Flashfood names new president

Flashfood, a Toronto-based digital marketplace that connects consumers to discounted food nearing its best-by date, has announced the addition of Nicholas Bertram to the leadership team in a newly created position of president and chief operating officer (COO).

Bertram will accelerate Flashfood’s growth and enhance the capabilities and innovation that reduce food insecurity and waste.

Bertram’s appointment comes on the heels of year in which the company diverted more than 65 million pounds of food from landfills—a milestone achieved following the company’s rapid expansion to over 1,550 grocery stores across North America. Flashfood also has saved shoppers more than $150 million on grocery bills as food costs at home have risen more than 11 percent during the past year.

The Flashfood app enables consumers to browse deals from a phone as a way to save up to 50 percent on high-quality items nearing their best-by date, such as meats, dairy, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery items and more. Shoppers can order food on their phones and pick up their order from the FlashfoodZone inside participating stores.

Bertram joins the company with more than 20 years of experience in the retail industry where he has dedicated his career to achieving sustainability, innovation and growth for companies including Jewel-Osco, Walmart and most recently as president of The Giant Company, an Ahold Delhaize brand.

“Nick brings an unprecedented level of first-hand leadership experience with some of the biggest names in the retail sector,” Flashfood founder and CEO Josh Domingues says. “His vision and successes around sustainable retailing align perfectly with our company’s mission to reduce food that is wasted throughout the retail sector. Nick has seen how the level of waste experienced by grocers represents billions of dollars in lost revenue and understands the massive impact this also has on our planet. More importantly, he understands how this food could have helped families which is a shared passion he brings to Flashfood that will help fuel our next phase of growth.”

As the new president and COO of Flashfood, Bertram will work with Domingues and internal department leaders to develop innovations that resolve the related problems of food insecurity and food waste.

“I have never been more excited about the collective impact the food industry, sustainability-minded investors and technology companies like Flashfood can have on our future,” said Bertram. “Josh and the rest of the board of directors have given me an amazing opportunity to join at this stage with such a talented team and unique product.”