LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Around 60 million tons of food go to waste in America each year, about 40 percent of the country’s food supply, at a cost of around $218 billion. That breaks down to approximately 130 million meals going into landfills instead of into hungry people’s stomachs.
An app called Too Good To Go arrived in Las Vegas this summer and is steadily gaining popularity with businesses and customers as a solution to this type of food waste.
“Too Good To Go is the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food,” said Allie Denberg, director of strategy and operations for Too Good To Go.
How the app works
The app has been reducing food waste across the country and around the world for the past six years.
“We launched in 2020, and we’ve saved over 32 million meals from going to waste, so really proud of that impact, and globally it’s actually, we’ve saved over 533 million meals,” Denberg said.
The app uses a surprise bag concept where customers don’t know exactly what they’ll receive.
“You don’t know exactly what you’re going to get, because different types of food businesses have different surplus profiles,” Denberg said. “And what you do is, in the app, you reserve a surprise bag from one of those food businesses, and you go during a dedicated pickup window, which is often at the end of a shift or at the end of the day. And they will give you an assortment of great food.”
Local businesses participate
Chef B at Pretty Soul Kitchen is among the local restaurants offering surprise bags via the app.
“It helps to have our food actually go somewhere when, at the end of our day, as opposed to throwing it away. And so we can make a little bit of money off of it. Yeah, because it’s shameful to just throw it away,” Chef B said.
The app isn’t limited to restaurants and bakeries. Whole Foods Market offers nine different categories of surprise bags, including produce, seafood and floral items, Denberg said.
Substantial savings
Customers often pay a third of the original retail value for everything from bakery items to meat to full meals from restaurants like Pretty Soul Kitchen.
“Because sometimes, you know, people may not have a lot of funds to purchase the things that are directly on our menu. So it gives them an opportunity to purchase those same items at a discounted rate. And, again, it gives exposure to our business. So it kind of works hand in hand,” Chef B said.
“We like to say that it’s a win-win-win, because it’s a win for businesses who recoup revenue from the food that would have otherwise been wasted. For the consumers who are saving money on food and able to help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food waste. And it’s a win for the environment,” Denberg said.
Chef B said the app has helped build her business by attracting and keeping customers. Guests who try her food for a discounted price through Too Good To Go frequently return to enjoy a meal in person and pay full price.
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