When founders Hari, Dato Siva and Vishnu started Value Food, they saw a growing problem across the F&B industry, perfectly edible food being thrown away simply because it was unsold.
After witnessing food wastage firsthand in the retail food industry, they created a platform that connects cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and retailers with consumers through discounted surplus food listings.
Today, Value Food helps businesses reduce waste while giving consumers access to more affordable meals. In this interview, Hari and the team share how the platform works, the challenges of building trust in a new concept, how merchants and users have responded so far, and the long-term vision behind creating a more sustainable food ecosystem in Malaysia.
1. For readers discovering Value Food for the first time, could you share what the company does and what makes your platform different from others?
Founded in 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Value Food set out with one clear goal: help businesses waste less and help people access great food for less.
We work with hotels, supermarkets, cafés, retailers, and food outlets to turn their extra meals and groceries into affordable offers for the public.
By giving surplus food a second life, we save resources, cut unnecessary waste, and support a more sustainable food system.
2. How did the idea for Value Food come about? Was there a defining moment?
The idea was conceived during a discussion between the founders.
While working at one of Malaysia’s largest convenience store chains, they observed a significant amount of food wastage, including expired products being discarded daily.
This experience highlighted a critical issue within the retail food industry and inspired the foundation of this initiative.
3. What is Value Food’s business model, and what is its core mission?
At Value Food, we’ve built a model where everyone benefits people, businesses, and the planet.
Our mission is simple: stop edible food from ending up as waste.
This helps businesses turn unsold items into extra income, gives consumers access to fresh food at better prices, and supports partners in protecting the environment.
4. In the early days, what were the biggest challenges in building the platform?
In the early stages of building the value food platform, the biggest challenges included establishing partnerships with merchants, building trust in a new concept, ensuring consistent food quality and educating merchants about the value proposition of reducing food waste while offering affordable options.
5. Since surplus food is unpredictable, how does Value Food manage availability and keep the platform reliable for users?
Surplus food is naturally unpredictable, as it depends on daily sales patterns, inventory levels, and seasonal demand.
To manage this variability, Value Food works closely with merchant partners to implement structured listing windows and real-time inventory updates.
6. Food safety and freshness are critical in your model. How does Value Food ensure quality and build trust with both merchants and customers?
Food safety and freshness are fundamental to Value Food’s operating model.
We work exclusively with verified merchant partners and establish clear guidelines on food handling, storage standards, and safe consumption timeframes. Only items that meet defined quality and safety criteria are listed on the platform.
To maintain consistency, merchants are required to follow structured packaging, including clear collection times and recommended consumption guidance. This ensures transparency and minimizes risk.
On the platform side, we implement a rating and feedback system that allows customers to share their experiences, creating accountability and continuous improvement among partners.
By combining strict merchant onboarding standards and transparent customer feedback, Value Food builds trust with both merchants and consumers while upholding high standards of food safety and freshness.
7. How have F&B businesses responded to the Value Food platform so far?
F&B businesses have responded positively to the Value Food platform. Many partners appreciate the ability to reduce unsold inventory that would otherwise go to waste, turning potential loss into incremental revenue.
Beyond the financial benefits, many business owners share our mission of reducing food waste and see the platform as a way to enhance their sustainability credentials with minimal effort.
This alignment of economic and environmental value has fostered strong engagement and repeat participation from a diverse range of F&B partners.
8. What are the most common concerns merchants have before joining, and how does the company address them?
Before joining the platform, the most common concerns from merchants typically revolve around brand perception, food safety liability, operational complexity, and potential impact on regular sales.
Some businesses worry that offering surplus food at reduced prices may dilute their brand image. We address this by positioning Value Food as a sustainability-driven initiative focused on reducing food waste, rather than a discount platform.
Clear communication and controlled listing windows help protect brand integrity. Some businesses worry that offering surplus food at reduced prices may dilute their brand image.
We address this by positioning Value Food as a sustainability-driven initiative focused on reducing food waste, rather than a discount platform. Clear communication and controlled listing windows help protect brand integrity.
9. What types of F&B businesses are you currently looking to partner with, and are they concentrated in specific locations or expanding across different areas?
