the good anti-waste vein of a start-up from Seine-Saint-Denis

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Candy is to Halloween what chocolates are to Easter. Surplus. Overstocking, change of packaging or expiration date justifies removing these products from the shelves. Enough to tickle the spirit of initiative of Clément Méry and Jonathan Negrin, the co-founders of the anti-waste start-up Willy. As in the film where the child saves the orca, the two friends save food from the trash.

With their e-commerce, which has become leader of the anti-gaspi since its creation in 2022 in Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis), they have offered consumers a simple concept: throw away less to spend less.

Overstocked candy

Supermarkets have once again seen Halloween candy arriving en masse as October 31, 2024 approaches. Now that the fateful date has passedthey rush towards the trash cans. A few treats could be saved thanks to the two Audonian entrepreneurs. On the eve of this celebration, “eleven products” were presented on the online platform. The number could therefore “double or triple”.

At Willy anti-waste, these foodstuffs marked with ghosts and witches are offered 30% cheaper than elsewhere. “Large distribution imposes minimum stocks on suppliers to market their products. They are therefore forced to overproduce them,” explains Clément Méry. According to him, this requirement of sour stockage is the main reason for wasting candy.

A positive impact

The catalog offered by Willy anti-waste evolves daily depending on the day's draft. Since 2022, 500,000 dry and hygiene products were saved from the teeth of the dumpster. Food waste has always been “a risk for the planet”. In Saint-Ouen, it was transformed into an “opportunity” for business and wallets. The start-up, which went from 2 to 19 employees in the blink of an eye, works with 250 producers and brands. It also has its requirements: the goods must be local, organic and with honorable nutri-scores.

Collaboration is as beneficial for health as it is for the budget. Everyday products are at reduced prices, on average -25 to -50%. Enough to attract nearly 100,000 customers and retain 25,000. “We have an engaged community, there is a relationship of trust which was created”, underlines Clément Méry whose desire to offer “a box with a positive impact” has constantly guided the projects.

After testing the textile sector in Sri Lanka and catering in New York, he finally took action against food waste in Île-de-France. “They are very different sectors but there was projects with a positive impact“, he recalls. In 2021 he and Jonathan Negrin formed their duo by launching an organic online grocery store. The concept evolves and gives birth to anti-waste Willy from which he draws an observation: “certain periods produce even more unsold items such as the start of the school year, Easter… And this, during and after the date”, summarizes the entrepreneur who is preparing a free distribution of school diaries for students at the University of Saint-Denis on Wednesday November 6.

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