Behind the Scenes - Why we are involved with the PantryApp
Miriam Weitz
February 15, 2023
If tomato paste is the beginning
Nevertheless, the idea of the app never completely vanished from his mind. The spark that ignited the project came on the day Matthias was clearing out the basement and found a box full of tomato paste - spoiled and expired for several years - let's not even talk about the smell at this point. Matthias turned this rather disgusting experience into something positive - the idea for the PantryApp was born. Matthias initially programmed the app in his spare time. During the pandemic, he took a break from his job as a software developer to take care of his growing family and to work intensively on the PantryApp.
From a small idea, a successful start-up was born
Since 2019, the SpeisekammerApp has been available as a web app and has also made its way into the App Store and Google Play Store. Matthias quit his old job and is now fully focused on the project. On April 1, 2022, the next major milestone in the company's history was reached with the move to the Gründerbahnhof in Giengen. Since 2018, the heritage-protected building has housed the founder center for start-ups. Giengen has even been recognized as a founder-friendly municipality for its achievements. The ideal place, therefore, for the SpeisekammerApp.
The PantryApp - a community project
Since its inception, a lot has happened. By now, there are many volunteers who have joined the SpeisekammerApp for various reasons. Here are some direct quotes from the SpeisekammerApp team.
Pascal B. "Being involved in a product with the knowledge that not only you, but also many other people will notice the changes, is a feeling that can hardly be described in words. In our team, you can not only expand your skills but also contribute your own ideas. I felt welcome right away."
Paulina B. "It also just feels pretty good to write a paper on a topic that really has 'relevance'. And thus, one can explore a new field of research and get to know the consumers better. If we understand how to get people on board, it can help to save our planet from collapse."
Jens H. "I thought the idea of managing supplies with an app was great. Unfortunately, there's always quite a bit of chaos in our storeroom. That's when the app came in handy. However, my wife wasn't too happy with the app at first. Having to pick up the phone to log every item in or out while the kids are fussing or redecorating the room next door was too much for her. That's when I had the idea of a Bluetooth scanner, which allows you to easily log goods in or out of the app. I promptly submitted a support request, with a little hint that I'm a software developer myself ;)
Since then, I've been supporting the team in my spare time, including developing a REST-API, so that using the barcode scanner is not just a thing of the future.
Arthur E. "I want to develop the software for good purposes. In doing so, I also develop myself: personally, entrepreneurially, and technically."
Anna K. "I joined the project because my friend and I had already come up with the idea for such an app, and then we stumbled upon this one by chance. We really liked it and noticed things that could be improved. After that, I reached out to Matthias and now I'm part of the team."
Are you also interested in participating in the SpeisekammerApp? Then simply get in touch with us either by email at support@speisekammer.app or through the helpdesk.
The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes 🍲✨
Hand on heart: Each of us has them – those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
🥣 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips – a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
🔪 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
🍳 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread – everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
🥕 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
🥡 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
🌱 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
🥄 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender – perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you 📲
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
👉 Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.
New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! 🌱📲
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
👉 Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! 💚 Try it now!
Sharing supplies together – why the Shared Economy is now moving into the kitchen
The concept of Shared Economy has long been more than a short-term trend – it's changing our everyday lives. More and more neighborhoods, shared apartments, and community projects are discovering how practical it is to organize groceries together and manage supplies transparently.
Why sharing supplies is becoming increasingly popular
- Save on costs: Bulk purchases become cheaper when more people participate.
- Save space: Not everyone needs their own package of rice or pasta.
- Better organization: Digital tools make it easy to see what is available.
- Experiencing community: Food brings people together – as does camping together.
From the flatshare to the neighborhood
Especially in shared apartments or families with multiple households it pays off to keep a communal stock of supplies. But neighborhood projects or small communities are also recognizing the added value: shopping, storing, and using together.
How Smantry helps
This is where Smantry comes into play:
- Community Feature: Supplies can be managed collectively.
- Transparency: Everyone can see which items are available.
- Efficiency: Duplicate purchases are avoided, leftovers are used up in time.
- Flexibility: Soon it will become even easier to manage entire communities (including new features such as categories or the option to completely delete communities).
👉 The shared economy doesn't stop with cars – it moves right into your kitchen. With Smantry sharing supplies becomes easier than ever.
At last, it's here: The categorization of articles 🎉
Over the past few months, we have collected numerous feedback from you – and the request for better organization of supplies was one of the most frequent wishes. Soon, it will be possible to sort your items into individual categories, so that you can keep track of everything even more quickly.
Why categories are so practical
- 🥦 More organization in your pantry: Instead of a long list, you can structure your products into categories such as "Vegetables", "Beverages", or "Household Goods".
- ⏱️ Faster Finding: No more long scrolling – jump straight to the right category.
- 👨👩👧👦 Improved collaboration: In communities or family households, everyone can immediately see where things belong.
- 🌍 Customization: You can create your own categories that suit your needs – whether for meal prep, stockpiling, or just your everyday life.
Your wish will become reality ✨
We know how important this feature is to you. That's why our development team has implemented categorization as a high priority. It will soon be available step by step in the app – fulfilling one of the biggest wishes of our community.
We are thrilled that we can make everyday life even easier for you with this. Stay tuned – as always, we will keep you updated on when the feature will be officially released.
👉 Do you already have ideas on how you want to structure your categories? Feel free to send us your suggestions or requests – your input might directly influence the ongoing development.