Hani Mahmoud, an Upper West Side resident, loves to dine out but struggles with the high cost of food in a city plagued by inflation. He has found a way to save money by using the TooGoodToGo app, which helps customers find and rescue unwanted food from restaurants and grocery stores. By using this app, Mahmoud has saved nearly $1,700 in just two years by purchasing discounted meals that would have otherwise been thrown out.
The TooGoodToGo app is part of a growing trend of food surplus apps that are helping consumers save money on groceries and meals. These apps, like the Toronto-based Flashfood, have become increasingly popular in New York City, where food prices have skyrocketed due to inflation. Consumers are spending a significant portion of their disposable income on food, and apps like TooGoodToGo offer a way to access discounted meals and groceries.
By signing up for TooGoodToGo, users can purchase bags of excess or soon-to-be-expired inventory from participating establishments at a fraction of the regular price. While the contents of the bag are a mystery until picked up, users can browse deals and reserve their order for pickup within a specified timeframe. The app not only helps consumers save money but also tackles the issue of food waste by repurposing surplus food from restaurants and grocery stores.
Founded in Copenhagen in 2016, TooGoodToGo was created to address the issue of food surplus and reduce food waste. The app has grown significantly, with millions of registered users and hundreds of thousands of partners across Europe and North America. In New York City alone, the app has thousands of affiliated businesses offering discounted meals and groceries to users looking to save money and combat food waste.
One of the benefits of using surplus food apps like TooGoodToGo is the opportunity to try a variety of restaurants and cuisines at a fraction of the cost. Users like Mahmoud have been able to enjoy lavish meals from high-end restaurants for a fraction of the price. The app also allows users to rate businesses they purchase from, helping others decide which deals are worth it and ensuring quality standards are maintained.
For consumers like Devin Tabor, who has a family of six to feed, food surplus apps like Flashfood have helped them save money on groceries. These apps offer a way for families to stretch their food budgets and access discounted items that would otherwise be expensive. By repurposing surplus food and offering it to consumers at a discounted price, these apps are not only helping people save money but also reducing food waste and ensuring that excess food is put to good use.
