The Bangor Aye tested the ‘Too Good To Go’ app in three local participating food outlets in Bangor.
The Problem
Globally, more than ⅓ of food is wasted – and that’s bad news for our planet. Food waste is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gases, and we use a landmass the size of China to produce food we end up throwing away.
‘Too Good To Go’ are determined to help fix the problem. Their anti-food waste app lets you rescue delicious, unsold food from businesses to save it from going to waste.
The team at Too Good To Go also work within organisations like local governments and schools to shake up the food system, and change the way we think about throwing away food.
The App
‘Too Good To Go’ aims to make sure good food gets eaten, not wasted. Every day, delicious, fresh food goes to waste at cafes, restaurants, hotels, shops and manufacturers – just because it hasn’t sold in time.
Restaurants and food stores join the app and post ‘magic bags’ that are made up of food that would otherwise be thrown away. Then, app users can log on and purchase those surprise bags for around a third of the normal price.
It’s mainly cafes, bakeries, supermarkets and convenience stores around Bangor, but keep an eye out for restaurants, pubs, takeaways and food wholesalers.
The contents of the bag vary, and you won’t be able to choose the goodies you receive, it’s entirely dependent on the food store and what’s left at the end of the day.
The Test
The Bangor Aye used the app to buy food from three outlets in Bangor. The app is easy to download and use.
The food outlets offer ‘magic bags’ which customers pay for in advance using the app and collect (usually at the end of the day), from around 5pm onwards.
Collection is easy using the app on your phone, staff in each outlet are more than happy to help.
Morrisons Groceries Magic Bag
What you could get:
Your magic bag could contain a range of fruit, veg, bread and baked goods, cakes, deli and/or cupboard items.
What we got:
- Burger buns £1.69
- White baps x 6 £1.19
- Granary baps x 6 £1.19
- 15 Milk chocolate cookies x 2 £3 each
- Milk chocolate chip brioche rolls £1.29
Original Price £11.36
Cost £3.09
Saving: £8.27
Pros: A shopping bag full of goodies and a good discount
Cons: It was mainly bread, near or just past the sell by date, but still good enough to eat and the bread can be frozen! A variety would have been better, but it all depends on what’s left at the end of the day, so no complaints. Looking forward to trying the hot leftover food from the café!
Rating: 3.5/5
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Greggs (One Stop, Llandegai)
What you could get:
Your magic bag could contain a mixture of sandwiches, bakes and sweet treats.
What we got:
- Buttered croissant £0.85
- Tuna crunch baguette £2.75
- Sausage roll £1.20
- Festive Bite (Turkey & Stuffing) £1.85
- Mexican chicken oval bite £3.65
Original Price £10.30
Actual Cost £2.95
Saving: £7.35
Pros: A decent amount of tasty food at a great price, very happy!
Cons: No complaints, what’s not to like!
Rating: 5/5
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Starbucks (One Stop, Llandegai)
What you could get:
Your magic bag could contain a mixture of sandwiches, bakes and sweet treats.
What we got:
- Plant based Breakfast wrap £4.30
- ‘No Beef’ and Onion Focaccia £4.85
- Chocolate brownies x 2 £3.45 each
- Lemon cake slice £3.25
- Caramelized biscuit loaf cake £2.60
Original Price £21.90
Actual Cost £5
Saving: £16.90
Pros: Just Wow! a bag full of goodies and sweet treats, amazing!
Cons: Can’t be any complaints here, will be back!
Rating 5/5 – Best deal of the day!
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Total Overall Food Value: £43.56
Total Overall Spend: 11.04
Total Saved: £35.52
*Magic bags also available in Bangor include: Hot Food from Morrisons Café, Morrisons Cakes & Sandwiches, Costa Coffee @ Next, Bangor, Magic Bags @ The Late Stop Bangor, Caffé Nero Bangor and Spar (One Stop Llandegai).
Downlaod the Too Good To Go App – available on Android, iOS and Huawei AppGallery.
More info here: https://toogoodtogo.co.uk/
