Whole Foods and Too Good To Go are teaming up to reduce food waste and give customers a little surprise at the same time.
In mid-July, the grocery chain announced that it’s teaming up with Too Good To Go, a social impact company that operates an app for surplus food, to give customers the chance to purchase “Surprise Bags” of surplus food items in more than 450 locations across the U.S.
“We are thrilled to be part of the Too Good To Go community,” Caitlin Leibert, the vice president of sustainability at Whole Foods Market, shared in a statement. “As part of our purpose to nourish people and the planet, we continue to invest in new and innovative ways to keep unsold food out of our landfills and empower our customers to make environmentally conscious choices. We’re proud of the work we’ve done — just last year, we donated nearly 34 million pounds of food to food programs across the country — but are so excited to expand that work with the help of Too Good To Go.”
Here’s how the collaboration works: Whole Foods customers can choose between the “Prepared Foods Surprise Bags,” which include soups and ready-to-eat meals valued at $30, for just $9.99 instead, or the “Bakery Surprise Bags,” which include breads, muffins, scones, and cookies, valued at $21 but selling for $6.99. The foods found in these bags would have otherwise been tossed by the grocery store at the end of the day.
It’s a program that benefits everyone: Whole Foods gets to sell food that would otherwise have gone to waste; the Good to Go app gets a 25% cut of the transaction; and customers who are in need of a steep discount get an amazing bargain.
It could also help tackle America’s intense food waste problem. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported, food waste accounts for up to 40% of our nation’s food supply, with much of that loss happening at the retail and consumer levels. Feeding America echoed these stats, noting on its website that people in the U.S. “waste 92 billion pounds of food annually,” which can equal more than 140 billion meals.
“We are excited to join forces with Whole Foods Market, a company known for its dedication to quality and one that shares our passion for sustainability,” Chris MacAulay, the vice president of operations in North America for Too Good To Go, added. “A significant milestone, this collaboration allows us to give millions of consumers across the country a simple way to join the fight against food waste.”
Those interested in the surprise bags can download the Too Good To Go app to search for their nearest Whole Foods (or other participating restaurant or retailer) selling the bags. Click purchase, and pick up to enjoy something yummy and surprising all in one.
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