In this episode of Food Waste Matters, host Joanne dives into the inspiring journey of Maggie Quach, one of the creativeforces behind Beyond Best Before. This unique retail initiative tackles food waste by offering discounted, high-quality products that are near or past their“best before” date but still perfectly safe and delicious.

Key Highlights:

The Birth of Beyond Best Before: Maggie and her sister Katie launched Beyond Best Before in July 2023 as a pop-up shop, which quickly evolved into two permanent store locations inSydney and an online store delivering nationwide.

Innovative Business Model: The enterprise reduces food waste by rescuing surplus stock and products with minorpackaging imperfections, making premium brands accessible at lower costs.

Community Impact:Beyond Best Before collaborates with universities, non-profits like Head Space,and local organisations to raise awareness and support food waste reductioninitiatives.

Addressing Misconceptions:Maggie sheds light on widespread myths about “best before” dates and thequality of surplus food, demonstrating how food waste extends beyond individualhouseholds to systemic supply chain issues.

Future Goals: Beyond Best Before aims to expand partnerships with larger corporations, deepen community engagement, and launch more educational campaigns to combat food waste.

Maggie shares insights into their popular initiatives,including:

Meals in Minutes: Quickrecipes using rescued ingredients to inspire creativity in the kitchen.

Myth-Busting Sessions:Debunking common misconceptions about food safety and waste.

Waste-Less Wednesdays:Practical tips for reducing waste in everyday life.

This episode is a call to action for listeners to rethink their approach to food consumption and waste. Explore how innovative solutions like Beyond Best Before are reshaping perceptions, saving resources, and contributing to a sustainable future.