Drinks and snacks chain Costa Coffee has expanded its partnership with anti-food-waste app, Too Good To Go, with the aim of helping prevent more unsold items from going to waste.
To access the initiative, consumers must download the free Too Good To Go app and make their discounted food purchase, before collecting the item/s at a designated pick-up time from their chosen store.
The collection – or Magic Bag, as they’re known by the companies using the service, which includes UK grocer Morrisons – can consist of three or more items worth at least £10, which will be reduced to a total of £3.
Since 2018, when Costa started using the service, over 100,000 Magic Bags have been collected across its stores.
Costa said that stopping these items going to waste helps reduce its carbon footprint. It also gives consumers a cheaper food option at a time many households in the UK have personal finance concerns.
A Costa spokesperson said: “We are committed to playing our part in reducing food waste across our business and supporting the communities we operate in, whether that’s by working directly with organisations such as Too Good To Go or donating surplus food to local charities.
“In 2019, we also made a public commitment to reduce food waste by signing up to the Step Up to the Plate Pledge and the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap.”
Paschalis Loucaides, UK country manager at Too Good To Go, added: “Now that our partnership has expanded further, our app users can rescue their delicious fresh cakes, sandwiches, pastries and salads from an additional 1,000+ Costa Coffee stores nationwide.
“Moving forward, I’m excited to see how big an impact we can have fighting food waste together so that our dream of a planet with no food waste can become reality.”
In line with current coronavirus regulations, anyone collecting a Magic Bag will encounter perspex screens at Costa pick-up points in stores and at drive-through facilities. In addition, a bespoke serving hatch at the drive-thru lanes allows customers to collect their order avoiding contact with anyone else.
Read more about retailers reducing food waste on Green Retail World
[Image credit: Costa Coffee]
