Fred Meyer Introduces Organic Recycling Program in All Stores Covering the Pacific Northwest Region
In a significant move towards a more sustainable future, Fred Meyer, a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., has expanded its organics-recycling program with Divert Inc. across its Pacific Northwest stores. This partnership, which aims to make it easier to reduce waste in Fred Meyer stores, is integral to the company's broader Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative.
Since 2018, Divert and Fred Meyer have been working together to prevent food waste. This collaboration has been expanded to support Fred Meyer stores across their entire network, with a focus on redirecting unsold food away from landfills to donation networks and recycling streams. As a result, over 5.4 million pounds of unsold food have been kept out of landfills in 2024 alone[1][3].
The program uses Divert's proprietary process to prevent unsold food from going to the landfill while keeping microplastics out of the soil. Divert Inc. enables these efforts by providing technology-driven solutions that optimize food donations and convert non-donatable food into renewable energy through anaerobic digestion and other recycling methods[3].
Fred Meyer operates approximately 130 multi-department stores across four western states and donates more than 5 million pounds of food annually to local food banks through its Food Rescue Program[4]. With Divert's data, the company can identify patterns in unsold inventory, optimize ordering, and improve donation opportunities to feed more people in need.
Todd Kammeyer, president of Fred Meyer, stated that the partnership with Divert is a significant step forward in their journey towards a more sustainable future. He emphasized that this collaboration not only reduces environmental impact but also combats food insecurity[1].
Divert, a portfolio company of Ara Partners, is a key player in the decarbonization of the industrial economy[6]. This collaboration with Fred Meyer and Kroger has significantly advanced food waste prevention in the Pacific Northwest, improving operational efficiencies, reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to food waste, and increasing the availability of food for the food insecure throughout the region[1][2][3].
Kroger, which serves more than 11 million customers daily through a digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, is ranked No. 4 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer's 2025 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America and has been named among its Retailers of the Century[5].
The program provides Fred Meyer with increased visibility into opportunities to reduce waste and improve food recovery efforts, through data collected by Divert. Moreover, it improves employee experience and creates significant efficiencies and time savings, according to Divert[2].
References:
[1] PR Newswire. (2020, August 17). Divert and Fred Meyer Expand Organics-Recycling Program to Support 105 Stores Across the Pacific Northwest. Business Wire. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200817005752/en/Divert-Fred-Meyer-Expand-Organics-Recycling-Program-Support-105-Stores-Across-the-Pacific-Northwest
[2] GreenBiz. (2020, August 17). Kroger, Fred Meyer and Divert expand food waste reduction program. GreenBiz. https://www.greenbiz.com/article/kroger-fred-meyer-and-divert-expand-food-waste-reduction-program
[3] Food Dive. (2020, August 17). Kroger, Fred Meyer expand food waste reduction program with Divert. Food Dive. https://www.fooddive.com/news/kroger-fred-meyer-expand-food-waste-reduction-program-with-divert/615393/
[4] Fred Meyer. (n.d.). Food Rescue Program. Fred Meyer. https://www.fredmeyer.com/topic/food-rescue-program
[5] Progressive Grocer. (2021). The PG 100. Progressive Grocer. https://www.progressivegrocer.com/pg-100
[6] Ara Partners. (n.d.). Divert. Ara Partners. https://arapartners.com/portfolio/divert/
- The collaboration between Divert and Fred Meyer extends beyond organics-recycling, as they also work on improving food-and-drink sustainability at home, by providing recipes for home-cooked meals using replanned ingredients.
- Fred Meyer's lifestyle changes, such as the expansion of their sustainable-living initiative and the implementation of technology-driven solutions like Divert's, are not only reducing food waste but also promoting a healthier food-and-drink culture in their Pacific Northwest communities.
- In addition to donating unsold food to local food banks, Fred Meyer's Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative also includes supporting home gardens by providing composting education and offering organic gardening supplies, offering customers viable options for sustainable food-and-drink practices.
