Aldi is making strides in reducing food waste by offering early reservations for its surplus food bags through the Too Good To Go app, aimed at providing customers with greater flexibility during the festive season.
Shoppers can now reserve a surprise bag from Aldi’s surplus through the Too Good To Go app up to five days in advance, a move intended to offer convenience amid the festive rush. This means that bags for Christmas Eve will be available to order from 19 December, and those for New Year’s Eve can be secured from 27 December. Each ‘Surprise Bag’ is priced at £3.30, containing a minimum of £10 worth of surplus food that is nearing its sell-by or use-by date.
Aldi’s national sustainability director, Luke Emery, explained the motivation behind this initiative: “We’re making our Too Good To Go bags even more accessible this Christmas and New Year.” By allowing earlier reservations, Aldi hopes to extend affordable options to more people while also tackling food waste. Emery emphasised the partnership with Too Good To Go as a crucial aspect of achieving Aldi’s sustainability goals, noting the remarkable reception and regular use of the service by customers.
Too Good To Go’s country director, Sophie Trueman, expressed enthusiasm for this collaboration, stating: “We’re delighted to help Aldi and its customers save even more food from going to waste across this seasonal period.” Trueman highlighted the dual benefit of supporting Aldi’s efforts to manage surplus food while offering customers value for their money and contributing positively to environmental efforts.
This initiative is complemented by Aldi’s association with the food re-distribution platform, Neighbourly. Over the festive period, it is anticipated that more than one million meals will be donated to local charities and food banks throughout the UK. This wider strategy underscores Aldi’s commitment to sustainability and community support, further enhancing the impact of its surplus food initiatives.
By advancing the timeline for reserving surplus food bags, Aldi is not only enhancing customer convenience but also reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. This initiative represents a step forward in both consumer service and environmental responsibility, illustrating the mutual benefits that can arise from innovative approaches to surplus food management.
