News Summary
Milwaukee has introduced two new mobile apps aimed at reducing food waste and helping consumers save money on meals. Goodie Bag Food Co. and Too Good To Go offer surplus food from local restaurants at discounted prices. Goodie Bag Food Co., launched in October, partners with over 40 businesses, while Too Good To Go, started in August, features around 40 establishments. Both apps allow users to purchase ‘surprise bags’ of food, benefiting customers and reducing food waste. The initiatives align with Milwaukee’s FEED MKE program and address the critical issue of food waste in the city.
Milwaukee has become the latest city to embrace a growing trend in food recovery with the launch of two new mobile apps aimed at helping consumers save money while reducing food waste. Goodie Bag Food Co. debuted in October 2023, allowing local restaurants to offer surplus food at discounted rates. Complementing this initiative is Too Good To Go, which launched in Milwaukee in August 2023, targeting food waste reduction and rising food prices.
Goodie Bag Food Co. started with more than a dozen restaurant partners and has rapidly expanded to include over 40 businesses such as Twisted Plants and Becher Meats. Meanwhile, Too Good To Go features around 40 participating establishments. Both apps operate similarly, requiring users to download a mobile application to browse and purchase the available food items.
Goodie Bag users are alerted when new food bags are listed, generating a sense of urgency to purchase, while Too Good To Go typically provides options that are available throughout the day. Prices on Goodie Bag start at discounts of at least 50%, with most items averaging between $5 and $8. In contrast, items on Too Good To Go are generally priced around one-third of their original cost.
With these apps, customers can buy “surprise bags,” which may contain various leftover food items. While some bags come with specific descriptions of the contents, others offer vague details. Personal experiences with both apps have showcased the diversity of items available, such as cacao shell mulch and assorted baked goods.
The introduction of Goodie Bag and Too Good To Go aligns with Milwaukee’s FEED MKE program, emphasizing the importance of redistributing excess food and addressing the issue of food waste. A study highlights the critical need for such initiatives, noting that Americans waste more than 150 pounds of food per person each year.
Local businesses, including Delicious Bites and Mid-Way Bakery, are leveraging these apps to sell food that remains fresh but is unsellable at regular prices. For consumers, this results in opportunities to purchase food at significant discounts; examples include gourmet doughnuts sold for $11, four loaves of bread for $5, and complete meals available for around $6.
Importantly, there are no fees for consumers using the apps, while the apps retain approximately 30% of the proceeds from each sale. This arrangement benefits both the businesses, which can recoup costs on excess food, and consumers, who can enjoy high-quality food opportunities at reduced prices.
The movement towards food recovery and waste reduction is not only economically advantageous for consumers but also plays a vital role in fostering a more sustainable food system within Milwaukee. As these apps continue to grow in popularity, they represent a meaningful step toward reducing food waste and fostering community resilience in the face of rising food prices.
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Additional Resources
- Urban Milwaukee: Now Serving
- Fox6 Now: Milwaukee Food Council Summit
- WTMJ: App to Reduce Food Waste Launches
- WISN: Food Apps for Budget-Friendly Dining
- Spectrum News 1: App to Reduce Food Waste
- Wikipedia: Food Waste
- Google Search: Food Recovery Initiatives
- Google Scholar: Food Waste Reduction
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Recovery
- Google News: Milwaukee Food Apps
Author: STAFF HERE MILWAUKEE WRITER
MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.
