Lowes Foods Introduces Flashfood Pilot Program in Columbia to Expand Affordable Grocery Access and Reduce Waste

Lowes Foods, a Carolinas-based grocer headquartered in Winston-Salem, has partnered with Flashfood to launch a pilot program at five stores in the Columbia, South Carolina, market. Through the Flashfood app, guests can purchase surplus meat, produce, and other fresh foods at discounted prices, helping them stretch their grocery budgets while Lowes Foods reduces food waste.

Five Lowes Foods stores will be part of the pilot program:

• Forest Acres at 4711 Forest Drive

• Sandhill Village at 120 Forum Drive

• Lexington at 5222 Sunset Boulevard

• Lexington at 2440 Augusta Highway

• Red Bank at 5436 Platt Springs Road.

Through the Lowes Foods partnership with Flashfood, Columbia-area customers will be able to purchase fresh groceries that are in surplus or nearing their best-by date — including meat, dairy, produce, and baked goods — and receive discounts of up to 60 percent off retail price. Shoppers can browse available items, purchase directly from the app and collect their orders at the store’s customer service area, known as the Front Porch.

“We’re honored to partner with Flashfood to provide another way for our guests to get fresh products and save money, while creating less waste. This pilot program is a win-win-win for shoppers in the Columbia area,” Lowes Foods President Tim Lowe said. “The Flashfood program will help support Lowes Foods’ longstanding commitment to the communities we serve.”

Lowe said that if the Flashfood pilot proves successful in the Columbia region, Lowes Foods may introduce it to additional markets in coming months.

Flashfood shoppers have saved over $55 million in 2026 alone, said Jordan Schenck, CEO of Flashfood. “We want shoppers to be able to put fresh meat and produce on the table without stretching their grocery budget, and working with Lowes Foods gives their guests another way to save on those staples, while helping their stores sell quality food that might otherwise go to waste.”

In its recently published 2024 Impact Report, Flashfood demonstrates the role food waste plays in today’s affordability, health, and nutrition crisis. In a 2025 shopper survey, 70 percent of Flashfood shoppers reported a healthier diet since using Flashfood, and 65 percent report eating more fruits and vegetables. This is a powerful health outcome, and the partnership with Lowes Foods is an important step to achieving the availability required. It’s a tech-driven, scalable solution that drives value on both sides of the marketplace.