From Budapest to Bucharest: Munch’s journey to combat food waste and expand into Romania

A Hungarian food rescue startup called Munch is expanding its operations into Romania starting in March, intensifying its efforts to ease food waste in the region. While already established in Bucharest, the startup aims to broaden its reach to additional cities across Romania this year.

In the summer of 2020, four young students in Budapest developed an app to combat food waste in Hungary’s catering industry, aiming to introduce eco-friendly practices. The startup company has grown significantly globally ever since.

In 2022, the company merged with Nesnezeno, a Czech-founded company, and now has over 3,500 partners across Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to tackle food waste. Starting in March this year, their food rescue service will expand to Romania, according to Piacesprofit.hu.

About Munch

As stated on their website, Munch is driven by a mission to revolutionise our approach to food waste and foster a sustainable future. Their vision aims to maximise the value of every food item produced and consumed and they are actively seeking passionate and innovative individuals to join their expanding team.

Munch provides a straightforward yet effective solution to address the issue of food waste with approximately one-third of food produced going uneaten. By offering a platform for restaurants and shops to sell unsold yet quality food at discounted prices, Munch contributes to making food production more sustainable across environmental, social and economic dimensions.

Munch’s next destination: Romania

Grand Hotel Continental, Bucharest, Romania. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Mihai Petre

European Union statistics indicate that approximately 2.2 million tonnes of food are discarded annually in Romania with around 30% of this waste originating from the catering sector.

Munch presents a solution to mitigate this issue offering a means to eliminate food waste. The startup’s expansion in Romania marks a pivotal moment for the company, representing a valuable opportunity to reduce food waste in the region substantially and actively contribute to enhancing sustainability efforts.

In its quest for successful expansion, Munch has strategically assembled a local team boasting extensive local expertise, led by Alexandru Turcanu, who previously served as the Head of Strategic Sales at the Dutch-based multinational Just Eat Takeaway. While the food rescue service presently operates solely in Bucharest, ongoing opportunities are available for restaurants to join forces with the rapidly expanding company.

Moreover, the company has numerous open positions, both domestically and internationally, reflecting its dynamic growth trajectory.

How can you use Munch yourself?

There are two options for using Munch; either through a web browser by visiting their website or by downloading the app onto your smartphone (the app is simply called Munch). Upon registration, you gain access to browse the discounted products, similar to other ordering apps. Alongside purchasing food items, the platform also allows its users to make donations directly within the app or through the web browser.

Read also:

• Mouth-watering: This is the tastiest Hungarian food according to foreigners – HERE
• Top 10 worst Hungarian dishes according to foreigners – HERE