MILWAUKEE — An app that sells surplus food from local businesses at a steep discount to consumers has launched its services in Milwaukee.
Too Good To Go is an online marketplace for businesses to list everything from day-old bread and extra produce to complete meals that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Over 70 restaurants, cafes, bakeries and grocery stores are participating around Milwaukee as of the app’s official launch locally on Wednesday.
Vice President of the North American division Chris MacAulay called it a triple win scenario: “Businesses get a win by not having to throw as much food out, consumers get an incredible deal. . . and then it’s a win for the environment,” he told Wisconsin’s Midday News.
The app displays surplus food options available based on the user’s location. Most of the businesses offer what’s called a “surprise bag” with varieties of an item that change daily — like a box of unsold donuts or a quart of extra soup.
“The key to it is that you don’t know what you’re going to get because it’s the leftovers at the end of the day,” MacAulay told WTMJ.
Each purchase comes with a pickup window. A customer can pick up their item any time in that window by simply showing the app or email receipt to the business.
The process is also simple on the selling end. MacAulay said it takes less than an hour for a business to get set up.
Some of the participating Milwaukee restaurants include Ma Fischer’s, Honeydip Donuts, Azteca Bakery and Rosati’s Pizza. According to MacAulay, every $5 spent on Too Good To Go has about a $15 value.
The app launch in Milwaukee comes as redistributing excess edible food for little to no cost is a priority for the city with its FEED MKE program through the Environmental Collaboration Office.
