North Shore restaurants prevent food waste with a mobile app

A handful of local bakeries, cafes and other small businesses are using a mobile app to help them reduce food waste.

The application, called Too good to leave, allows establishments to list surplus food items in goody bags and sell them at a significant discount. This means customers get a great deal on items that might otherwise be thrown away at the end of the day, while businesses are able to recoup cash for those goods.

Too Good To Go’s mission is “to inspire and empower everyone to take action against food waste”.

“We know that to live and breathe this every day, we must turn our words into actions,” according to the Too Good To Go website. building the global food waste movement. Only when we all come together to fight food waste can we generate positive change in society.

Liz Lucas, owner of Baked Jodi Bee in Salem, said bakery founder Jodi Bradbury had envisioned the business to be as eco-tarian as possible.

Joining Too Good To Go nearly a year ago has helped the bakery reduce food waste.

“Most of the time we only do one bag,” Lucas said. “And it contains an assortment of baked goods that are no longer at their peak of freshness.”

While they also donate items to local shelters, Lucas said Too Good To Go gives the business the opportunity to make a small profit.

“We really think it’s a great way to reduce food waste,” she said. “And it’s a good middle ground between donating and just throwing things away.”

What is the Brewin’ Cafe in Beverly is another restaurant that regularly offers Too Good To Go bags.

Although they also donate items left behind at the end of the day to local shelters, What’s Brewin’ co-owner Kevin Shin explained that he liked the possibility of being able to sell the Too Good To Go bags at a discount. students or people on fixed incomes. .

“We have a lot of residents in the area who are low income or on a budget,” he said. “So we’re telling people to come in just before we’re about to close and let them choose whatever leftovers they want.”

Shin said he would like to see more companies get involved and offer Too Good To Go bags.

“As a business owner, there are certain times of the year when things are quiet,” he said. “So you can still make money while controlling the waste.”

While most places have leftovers to put in the bags, other business owners plan to make extra for the sole purpose of offering items on Too Good to Go.

Kim Gregory, who owns and operates Pure Pastry in Beverly, is one of those people.

“Whenever someone buys a bag, they usually become a customer. It’s a win-win situation,” she said. “So we meet new people while being able to offer 100% organic and gluten-free options for those who otherwise couldn’t afford it.”

Gregory said Pure Pastry has been active on the Too Good To Go app for nearly two years and was one of the first businesses in the area to sign up.

“I love seeing people’s faces when they come to pick up their bags,” she says. “We’re a zero waste company, so it’s great that people realize the importance of preventing food waste.”

To learn more about Too Good To Go, visit www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us. The app can be downloaded from the App Store on iPhone or Google Play.

The following North Shore restaurants are currently active on the Too Good To Go app:

Hannah’s Bakery, Danvers

Flour(ish) Bake Shoppe, Beverly

A new leaf, Beverly

What is Brewin’ Cafe, Beverly

Kim Gregory | Pure Patisserie, Beverly

Edible arrangements, Beverly, Peabody and Lynn

Mookie’s at Mugford Cafe, Marblehead

More Cafe, Marblehead

The Fish Market, Marblehead

Jodi Bee Bakes, Salem

Patriot Seafoods, Salem

Salem Pizza House

Kushco Bistro, Salem

Essex’s New York Pizza & Deli, Salem

Oliveira, Peabody

Cafe Capito, Peabody

Olivia’s Market, Peabody

Eva’s Pastries, Peabody

A Mighty Mill, Lynn

El Tikal, Lynn

Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Co., Lynn

Casablanca Pastry House, Revere

Istanbul coffee shop, Revere

Philly Pretzel Factory, Revere

Vinny Food Market, Revere

La Oaxaquena, Revere and Everett

Pastries and Cakes, Everett

Common Ground Coffee Roasters, Everett

Dar Hee, Everett

Red Rose, Melrose

Sweet Spot, Melrose

Douglas Bakery, Medford

Carol’s Cafe, Wakefield

Health Food Swap, Reading

Louis Famous Roast Beef & Pizza, Stoneham

DeliWorks & Pizzeria, Stoneham

Family Patisserie, Winthrop