Entrepreneurs Chris Wilson and Jamie Crummie have developed an app, Too Good To Go, that will allow customers to buy restaurant food, that would be otherwise be wasted, at discount prices.
Aiming to revolutionise food waste, the venture comes after recent reports have revealed that millions of tonnes of food are thrown away in the UK each year. Figures showed that the UK wastes more food than any other European country.
Having launched in many UK cities this year including Leeds and Manchester, Too Good to Go is coming to London this month. The app will show users restaurants in the surrounding area that are willing to offer large discounts for top quality food. The dishes will be available for £2-£3.80, which is often half the original price.
The food available will be perfectly edible, but if not sold would contribute to the tonnes of waste being thrown away every year. Users of the app pay online using a credit card and collect the meals from the restaurant during a designated time slot, such as after the business closes or after dinner.
Chris Wilson, founder, told The Standard “Most of the places tend to be independent or just small chains because it is really hard to crack the big companies,”
“It is the bigger chains that have the large amounts of food waste but it is hard to even speak to the right people there.” Having said this, the pair have already signed up 95 London restaurants to the app.
As well as reducing waste, the app will create larger revenue for restaurants that will no longer have to throw away as much food. “It costs restaurants on average 97p for every meal they throw away so we are saving them that expense and giving them extra,”
“And we provide them with all packaging so they have recyclable and eco-friendly boxes,” claims Wilson.
