Co-op launches £3 mystery bags with £32 worth of food inside

Co-op has announced a game-changing new initiative to manage food waste and hit ambitious environmental goals - and it could be live at a store near you right now.

On 10 June, various Co-ops across the nation began selling £3 ‘mystery’ produce bags, featuring fresh produce that would ‘otherwise go to waste’, according to the chain.

Available to order exclusively through the food delivery platform Deliveroo, the bags will contain around six to eight portions of fruit and vegetables, including organic bananas, strawberries, tenderstem broccoli, baking potatoes, and salad bags.

Despite their bargin bin status, the Co-op has confirmed that all the items will ‘still be perfectly good to eat’.

Those who manage to snatch one of the deals will have £32 worth of products delivered to their door, depending on what is available at the store that day.

Co-op's low-cost mystery bags have launched across the UK (Co-op)

By partnering with Deliveroo, customers now have an ‘easy way to buy good nutritious fruit and veg, while saving money and helping to tackle food waste’, as per the company.

“Saving money, eating healthily and reducing food waste are all important matters to our member owners and our Second Chance Saver Bags will help shoppers to do all three with ease,” quipped Kate McCrae, Co-op’s Retail Director.

“We’re extremely proud to be pioneering this new initiative exclusively with Deliveroo and look forward to seeing the response from our members and customers that shop with us through the platform.”

Deliveroo’s Suzy McClintock added: “At Deliveroo, we’re always looking for innovative ways to offer our customers great value on quality products and Co-op’s Second Chance Saver Bags do just that while also actively reducing food waste.

“We’re proud to launch this trial in exclusive partnership with Co-op and help give our local communities a way to eat well, spend less and shop sustainably.”

The food waste trial is available in 20 Co-op stores across the UK via the Deliveroo platform.

20 UK stores are currently offering the deal (Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

If its deemed successful, then expect to see the second chance offer being rolled out further across the estate.

The 20 stores who have opted in on the trial include:

• Brighton: Lewes Road, London Road, and Southwick - Southwick Square
• Chelmsford: New Street
• Crawley: Langley Green - Langley Parade
• Fareham: Stubbington - The Green
• Goole: Howden - Charles Briggs Avenue
• Hockley: Hullbridge - 1-9 Ferry Road
• Horsham: Southwater - Worthing Road
• Huddersfield: Marsh - Westbourne Road
• London: 383-387 Mile End Road, Battersea Bridge Road, Canary Wharf - Harbour Exchange Square, Ealing - South Ealing Road
• Loughborough: Barrow Upon Soar - High Street
• Manchester: Ladybarn - Mauldeth Road
• Newbury: Thatcham - The Broadway
• Sheffield: 196-198 Crookes
• Wakefield: Horbury - High Street
• Worcester: 46 Ombersley Road

You can order yours via Deliveroo now (JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP via Getty Images)

If you’re not in one of the catchment areas, then apps like Too Good To Go are available to save waste from local shops and resturuants.

The £3 Co-op mystery bags come amid the company’s ambitious commitment to halve food waste by 2030.

When surplus occurs outside of the new Deliveroo deal, it is redistribution through community and charity partners.

These include such as Felix, City Harvest, The Bread & Butter Thing, Company Shop and hundreds of community groups via Caboodle.