Do you like to shop the clearance aisle at stores, including grocery stores? I know that I do and so I was so excited to discover an app that focuses on surplus food. It’s called Too Good to Go. There’s another app that focuses on supermarket leftovers and day-old food called Flashfood but it doesn’t have a great presence in Maine. But Too Good to Go app does have a decent presence along the Maine and New Hampshire Seacoast so I wanted to share about it. Both apps, by the way, are designed not only to get you deals on food but also to reduce food waste.
How Too Good to Go App Works
With Too Good to Go, you’re buying what the app calls “surprise bags.” That is, for a certain price, you’ll get a literal mixed bag of items in a certain category. You’ll click on the offer you want by tapping “Reserve” and then you’ll pay for it right within the app. The business will provide details on when and where you’ll need to go to pick up your food.
Businesses in Too Good to Go App
Where I found the greatest concentration of surprise bags in Southern Maine was Circle K, the Irving gas station convenience store that often participates in National Doughnut Day or National Cookie Day giveaways. In these instances, this kind of surprise bag is labeled Circle K Treats & Eats and, according to the app, could contain “ready-to-eat goods that may include sandwiches, wraps, salads, snacks, pastries, chips or fresh produce.” The price for this surprise bag? $3.99.
However, I also discovered some one-off gems, such as a surprise bag from Nono’s Kitchen in South Berwick. They offer gluten-free, vegan baked goods.
While bakeries, bake shops and other bread-centric stores seemed to dominate the app in New England, there are some interesting non-bakery options, too. For instance, there is a local seafood market that lets you get a surprise bag of leftover fresh catches of the day that haven’t sold out. Also, an Indian restaurant has a surprise bag of restaurant leftovers from its buffet bar.
Some supermarkets on the app
The closest supermarket I could find on the Too Good To Go app was the Whole Foods Market in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. On the day I’m writing this article, I could spend $6.99 for a bakery bag filled with bread, muffins and the like. There is no guarantee what will be in the bag or how much. But if you’re a Whole Foods shopper anyway and like a bakery bargain, then this might interest you.
Helping with reduced SNAP EBT benefits
As I’m sure you’re aware, in 2025 Washington passed legislation that will eventually cut the SNAP EBT benefits for some of America’s poorest families. They are literally taking food away from hungry parents and children. I’m hoping that by sharing resources like Too Good to Go, families that need food assistance will discover another way to supplement what goes in their refrigerators and pantries.
If you’re aware of any other apps that help with restaurant or supermarket leftovers or leftover food in general, please let us know.
Free and Cheap Things To Do in Southern Maine This Week
Here are FREE and cheap things to do in Southern Maine in the coming week.
Leave a Reply