Food that has a slight flaw or whose best-before date has expired, but which are suitable for consumption and greatly reduced in price: This is what the “Too Good To Go” app offers.
Four businesses in the Würmtal are successfully involved.
Würmtal
- "Save food, protect the environment" is the motto of the "Too Good To Go" app, which has been on the market since last year.
The idea of the Berlin start-up of the same name is simple: shops, restaurants and cafés use the app to offer bags or packages (called "Magic Bags") with food that is slightly damaged in packaging, fruit that has a few dents, or Goods whose best-before date has expired.
The things that would otherwise usually be thrown away are often more than two thirds cheaper in the app than normal - which means a bargain for customers and less waste for the shops.
Four retailers are taking part
Four Würmtaler shops are already participating in the app: the Vorort bakery and confectionery, the Wißgott health food store and Sandro's Frutteria in Graefelfing and “denn's Biomarkt” in Gauting.
“A bakery can no longer be what it was with my grandfather.
People still want warm pretzels and other things at 5 p.m., so the sales counter has to be at least half full by evening, ”explains Josef Hrasky from Café Vorort.
There were always goods left over that app users can then buy cheaply.
So far, there is the offer in the Martinsried suburb branch.
“But we will definitely at least introduce it in Neuried as well,” says Josef Hrasky.
Inexpensive surprise
Depending on what is left over there are rolls, breads, pretzels, cakes, tarts, sweet bits, leftovers from business lunches or other snacks from the bakery worth at least ten euros - which is exactly a surprise for customers like everywhere else.
Each “Magic Bag” then costs only 3.30 euros.
The bags must first be booked via the app and can be picked up in the last half hour of opening of the Martinsried branch, at the moment from 4.30 to 5 p.m.
The demand is very high, says Hrasky.
"We also want to become even more sustainable with other measures, for example with to-go dishes instead of plastic."
Customers take advantage of the offer
Bread and other baked goods from the day before, fruit and vegetables with a few dents as well as health food products with, for example, the label torn, are packed by the Graefelfinger health food store Wißgott in its too-good-to-go bags.
"We usually offer the bags two to three times a week, so far almost all of them have gone," reports managing director Peter Stierhof.
Stierhof found out about the app on Instagram and quickly decided to take part: "During my training at large retail chains, I saw how much was thrown away there," says Stierhof.
He would like to avoid this for the health food store and is therefore continuing his cooperation with the Würmtal Tafel without making any compromises.
Stierhof and his employees pack goods worth over twelve euros into the bags, which then cost four euros.
This is another one to two euros fee for the start-up.
"Of course it is not economically worthwhile for us, but we want to avoid waste," says Stierhof.
Since the start in February, the health food store has already issued 46 bags weighing 115 kilos.
Not worthwhile for retailers
Twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays, the Graefelfinger grocery store "Sandro's Frutteria" fills Too-Good-To-Go bags.
“Sometimes there is only one, but mostly there are three to four bags, always with fruit and vegetables that are not so attractive”, but still fully enjoyable, explains employee Luis Hufnagel.
The business started with the app just under four weeks ago.
“We got a call from the company.
So far, all the bags have always gone quickly, ”says Hufnagel.
The bags at a customer price of 3.30 euros always contain goods worth more than ten euros.
“It's not financially worthwhile for us.
But it's a shame when a lot is thrown away, ”says Hufnagel.
Normally every day from Tuesday to Saturday, "denn's Biomarkt" packs in Gauting Too-Good-To-Go bags, always with baked goods.
Other items from the organic market are given to initiatives such as the Gautinger Tafel.
The bags with goods at a price between 13 and 14 euros cost customers 3.90 euros.
Usually there are one to three bags that are ready to be picked up and are very popular with customers.