Toronto man says his 'UberEats-style' surplus food app has cut enough waste to feed 25,000 people
CBC
Tony Colley has come a long way over the past four years — from an idea he had while experiencing food insecurity to running a business that helps alleviate it.
It wasn't long ago that Colley, working for a Toronto catering company, noticed how much excess food was dumped after an event. His then-manager let staff, including Colley, take home food after a shift. But he noticed there was still lots left when guest numbers were lower than expected.
That's how the idea for Be One To Give, or B12Give, was born. Founded in 2019 to fight hunger in the Greater Toronto Area, Colley says the company has diverted approximately 15,000 kilograms of food waste — enough to feed 25,000 people since its inception.
"It operates like an UberEats-style delivery platform, but it's strictly for surplus food," Colley told CBC Toronto.
The idea is simple, he says: Restaurants and businesses notify B12Give through its app when they have surplus food. Then, the company picks it up and distributes it to local shelters and charities.
About 5.8 million people in Canada experienced some form of food insecurity in 2021, according to a study released by University of Toronto researchers last year.
"Many individuals and families are struggling today to afford food, which ultimately impacts their health and mental well-being," said Areej Al-Hamad, an assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University who specializes in food insecurity.
Canada is one of the top contributors to food waste globally, generating about 11 million metric tonnes annually, Al-Hamad said. Toronto alone contributes 99,000 tonnes of food waste each year, according to the city.
To help tackle that, Colley says the app also provides data to businesses to help them eliminate daily food surplus.
Not only does this reduce greenhouse gas emissions that come from food waste, Colley says, but businesses that reduce food waste will lower operating costs.
CBC Toronto first interviewed Colley in March 2020, the week before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. He says almost immediately following that interview, every single client of his shut down for nearly two years.
But Colley says he found success working with Toronto Metropolitan University at the beginning of 2022, and over the past few months he has begun working with the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, the Sheraton Conference Centre and Oliver & Bonacini.
Michael Bottomley, Oliver & Bonacini's hospitality manager, says the app has been useful for the hospitality and entertainment company, which operates a dozen and a half locations throughout Toronto.
"I think what Tony is doing is remarkable," he said.
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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