Value Food is currently looking to partner with a wide range of F&B businesses, including
convenience stores, bakeries, cafés, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and food manufacturers that regularly experience surplus or near-expiry inventory.
10. For someone new to Value Food, how can they get started and use the app?
Getting started with Value Food is simple and user-friendly.
First, users download the Value Food app and create an account. Once registered, they can browse available surplus food listings from nearby participating merchants. Each listing clearly shows the food type, collection time window, and discounted price.
Users can then reserve and pay securely through the app. At the designated collection time, they simply visit the merchant, present their confirmation, and collect their order.
The entire process is designed to be seamless, convenient, and transparent — allowing users to enjoy quality food at affordable prices while contributing to the reduction of food waste.
11. Since launching the app, what impact has Value Food seen so far — in terms of reducing food waste, supporting merchants, and user participation?
Since launching the app, Value Food has seen encouraging impact across three key areas: food waste reduction, merchant support, and user participation.
In terms of food waste, the platform has helped redirect surplus and near-expiry food from being discarded to being consumed. Each successful transaction represents food saved from landfill, contributing to lower environmental impact and greater resource efficiency.
For merchants, the platform has transformed potential losses into incremental revenue. Beyond financial benefits, many partners have strengthened their sustainability positioning and engaged new customer segments who later return as full-price customers.
On the user side, participation has grown steadily as more consumers become aware of the dual benefit of affordability and environmental responsibility. Users appreciate the opportunity to access quality food at reduced prices while actively contributing to a meaningful cause.
Overall, the traction demonstrates strong alignment between economic value and environmental impact, reinforcing Value Food’s mission to build a more sustainable and responsible food ecosystem.
12. Looking ahead, what are Value Food’s growth plans, and how can businesses and individuals get involved today?
Looking ahead, Value Food’s growth strategy focuses on three key areas: geographic expansion, merchant network growth, and technology enhancement.
First, we plan to expand into more cities and high-density communities to make surplus food more accessible to a wider audience. By building strong local ecosystems of merchants and users, we aim to create reliable supply and demand across different regions.
Second, we are actively growing our merchant partnerships across various F&B segments — including bakeries, cafés, restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, and food manufacturers. A diversified partner base ensures consistent availability while maximizing food waste reduction impact.
Third, we are continuously improving the platform’s technology, using data insights to enhance inventory forecasting, optimize collection windows, and provide better user experiences for both merchants and customers.
Businesses can get involved today by registering as merchant partners and turning surplus inventory into revenue while strengthening their sustainability credentials. Individuals can participate by downloading the app, purchasing surplus meals, and spreading awareness about responsible consumption.
Together, through collaboration between businesses and consumers, Value Food aims to build a scalable and sustainable solution that reduces food waste while creating shared economic value.
For merchants who are keen to join us, get in touch with us via our website:
or please get in touch with us on social media channels:
Instagram: @myvaluefood
Facebook: Value Food Sdn Bhd
Tiktok: @myvaluefood
Or contact our support team for assistance at 016-2448156 or 016-2775813
Final Thoughts
A huge thank you to Hari, Dato Siva and Vishnu, the founders of Value Food, for sharing the story behind what they have built.
Creating a platform that simultaneously solves a food waste problem, supports businesses, and makes meals more affordable for everyday Malaysians is no small feat — and they have done it by staying grounded in a mission that genuinely matters.
Here are three takeaways we loved from this interview:
- Turn waste into value. The best ideas often come from witnessing an inefficiency firsthand. Seeing edible food being discarded daily was the spark that led to an entire platform built around giving that food a second life.
- Build trust on both sides. A two-sided marketplace only works when both merchants and consumers believe in it. Value Food has done the hard work of onboarding partners carefully and creating accountability through ratings and feedback — making the whole ecosystem function.
- Mission and money can coexist. Value Food proves that doing good for the environment does not have to come at a financial cost. Merchants recover revenue from surplus stock, consumers get affordable meals, and less food ends up in landfills. Everyone wins.
You can download the Value Food app today to start saving on meals while making a difference, or follow them on Instagram at @myvaluefood to stay updated on new merchants and listings near you.
