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Whole Foods Prevents Prepared Foods, Baked Goods Waste

Whole Foods Bakery

Whole Foods Market has partnered with surplus food marketplace Too Good To Go to prevent waste of its prepared foods and baked goods. Bags of surplus food items are being sold at over 450 Whole Foods locations nationwide through the Too Good To Go platform which includes a consumer app.

The initiative advances Whole Foods' commitment to halve food waste by 2030, according to Too Good To Go. By offering surplus food items on the Too Good To Go marketplace, the collaboration positively impacts the environment while providing customers access to high-quality fresh food at a lower price.

Too Good To Go bags are generally filled whatever leftovers a retailer may have, such as baked goods, prepared foods, produce, and shelf-stable items nearing their expiration date. Through the Whole Foods partnership, the platform is currently offering Prepared Foods Surprise Bags, containing soups and ready-to-eat meals, priced at $9.99, a $30 value, and Bakery Surprise Bags featuring breads, muffins, scones, and cookies, priced at $6.99, a $21 value. 

"We are thrilled to be part of the Too Good To Go community," said Caitlin Leibert, VP of sustainability at Whole Foods Market, in a statement.  "As part of our purpose to nourish people and the planet, we continue to invest in new and innovative ways to keep unsold food out of our landfills and empower our customers to make environmentally conscious choices. We're proud of the work we've done–just last year we donated nearly 34 million pounds of food to food programs across the country–but are so excited to expand that work with the help of Too Good To Go."

The collaboration with Whole Foods Market simplifies surplus food management and expands Too Good To Go's vision of a planet with no food waste, said Too Good To Go.

"We are excited to join forces with Whole Foods Market, a company known for its dedication to quality and one that shares our passion for sustainability," said Chris MacAulay, VP of operations for North America at Too Good To Go, in a statement. "A significant milestone, this collaboration allows us to give millions of consumers across the country a simple way to join the fight against food waste."

Too Good To Go spoke with Specialty Food News earlier this year about its rapid expansion plan.

“We cover about 50 percent of the population, but there is still a ton more expansion that needs to be done,” said Sarah Soteroff, senior public relations manager at Too Good To Go. “Most recently we expanded to Colorado and Arizona, and we are always expanding in the markets where we currently operate.”

In addition to grocers, Too Good To Go also partners with cafes and restaurants to allow consumers to buy small amounts of surplus foods at a discounted price.

Image: Whole Foods Market