Buy, sell and donate surplus food products quickly and easily to a network of verified businesses and charitable organizations
Marketplace
Resources
New to the Marketplace? Share details of your products and we’ll create your first listing for you
Who the Marketplace is for
Any type of food business can use the Marketplace as a supplier and/or consumer.
Select the option that applies to you for more information.
I have surplus food
How it works
For the occasions you have large quantities of surplus food, get connected with a network of verified organizations to take that food. You can choose to either sell it at a discounted price and recover some of your costs, or donate it to a charitable organization.
Post
You create a listing for the product(s) you are looking to sell or donate, including product specs, quantity, photos, and the terms for delivery.
Notify
Notify organizations about your new listing (only charitable organizations will be notified if your product is for donation)
Exchange
Our network of verified users can purchase the products you are selling using their credit cards. Products listed for donation can be claimed by charities only. They will contact you directly to coordinate pickup or delivery.
Success
Your surplus food is put to good use – yey!
Benefits of using the Marketplace
Choose to either try to sell your surplus food, packaging and equipment (and recover some of your costs) or donate it
Connect quickly and easily to verified customers and donation recipients
Decrease your disposal and compost fees
Control who can see your listings
Track your sales and donations
Get charitable tax receipts for your donations
FAQ for suppliers
How to create a listing
If you’re a first-time user, you can share details of your surplus product using this form, and we will create your first listing for you. We’ll be in touch before we make the listing live, so you can see what it looks like.
If you’re a returning user, you can simply log into your account and create your new listing there.
For help, please refer to these detailed instructions.
How to price products
We ask sellers to offer products at 50% or more below cost. The Marketplace is not intended to be a platform to make profit, but rather to help you recover some of your costs, and save money that you would otherwise pay to dispose of the food.
How much it costs
It is completely free to donate products through the Marketplace. Products that you sell through the Marketplace however, are subject to a 15% service fee.
How delivery works
When you create your listing, you can choose to either have your product available for pick up and/or offer to deliver it.
How payment works
For products that you sell on the Marketplace, we will issue your payment by electronic bank transfer for the amount you sold it for, minus the 15% service fee (which includes GST), once your product leaves your warehouse.
If there is an issue with food you donate
There is a legislation called the Food Donor Encouragement Act that protects food donors from liability for damages caused by donations of apparently wholesome food that they donate in good faith.
How your organization’s information is kept confidential
The information you input into the Marketplace will not be visible to anyone outside of the FoodMesh network.
“FoodMesh has enabled us to reach more charities by simplifying how we donate food, increasing our traceability, and helping us gather KPI on our social and environmental metrics. We no longer have to spend time calling multiple charities and then track outside of our system. All of the metrics and transactions are gathered efficiently via the Marketplace
– Johanne Pilon, Temple Brands
I am looking for food
How it works
Browse a wide range of products that are available for you to buy at a low cost. If you are a charitable organization, you will also be able to view and claim food available for donation.
Browse
Browse a wide range of suppliers’ surplus products that are available for sale or donation.
Review
Review the supplier’s terms, including minimum order size and whether the supplier is willing to negotiate on quantity and price.
Select
Select your desired product(s), contact the supplier to arrange pick up (or delivery, if they offer it), and go to the checkout.
Success
Securely use your credit card to pay for products you choose to purchase.
FoodMesh is always helpful and efficient, offering the best of local produce and products. FoodMesh has helped many families through some difficult times by offering cost-effective solutions that fit the sustainable food system model and by offering quality nutritious foods at a great price.
– Local hunger relief organization
Benefits of using the Marketplace
Decrease your food procurement costs - buy or receive donated food, equipment and packaging
Completely free to use - you only pay for the items you choose to buy
Access high-quality products
Make informed, pressure-free decisions
Follow companies you know and trust
Get started
Register for the Marketplace so you can view active listings.
To be eligible to receive donations, we will need to verify that you are a charitable organization, which we will do as part of your account set up.
FAQ for consumers
Who can claim donations through the Marketplace
To access food donations via the Marketplace, you must be either:
- a registered charity
- a non-profit organization
- a social impact business
- another type of organization using the donations for a social impact cause
How to browse listings on the Marketplace
You need to create an account on the Marketplace before you can browse the listings. Signing up is quick, easy and completely free to do.
Register for the Marketplace
Once you’ve clicked on the email to verify your email address, you will receive another email to set a password. Shortly after you will be contacted by a FoodMesh representative to finalize the account set up so you can start browsing the listings!
You can then log in to the Marketplace and browse what’s available to buy. If you’re a registered charity or a non-profit organization, you can also browse products that are listed for donation.
How to buy/claim a donated product
Add your desired products to your shopping cart. When you are ready to process your order, click on the shopping cart icon in the top right corner of the Marketplace. Review your order, and click on the ‘Checkout’ button, and follow the steps to submit your order request.
How payment works
There are minimum order quantities set by each supplier, and some offer O.B.O. on price – so you can put in an offer.
You can complete the payment for paid products using a credit card. Your card is charged once the supplier ‘accepts’ your order.
Once the payment is processed, you will receive a receipt directly from Stripe (our payment provider).
How delivery works
On the details of the listing you are interested in, the supplier chooses whether they offer delivery or pickup only. Please message the supplier directly if you have any questions about their chosen option.
How your organization’s information is kept confidential
The information you input into the Marketplace will not be visible to anyone outside of the FoodMesh network.
How to issue a tax receipt to a supplier for the donations you receive from them
Donors may request a donation receipt or prefer to donate their surplus to organizations that can issue one. Note that only certain organizations and entities are legally authorized to issue official donation receipts for tax purposes. Please visit the CRA website to check if your organization is eligible and for the requirements on issuing receipts.
Have a question?
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.