Swiss retailer Migros sells 'ugly' potatoes to slash food waste crisis

Switzerland is tackling food waste with a new initiative from its largest retailer. Migros has started selling 'ugly' potatoes—misshapen, oversized, or undersized—to cut down on discarded produce. The move comes as the country faces a major food waste problem, with nearly a third of all food ending up in the bin each year.

The 'Save Food' line launched on February 12, 2023, offering 3-kilogram bags of imperfect potatoes. Migros introduced the scheme after Swiss potato warehouses reported unusually high stock levels. As of January 31, 2023, storage held 51,000 tons of fresh-consumption potatoes—46% above the five-year average.

The Swiss Potato Producers' Association criticised the retailer for not consulting the industry beforehand. Niklaus Ramseyer, the association's president, argued that the initiative might even increase food waste if demand doesn't rise. He proposed boosting per capita potato consumption from 45 kilos to 50 kilos per year as a better solution.

Both Migros and rival retailer Coop have committed to halving food waste by 2030. Their waste reduction programmes form part of a broader effort to address Switzerland's 2.8 million tons of annual food waste. In 2023 alone, the country produced 360,394 tons of potatoes, highlighting the scale of potential waste.

The 'Save Food' line aims to make use of potatoes that would otherwise go unsold. Migros and Coop's waste reduction targets align with national efforts to cut down on discarded food. Whether the initiative reduces waste or requires further adjustments will depend on consumer uptake and industry collaboration.