Norway’s leading retailer of surplus food items
Holdbart at a glance
Holdbart is Norway's leading retailer of surplus food items, saving excess products which suppliers are unable to sell to conventional grocery chains and retail outlets. Products that are discontinued, overstocked, nearing their expiry date, or have old or faulty labels can be sold in Holdbart's physical stores or on their website, offered at up to 90% discount compared to their original prices.
Year acquired
Sector
Revenue
Location
Employees
Website
Investment themes
The challenges we face
Food waste is a significant and growing global issue. In Norway alone we wasted 400 000 tons of food in 2020, representing 1.3m tons of CO2e. Globally, food waste represents 8-10% of global GHG emissions.
of food wasted in Norway in 2020.
of CO2e emissions from food waste in Norway in 2021.
How does Holdbart help?
Reality today
Our food value chain is inefficient, with unnecessary waste from surplus food products due to overproduction, seasonal products, campaigns, and faulty items.
Holdbart approach
Holdbart purchases surplus food items and through its physical retail stores ensures access to affordable food items that would otherwise go to waste.
Aspirational future
A less wasteful, more circular food system that supports access to affordable food.
Who is impacted?
Producers, importers, and wholesalers gain a practical distribution channel for food which otherwise would have been wasted. Consumers across regions in Norway, including lower-income individuals and families, get a more affordable and sustainable shopping basket.
What are the impact considerations?
Additionality
Without Holdbart, a significant amount of food and retail products that could have been sold to consumers would go to waste.
Risks
Holdbart has limited control over the supply of surplus products, which could undermine its ability to consistently stock affordable, sustainable products.


