VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Too Good To Go app launches; helps reduce food waste in Syracuse
Greg Carlton: Syracuse is one of four cities in Upstate New York that was launched on Too Good To Go in August. The app gives a mystery bag of leftover food that would otherwise be thrown out. It is a huge discount on a meal – and it’s slowly gaining traction at restaurants like Pavone’s Pizza.
Anthony DeFrank: I just discovered it this morning. I am on a page called, “Where Syracuse Eats,” and I saw a post from someone who got something here last night. It looked good.
Carlton: Also using the app are 80 different Syracuse Area Stores, like Las Delicias Caribbean Restaurant on Westcott Street and Mr Noodle and Ms Dumpling on Erie Boulevard. Its a lifesaver for anyone who needs to save money, like your typical broke college student.
Shannon Yehl: So when I was abroad, I used this for like lunch, dinner, breakfast, and its just helped me save money because abroad is an expensive time. You’re frequently spending lots of money when you go out and for travel. This is a great way to not have to pay for groceries.
Carlton: Company officials say they use the mystery bag system because of how unpredictable food waste can be. The app saved over 6,000 meals in Syracuse in its first week. Anthony DeFrank says the only thing it can do better is have a bigger selection.
DeFrank: I think it would be good for some of the higher end restaurants that, sometimes, people wouldn’t be able to get a chance to go to.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Last month, Too Good To Go launched in four Upstate New York cities: Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Syracuse.
The app gives participating restaurants a chance to make a small profit and cut back on food waste by selling discounted mystery bags of unwanted food at the end of every shift. They’re selling off food they would most likely be throwing away.
It has gained somewhat of a following through the first month of launch, with the app saving over 6,000 meals in their first week in Syracuse.
Anthony DeFrank, a Pavone’s Eatery frequenter and newcomer to the app, said he discovered it through social media.
“I discovered it this morning. I’m on a page called ‘Where Syracuse Eats,’ and there was a post from someone that got something here [Pavone’s] last night,” said DeFrank, “It looked good, so I bought a box to pick up tonight, and I am impressed by what you get for only five dollars.”
According to company officials, discounts on Too Good To Go range from 25%-50% off of the regular price, and that does not account for the heavy-handed pizza-cook that’s just trying to get rid of everything that they can.
Along with the supporters of local restaurants and the environment, college students looking for cheap eats can benefit from using this app.
One of those college students is Shannon Yehl, a Syracuse University senior who used Too Good To Go while studying abroad in London.
“Abroad is such an expensive time, and you’re frequently spending lots of money when you go out and travel. This was a great way to not have to pay for groceries,” Yehl said.
Too Good To Go has over 80 restaurants in Syracuse using it’s service, including local favorites like Lombardi’s Imports.
The app does not do delivery and recommends that customers use their own bag to pick up their food.