Booths is the latest retailer to launch with food surplus platform Too Good To Go, as it looks to cut down on food waste.
The regional grocer first launched an initial pilot with the platform in November and was now rolling the partnership out more permanently after positive reaction from customers.
Customers will now be able to order a selection of ‘Surprise Bags’ of Booths food, including meat and fish, baked and chilled products, which are surplus or close to their expiry date, for collection from their local Booths supermarket. The platform currently lists the bags, which it says are equivalent to £15 worth of Booths food, for £5.
Since the pilot had begun, Booths said it had sold 9,264 bags, which otherwise would have gone to waste, saving customers £92,640 in the process. It’s the equivalent of 23 tonnes of CO2 emissions if all of the food is consumed.
“Managing and reducing food waste is a critical issue, and one we all have a part to play, both from a business perspective and within our own homes,” said Booths MD Nigel Murray.
”We must all respect food, make the most of leftover produce and encourage good kitchen thrift. The Too Good To Go partnership helps enable Booths to reduce food waste while offering customers the chance to pick up great food and drink at a greatly reduced price.”
High-end Booths – which currently has 27 stores across the north of England – is the latest retailer to partner with the app, joining Morrisons, Aldi, Spar and regional Co-ops, as well as a swathe of convenience and independent stores.
Greggs, Pret a Manger, Costa Coffee and Greene King are among some of the other hospitality companies to list their surplus products with the app. The platform has been working to improve the way it works with retailers in order to encourage more to enrol. For example, in January it launched a new AI-based platform that would enable retailers to more efficiently and accurately set margins on the products listed on the app.
Booths has been actively investing in increasing its offer of fresh and hot food to go, as part of its ongoing store renovation programme, MD Nigel Murray previously told The Grocer during a visit to its Clitheroe shop in November 2023. It’s also expanding the offer of its in-store cafés, following the launch of a new Café 1847 sit-down concept last year.
Booths announced the new partnership at its Ilkley supermarket, with a visit from Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley and parliamentary under-secretary for DEFRA.
“It’s terrible to see good food go to waste when it should be on people’s plates. That’s why I fully support partnerships between businesses like this one, which help to break down the barriers to surplus food redistribution,” Moore said.
No comments yet