I work in a warehouse for one of the largest companies in the world. We pick groceries for customers and the drivers handle the delivery.
Sometimes there are products that have minor damage on the packaging. For example, a package of rice that is inside a sealed plastic bag, and the bag is inside of a cardboard box. One side of the box is open and can easily be closed with tape.
The plastic bag inside the box has no damage, perfectly fine. But since there is an opening in the outer box, it cannot be sold, which is understandable. But what is not acceptable is management telling us to throw the edible, clean, packaged, and non-expired food away instead of DONATING.
I realized that if all of it was donated, then shelters, food banks, and charity orgs would have a ton more inventory and word would spread fast. Resulting in less orders. Why buy when you could just get it for free?
This theory makes sense because the company sells so much product across thousands of warehouses, it would make a noticeable difference in the market if it supplied the public with all the food that is not presentable enough for customers.
If these giant corporations donated, then supply would go way up and demand goes down. All the canned food with minor dents thrown away, all the extras with no more storage space, all the food with slightly damaged boxes…a drop in the bucket in terms of revenue loss compared to the $$ they would lose if it was donated.
In conclusion, tossing perfectly edible food is a strategic business move that saves money and maintains market demand by ensuring supply is meticulously controlled.