Rite Aid enters partnership to reduce food waste

Rite Aid Corp. is collaborating with a food surplus tracking and donation platform.

The drugstore retailer is first retail pharmacy chain to partner with Copia, which provides a food surplus tracking and donation platform. Rite Aid will donate food items while leveraging Copia’s seamless surplus redistribution platform to track inventory, prove compliance and record impact in real time. 

The Copia platform will match Rite Aid with local nonprofit organizations focused on combating food insecurity. Minimizing waste is part of “Thriving Planet,” one of the four Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) pillars Rite Aid has been working toward since 2021, with the overarching goal of reducing its carbon footprint. 

The company says it continues to explore new partnerships and opportunities to further its efforts around waste reduction, fleet efficiency and energy demand.

“The health and wellness of others is at the center of everything we do, and Copia is empowering us to deliver on that promise in another deeply meaningful way,” said Joy Errico, senior VP, chief corporate affairs and communications officer for Rite Aid. “Together, we are poised to not only reduce waste but also support those who need it most, exemplifying the care and compassion that define our company’s values.”

“Copia is thrilled to partner with Rite Aid to power their donation program. Food waste is one of the largest contributors to methane emissions from landfills, and by choosing to donate surplus, Rite Aid is reducing their impact on the planet,” said Kimberly Smith, CEO of Copia. “Rite Aid’s donations are supporting so many wonderful nonprofits in the communities where they operate. We're happy to be the Donation Engine that allows national retailers like Rite Aid to scale their impact in a way that can be seen and felt on a local level.”

As of Feb. 29, Rite Aid operated 1,704 stores across the United States, according to its website.