App Showcase: Too Good To Go

What it does

Too Good To Go is a marketplace dedicated to reducing food waste. The app connects users with local restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores to purchase their surplus food at the end of the day for a significantly reduced price. Users browse nearby deals, reserve a "Surprise Bag," and pick it up during a specified time window, saving both money and food from being thrown away.

Where it shines

The app excels at making discovery intuitive and rewarding. The initial map view (01:44) uses numbered clusters to show the density of available food without overwhelming the user. Tapping on a store reveals a rich detail screen (02:08) with user ratings, pickup times, and a clear description of what one might get. The most compelling feature is on the profile screen (09:15), where the app gamifies the user's impact by tracking money saved and CO2e avoided, reinforcing the positive mission behind each purchase.

UX highlights

• Clustered Map View: The map intelligently groups numerous stores into digestible clusters, which update dynamically as the user adjusts the distance filter (01:45). This makes exploring dense urban areas simple.
• Comprehensive Filtering: Users can easily filter listings by food type, dietary preferences, and collection time (06:58), allowing for highly specific searches.
• Clear Social Proof: Each store listing prominently features a star rating and the number of reviews (02:08), helping users make informed decisions and building trust in the platform.
• Favorites for Retention: A simple heart icon (04:15) lets users save their favorite stores, which then appear in a dedicated section on the main screen for quick access.
• Gamified Impact: The profile section (09:15) shows tangible metrics like "CO2e avoided" and "Money saved," turning transactions into a rewarding experience that aligns with user values.

Monetization & growth

No subscription model or paywall is visible in this recording. The app's revenue model is likely based on taking a commission from each Surprise Bag sold. Growth appears to be driven by community and network effects. The app includes prominent features for users to "Recommend a store" (12:18) and for business owners to "Sign up your store" (12:28), directly encouraging both sides of the marketplace to expand the platform's reach.

Who it’s for

Too Good To Go is ideal for budget-conscious and environmentally-aware consumers, particularly those living in cities with a high density of food establishments. It appeals to students, young professionals, and anyone who enjoys discovering new local food spots while saving money and contributing to a sustainable cause. The surprise element also attracts adventurous eaters who like trying new things.

Notes & opportunities

The user journey is generally smooth, but the initial location detection could be improved. The map first defaults to the Philippines (01:33) before the user manually searches for New York, which might be a confusing first impression. The payment flow failed because the user didn't have a card in Apple Wallet (03:20), but the error screen clearly explained the problem and showed supported card types, which is good error handling.