Lowes Foods Launches Grocery Discount Pilot in Columbia

The retailer is rolling out a food waste reduction program at five local stores to help shoppers save on groceries.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Couponing

Flat gouache-painted illustration of a canvas bag with fresh produce, representing a community food waste reduction initiative. — Lowes Foods has launched a grocery discount program in Columbia, allowing residents to purchase surplus food items through the Flashfood mobile app. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you use a grocery app to purchase discounted surplus food for your household?

Lowes Foods has partnered with the app Flashfood to offer discounted prices on surplus meat, dairy, produce, and baked goods. The program is now available at five locations across the Columbia market.

Why it matters

This initiative provides local residents with a way to stretch their grocery budgets while helping the retailer reduce overall food waste. The partnership aligns with efforts to manage inventory efficiency and address consumer demand for lower prices.

Customers can access discounts of up to 60% off retail prices for qualifying items. The program operates at five local stores where users manage all transactions through the Flashfood app.

The players

Lowes Foods

A grocery retailer headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that serves the Carolinas region.

Flashfood

A digital marketplace platform that connects consumers with grocery retailers to sell surplus food items at a discount.

The details

Shoppers browse the Flashfood app for available surplus goods and finalize their purchases digitally. Once ordered, customers pick up their items directly at the store customer service area.

October 29, 2026: The Flashfood program officially launches at five Columbia store locations.
2026: Shoppers using the Flashfood platform saved a total of over $55 million.

Culture Shift

This partnership follows the broader industry pattern of integrating third-party apps to monetize near-expiry inventory. It reflects a growing consumer shift toward sustainable, value-driven shopping habits that prioritize waste reduction alongside household savings.

Columbia residents can now utilize the app to secure significant discounts on fresh goods, directly impacting their weekly grocery spending. Users must be prepared to visit the store customer service desk to claim orders purchased through the app.

The takeaway

Using digital marketplaces for surplus goods is an effective way to lower household food costs while limiting household waste. Consumers should monitor the app frequently to secure the best availability of discounted meat and produce items.