JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Grocery prices are still stretching family budgets, and many shoppers are looking for new ways to save.
One option starts right on your phone.
The app is called Too Good To Go. It connects customers with local businesses that have unsold food at the end of the day — items that might otherwise be thrown away.
The idea is simple: businesses post “surprise bags” on the app. You can see where the bag is located, how much it costs and a general idea of what type of food you might receive.
News4JAX tested it out.
After searching a local ZIP code, we found a Circle K on Philips Highway offering a surprise bag for about $4. The app said the bag would include at least $12 worth of items.
When we arrived, the employee said the bags are always a surprise.
“You never know what you’re going to get,” she said.
Inside our bag: an Angus bacon and cheddar jack burger, an Uncrustables sandwich, a Balanced Breaks snack pack with nuts and cheese, and a bottle of water.
All of it cost right around $4.
Circle K appears to be one of the bigger local participants. We found Too Good To Go bags available at Circle K locations across Jacksonville.
We also found options at Whole Foods, but those sold out quickly, so if you want to try the app, it might help to check early.
The catch is that you do not get to pick exactly what comes in the bag. The upside is the price: customers can get food for a fraction of what it would normally cost, while also helping reduce food waste.
For families looking for small ways to stretch their grocery budget, Too Good To Go may be worth checking before your next food run.