App sells leftovers from restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores to help reduce food waste
Surging food prices have prompted many people to search for ways to cut costs, and some shoppers are finding deals through an app that also aims to reduce food waste.
Too Good To Go connects customers with grocery stores, restaurants and bakeries that sell surplus food left at the end of the day at deep discounts.
Consumers can use the app's map feature to discover participating businesses, go in during a defined pickup window and purchase a so-called "surprise bag" of leftovers.
Too Good to Go spokesperson Sarah Soteroff says surprise bags range in price from about $4 to $12 but contain items that would previously have sold for about triple the price.
On Wednesday, Statistics Canada announced that November’s inflation rate was 6.8 per cent, down from 6.9 per cent in October and September. Grocery costs rose 11.4 per cent annually in November, up from 11 per cent in October.
Shabina Dewji, a local blogger, is one of Too Good To Go's many users, and says she has been saving money from buying leftovers.
"I saw lettuce for $11 – that's insane,” she said. "I've never paid that much for lettuce in my life.
"I am doing more of the 'what's on sale, where is it cheaper, where can I get deals?'”
Dewji says she tried a "surprise bag" from a grocery store first.
"I was surprised at how good the quality was," she said. "I think I paid $5 for a bag full of vegetables, and they were fresh, they were great."
"I was like, 'this is awesome. I'm saving the environment, food waste, and I'm saving money.'”
Dewji says she's also had a good experience getting bags of leftovers from several bakeries and restaurants.
The app launched in Calgary earlier this year.
In its first six months, Too Good To Go says food diverted from local landfills adds up to the height of 61 Calgary Towers.
"In Calgary specifically, we've saved more than 33,000 meals from 180 food businesses," Soteroff said.
One Calgary business taking part is Righteous Gelato.
"We’re diverting food waste away from landfills and making sure that people have an opportunity to try the product when maybe it's a bit inaccessible based on price," said owner James Boettcher.
Dewji says reduced prices have encouraged her to support local businesses she hadn’t tried before, and on average she uses the app once a week.
"I look at what the restaurant is selling in general, and then if I like 90% of it, I'll buy it."
Dewji says there is usually enough food to share, save or freeze.
"Now I'm trying to repurpose my leftovers," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.