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I hope to make these vending machines more widely known by setting them up at commercial facilities and have more people use them.

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Daichi Okisugi, president of Tokyo-based start-up Minatoku. The company has placed vending machines selling discounted food that is close to its expiration date at JR Nagoya Station and two other locations. The company goes to manufacturers and wholesalers to collect food that is either almost expired or has damaged packaging and then sells them at a 30%-50% discount.

© Yomiuri Shimbun

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When I was a kid in the 1970s, our local shop always had piles of stuff that was near or past its BBD. It always sold very well. Later, as a student, such discounts were always helpful. Some UK supermarkets now make a point of selling imperfect fruit and veg at a discount. Again, sensible people snap it up. Food expiration dates usually have a decent margin for error so that companies can legally cover themselves. Use your common sense. I'll eat anything as long as it doesn't have mould on it and tastes OK.

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Our local supermarkets and drug stores all have at least one - often several, one in each section - trolleys where they stack discounted stuff. I make a point of checking the trolleys before I check the shelves, sometimes there are some real bargains. Tomorrow's best-by date doesn't bother me, cos we're going to use it today.

You have to watch the 'high-end' shops, mind; I find the stuff they put on their fresh fruit & veg trolleys tends to be really pushing the envelope. By the time you've cut out the bad bits, the regular full-price stuff on the shelves works out cheaper. Unless you want really, really ripe bananas for baking.

Dunno that I'd use a vending machine for fresh food near its expiry date, though; you don't get to actually check the stuff until you've paid your money?

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@Cleo I do exactly the same. Always check out the bargain bins first!

I know the time meat starts to get marked down in my local supermarket and I am often there waiting for it! I have competitors though! Usually the Vietnamese interns working at the local factory! My dog eats homemade food so getting it half price makes a huge difference to my spending. If I don't use it straight away I just freeze it for later.

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