Greggs and Too Good To Go have saved over 7 million bags of food
Millions of Greggs favourites have been given a second chance thanks to its partnership with Too Good To Go, with more than seven million Surprise Bags now rescued from going to waste across the UK.
The popular bakery chain first teamed up with the food waste-fighting app in 2021, giving customers the chance to pick up unsold food at a fraction of its usual price.
Five years on, the partnership has become a huge success, showing how a simple idea can make a real difference to the amount of food thrown away in the UK.
And it's not just good news for the environment.
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With food prices continuing to put pressure on household budgets, the scheme also gives shoppers an affordable way to enjoy some of their favourite Greggs treats, while helping the planet, too.
What's inside a Greggs Surprise Bag?
For anyone unfamiliar with Too Good To Go, the concept is refreshingly straightforward.
Restaurants, cafés and retailers list surplus food on the app, allowing customers to reserve a bag and collect it from their chosen location.
At Greggs, Surprise Bags are available towards the end of the day and in the early morning, depending on the shop.
Each one contains a selection of unsold items, meaning customers never quite know what they'll get until they open the bag.
It could be a freshly made sandwich, a classic sausage roll, one of the bakery's famous bakes or a sweet treat.
The contents change according to what's left over, making every collection a little different.
Customers simply download the free Too Good To Go app, find a participating Greggs shop, reserve an available bag and pay before collecting it at the allocated time.
A partnership making a difference
Reaching the seven-million milestone is a significant achievement for both businesses, particularly as food waste remains a major issue across the UK.
Chelsea Kerr, managing director at Too Good To Go UK & Ireland, said: “Autumn is a great reminder of why partnerships like ours with Greggs matter. Routines get busier, budgets get tighter, and people want food that's convenient and good value.”
She added that the partnership had demonstrated how a well-known high street brand could make preventing food waste part of everyday life.
Gillian Long, retail operations director at Greggs, also highlighted the importance of redistributing unsold food.
“Our partnership with Too Good To Go plays an important role in redistributing unsold food,” she said.
“Whether it's a bake, sandwich or sweet treat that's being saved, it gives our customers a simple way to pick up something they love while helping us make sure good food doesn't go to waste.”
The initiative also supports Greggs' wider sustainability ambitions through its Greggs Pledge, which includes commitments to reducing food surplus and making better use of unsold products.
Greggs introduces another way to save food
The partnership has also expanded beyond the original Surprise Bags, with the introduction of Greggs Grab Bags.
These focus on surplus items from the chain's hot food range, giving customers more opportunities to rescue food throughout the day rather than having to wait until closing time.
Available in more than 2,000 Greggs shops nationwide, Grab Bags start from £2.99.
As with the Surprise Bags, the selection depends on what's available at the time, so there's no guaranteed combination of products.
The additional option makes it easier for customers to pick up a bargain while helping Greggs ensure that perfectly good food gets eaten rather than discarded.
How to get your hands on a Greggs Surprise Bag
Fancy seeing what you can rescue?
Getting started is easy.
Download the free Too Good To Go app, search for your nearest participating Greggs and check which bags are available.
Once you've reserved and paid for your chosen bag, simply collect it from the shop during the specified collection window.
Availability and contents will vary, so it's worth checking the app regularly if you're hoping to grab one.
With more than seven million bags already saved, Greggs and Too Good To Go have shown that tackling food waste doesn't always require complicated solutions. Sometimes, it starts with giving an unsold sausage roll, sandwich or sweet treat another chance.
Jen Thomas
