Many Houston-area food businesses have started using a mobile device app that has won honors for making a “cultural impact” on society by enabling customers to buy food — at a discount — that otherwise would go to waste.
Too Good To Go, named a winner in the “Cultural Impact” category at the global App Store Awards by Apple for 2023, is one of nearly 2 million apps in the App Store, but one of just a handful of winners in that category.
“For over a decade, we’ve taken a moment at the end of the year to celebrate the very best and most impactful apps and games on the App Store — and the developers behind them,” Apple said in announcing the awards.
For Spring Branch Management District business owners like Ken Brunecke of Kolache Kings,1829 Bingle Rd., the app provides a way to entice customers to come in and grab items that did not sell during the morning rush.
On a recent morning, Kolache Kings offered a $4.99 “surprise bag” on the Too Good To Go app, meaning — basically — that you “get what you get and you don’t get upset.”
Not sure who would get upset, though, walking out with a sampling of delicious sweet and savory kolaches that were baked that morning. Our bag contained five large kolaches and fed four women fueling up for a day at The Nutcracker Market at NRG Center, where, by the way, another Spring Branch District business, Qué Bonito Mexican and Fashion, had its inaugural booth.
Brunecke said the nonprofit next to his kolache shop, with which he is affiliated, also uses the app to sell leftover food. Kidz Grub has 14 distribution points providing 800 to 900 free meals a day. In the process, Too Good To Go helps groups like this one get more visibility — and funding.
Too Good To Go makes money by charging set annual fees to the food purveyors.
After ordering food on your mobile device, you must go to the businesses to pick up your items. Sometimes, you might eye more food to purchase, which is another plus for the local businesses.
Kolache Kings took over a former Shipley Do-Nuts store, but another Shipley in Spring Branch, at 8247 Long Point Rd., is frequently featured on the app.
Snowflake Donuts at 10790 Westview Dr. offers food bags regularly. The popular Roostar Grill at 1411 Gessner Rd., recently sold out of its surprise bags quickly. For $6.99, the Roostar bag may contain Vietnamese-style soup, sides or entrees — for those who are quick enough to snag the deal.
As of May, about 80 food establishments in central Houston joined the app system, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Here’s more on how it works.
Once you download the app, set your location and browse businesses within that area. A searchable map allows you to look for specific restaurants. You can mark your favorites and turn on notifications to get immediate alerts for when those businesses offer surprise bags.
Click on the offers you are interested in and check for information about the pick-up window, because you must collect your prepaid items during a defined time, usually just before closing (but not always).
Click “reserve” to snag your bag and, when you pick it up, someone at the business will ask you to show your app and swipe to indicate the items were picked up.
At Kolache Kings, Brunecke quickly made my bag after I arrived, so the baked items remained fresh and warm. At other locations and depending on the products, they have the bags ready for you to grab and go. Sometimes, it’s like a game of chance as you pick from among several nondescript bags awaiting pickup. Thus the label “surprise” bag.
For people who can’t decide on what to order or want to try something new, the app takes away all of the decision-making. What is in the bag is strictly up to the business owner.
According to Too Good To Go, 280 million meals have been saved from going to waste by 85 million people who use the app.
Often, the bags are sold for about a third of the regular price of items inside, while the app helps reduce waste and helps food outlets stay in business.
The thrill of opening a bag and finding warm and fresh kolaches, though? Priceless.
Too Good To Go
https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us
— by Dorothy Puch Lillig
