I love the whole concept of Too Good To Go. It’s an app that discounts surplus food from restaurants and grocery stores. The free mobile app invites anyone to save delicious meals and groceries for ⅓ of the retail price. The content of each Surprise Bag purchased through the Too Good To Go app varies and users can expect to get a range of products, always at 1/3 of the retail value. The businesses pay an annual fee 0f $89, only after they’ve sold that much and $1.79 transaction fee from each bag to use the service. According to the website about 160,000 businesses are part of this food rescue program.
When you log in you can see the offers around you and you can click to purchase paying on line through the app. Within a couple of minutes you’ll get a confirmation email telling you when you can pick up your bag. When at the shop you’ll swipe your pickup through the app and get your goodies.
Last week was the first time I used it and I got bags from Boosalis Baking and Barry Bagels. I was asked to arrive at Barry Bagels on Far Hills Avenue in Kettering between 3:50 and 4:10pm. They close at 4pm, so one of the staff let me in and my bag was waiting on the counter. My bag contained 8 assorted bagels and a container of cream cheese. Checking their menu the value was about $15 and I paid $4.99 for this. Bagels were fresh and I felt like this was a great value.
My next pick up was from Boosalis Baking and Cafe at 175 E Alex Bell Rd #280, Centerville. I pulled up in the parking lot and saw three other folks sitting in the car waiting for the 4:30pm pick up time. We all entered and were handed our bags quickly and efficiently. The bag was heavy and contained a couple doughnut, two pastries and two blue berry muffins. I payed $5.99 for what would regularly have been about $18.
Other local businesses I’ve seen on the app include Whole Foods, Hummus Mediterranean Food in Springboro, Tea for U Bubble Tea in Centerville and Coffee Hub, Xenia, Purely Sweet Bakery in Beavercreek.
If you have a lot of food allergies or intolerances, this app may not be for you since you don’t know what you are getting. But if you’re an adventurous foodie, we think you’ll enjoy this app. But you will need to check the app frequently to find out what’s available and buy before they sell out.
