Surplus Food Apps Flop: Locals Prefer Sticker Discounts Over 'Too Good To Go' Jungle
The discussion centers on apps like Too Good to Go, Flashfood, and Misfits Market as methods to combat food waste and save money.
Opinions are sharply divided on execution. Some acknowledge the concept—redirecting surplus food—but others call the execution flawed. One user noted, "Decent concept in theory, terrible execution in my experience with that specific service. It's so much nicer when the store just slaps a sticker on product already on the shelf and knocks down the price." Flashfood processes drew negative attention, with a user reporting "...ended with a store employee being incredibly rude." Meanwhile, some users questioned the savings outright, like "Misfit Market will not save you money."
The real savings tip isn't in the app store. A localized method involves patrons collecting surplus food directly from hotel and corporate canteen canteens by bringing their own containers. The consensus shows that while the waste-reduction *idea* is accepted, the current *app-based systems* are met with skepticism regarding convenience and actual savings.
Key Points
Sticker discounts in-store are superior to the app experience.
we_avoid_temptation prefers the simple, physical act of a store slapping a sticker on existing shelves over complicated app procedures.
Specific food waste apps face usability complaints.
Users cited confusing processes (Flashfood) or limited utility (Too Good to Go only working for bakeries, per ByteOnBikes).
A direct, physical method bypasses the apps entirely.
The ability to collect surplus food from local tax offices and corporate canteens using personal containers was highlighted as a superior, actionable system (Rexelpitlum).
Industry market structure favors large suppliers.
The mention of Sysco established as a near total monopoly for US restaurant food supply provided context on industry penetration (K1nsey6).
The concept of reducing food waste is recognized, but skepticism remains.
While acknowledging the positive goal, outright accusations of poor value, such as Misfit Market not saving money, persist (Reverendender).
Source Discussions (3)
This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.