Karma fridge debuts at Ichiba

Food waste platform Karma plans to install 50 of its smart fridges across London by the end of the year, after going live at Japan Centre Ichiba in Westfield London.

The first smart fridge went live this month, and aims to reduce food waste by making it easier for Ichiba to sell food not bought before the end of the working day.

Ichiba, in Westfield London, is the first location in the UK to introduce the Karma fridge to their customers.

The refrigerator has a storage and pickup point for unsold food, with consumers making a purchase through the Karma app.

The fridge is unlocked using a mobile phone, enabled after a purchase is made.

Items are displayed on the order receipt in the Karma app, to be presented at checkout before leaving the food hall.

Karma has raised a total of $18m (£13.8m) investment to accelerate its expansion in the UK to new cities, as well as expand to new European markets.

The app works with 100s of restaurants in the UK including Polpo, Caravan, K10, Taylor St Barista’s, Ned’s Noodle Bar and Detox Kitchen.

Tak Tokumine, CEO at Japan Centre, which also operates Shoryu Ramen, said: “Finding solutions that promote a more sustainable way of consuming food is part of our company ethos. For Japan Centre Ichiba, the partnership with a start-up like Karma, who are experts on food waste, is a powerful way of making an impact on the food industry.”

Hjalmar Ståhlberg Nordegren, CEO and co- founder of Karma, said: “As one of London’s best retail and dining concepts, we are so excited to be bringing the Karma fridge to Japan Centre Ichiba. We know their customers, and Londoners in general, are avid foodies, digitally-savvy and environmentally conscious, so it’s the perfect home for the UK’s first ever Karma fridge.”