As we all know, the cost of living is on the rise, and our grocery bills are no exception. But what if I told you there’s a way to cut down on those expenses while also doing your bit for the environment? It’s a trend that’s taken London by storm, and now it’s making waves here in Australia. Enter the world of Too Good To Go, the app that’s changing the way we think about food waste and our wallets.
Too Good To Go is a platform that’s been described as the ‘world’s largest surplus food marketplace.’ It connects consumers with cafes, bakeries, and other food outlets to purchase ‘surprise bags’ of food that would otherwise be thrown away. These bags are filled with items that are still perfectly edible but can’t be sold the next day due to various reasons such as overproduction or nearing the sell-by date.
Will Weeks, a 35-year-old Sydney resident, is one of the early adopters of this budget-friendly solution in Australia. Having used the app in London, he was thrilled to see it launch in Sydney and Melbourne. ‘I used to live in London and I used the app there every week,’ Weeks told Yahoo Finance. ‘It was great. Then when I saw on social media it had launched in Sydney [and Melbourne] I wanted to see how well it worked here.’
Weeks decided to challenge himself to buy a portion of his food for a week using the app. He was not only pleased with the savings but also with the positive impact on reducing food waste. ‘I’m very conscious about food waste so the app is a win-win for me and the environment,’ he said.
On his first day using the app, Weeks picked up a surprise bag from Harris Farm for $9.99, which included cabbages, greens, and six mangoes. The value was undeniable, but the quantity was more than he and his partner could consume before the fruit went soft. Resourcefully, Weeks found a recipe for mango and lime sorbet and turned the excess fruit into a frozen treat.
The following days brought more surprises and savings. From Bakers Delight to artisanal bakeries, Weeks found himself enjoying a variety of baked goods, from cheesymite scrolls to croissants, at a fraction of the usual cost. While he noted that the app is currently heavy on bakery and grocery options, the savings were significant. Weeks estimated that he saved about two-thirds of what he would usually spend on food, which amounted to around $60.
The Too Good To Go app is user-friendly and intuitive, allowing users to filter by food category, collection times, and location. While the app is still growing in Australia, with Sydney launching with 60 partners and Melbourne boasting 230 outlets, the potential for expansion is vast. The app’s popularity is also evident on social media, where users share their surprise bag hauls, adding an element of entertainment to the experience.
However, there are some limitations. The majority of partners are concentrated in city centers or specific suburbs, and with limited quantities available, you have to be quick to secure a bag. But as Weeks and other users have noted, the app can only get better with time and more participation from food outlets.
Have you tried using the Too Good To Go app or meal kits to save on your grocery bill? How did it work for you? Share your experiences in the comments below and let’s help each other save while savouring the delights our local eateries have to offer!
Abegail, unfortunately you have “centre” misspelled in this story:
“The majority of partners are concentrated in city centers…”