Hong Kong’s OnTheList has formed a joint venture with France-based social enterprise Phenix to turn surplus food into opportunities.

Phenix by OnTheList offers customers access to good food from restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets and cake shops which would otherwise be discarded, at a discounted price. The project has already attracted The Cakery, CaliMex, Capo Group, Bain Marie and Oolaa.

OnTheList said an app will be launched soon allowing partners to generate additional profits from products that would otherwise be dumped, while customers can enjoy discounted gourmet food. The discounts will range from 50-80 per cent.

According to the company, Hong Kong sends up to 3600 tonnes of food waste to landfills annually and as much as one third of the world’s food is wasted.

Phenix operates in five European countries, saving an estimated 120,000 meals per day.