West Concord, Mass.– Divert, Inc., a company focused on combating food waste through circular economy solutions, has announced the expansion of its organics recycling program across all Fred Meyer locations in the Pacific Northwest. The move extends a long-standing collaboration between Divert and Fred Meyer, a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., and marks a major step in scaling up regional efforts to prevent food from ending up in landfills.
The expanded partnership now includes all 105 Fred Meyer stores across Washington and Oregon. It builds on a relationship that began in 2018 and has already diverted millions of pounds of unsold food from the waste stream. In 2024 alone, the program helped prevent over 5.4 million pounds of food from going to landfills.
Divert’s proprietary technology enables more efficient processing of unsold food products while eliminating microplastics from compostable waste streams. The system also collects real-time store-level data, giving Fred Meyer critical insights into inventory management and food donation opportunities. This data-driven approach allows store teams to identify trends in unsold products, optimize ordering systems, and increase the volume of food donations to local communities.
Ben Kuethe Oaks, Vice President and General Manager of Retail at Divert, said the expanded program enhances visibility across Fred Meyer’s entire network. “We are unlocking new opportunities for waste prevention, food recovery, and operational efficiency,” he said. “This collaboration allows us to scale impact while delivering meaningful cost and time savings for our retail partners.”
Fred Meyer President Todd Kammeyer underscored the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. He said that integrating Divert’s technology into all store locations represents a significant step forward in reducing food waste and supporting a more sustainable future. “By working with Divert, we’re making it easier for our associates to contribute to our zero-waste goals while also feeding more people in need,” Kammeyer said.
The program not only supports Fred Meyer’s environmental goals but also contributes to broader community food security initiatives by improving the efficiency of donation efforts. Both companies say the expansion reflects a shared mission to advance sustainability, reduce unnecessary waste, and enhance operational effectiveness across the grocery retail sector.
