people ordering food online. This change helped Surplus grow, even though the company initially faced rejection. The pandemic provided an opportunity for Surplus to reach more people who were ordering food more frequently through digital platforms.

What are the operational hours for food offers on Surplus?

Food offers on Surplus are typically posted during specific windows when restaurants or hotels have excess or near-expiry food, often one or two hours before closing time. For instance, they may offer breakfast items in the morning, lunch items in the afternoon, and dinner items in the evening.

How does Surplus notify users about food deals?

Surplus sends notifications to users within a 5-kilometer radius when nearby merchants offer discounted food. The notifications alert users to the availability of food at reduced prices, making it easy for them to take advantage of these deals.

What are the benefits for food suppliers and businesses that join Surplus?

Businesses that partner with Surplus benefit by reducing food waste, reaching new customers, and increasing revenue by selling excess food at a discount. They also gain an environmentally friendly image by participating in the movement to reduce food waste.

What is a 'Surplus Hero,' and how can someone become one?

A 'Surplus Hero' refers to users who rescue food through the Surplus app. By purchasing excess food at discounted rates, these users help reduce food waste, save money, and contribute to sustainability. Becoming a Surplus Hero means actively using the app to support the mission of reducing food waste.

What are Surplus' long-term goals for the future?

Surplus aims to significantly expand its impact, save more food, reduce carbon emissions, and help achieve food security in Indonesia by 2030. The company also plans to double or triple its current reach and contribute to global sustainability efforts, particularly in reducing food waste and promoting environmental responsibility.