New app fights food waste in Charlotte with discounted mystery bags from local businesses
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I got this box of day-old doughnuts from Beyond Amazing Donuts (which did not taste day-old, might I add) for $6. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios
A Colorado-based app called Goodie Bag is tackling food waste in Charlotte by offering surplus food from local businesses at a significant discount.
Why it matters: It's a budget-friendly way for Charlotte residents to access quality food that would otherwise go to waste, all while supporting — and eating — local.
Catch up quick: Goodie Bag expanded to Charlotte in February. It first launched in Boulder, Colorado in 2023 by CU Boulder grads Luke Siegert and Eddy Connors.
- The two former roommates created the platform after experiencing the issues of food waste and affordability as college students on a budget.
- It's also active in Phoenix, Arizona, Columbus Ohio and four Colorado cities including Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins.
What they're saying: "'[Charlotte] struck us as a city worth looking deeper into...it just became obvious that it had a really strong value of local community," CEO Eddy Connors tells Axios.
- So far, they've partnered with about 80 local businesses in Charlotte.
How it works: The app connects users with discounted surplus food from local businesses, like Beyond Amazing Donuts, Poppy's Bagels, Love in Action Cafe and The Batch House.
- Businesses sell their surplus food in the form of "Goodie Bags" that are first-come, first-served and typically 60-70% off retail value.
- Users get a general description of what to expect — from bagels and pastries to full-sized meals — along with a timeframe for pickup.
I tried out the Goodie Bag app for 24 hours and spent $20 on three pickups. Here's everything I got:
- My first bag was $5 and came from Love in Action Cafe, a vegan restaurant on Tuckaseegee Road in west Charlotte.
- I got a jackfruit BBQ bowl with curried chickpeas and rice. Retail value: $15.
Later that day, I got a notification I could place pickups for the next morning (this is typically where you can snag day-old pastries and bagels).
- I ordered Goodie Bags from Poppy's Bagels and Beyond Amazing Donuts for $9 and $6, respectively.
- I got a dozen day-old bagels from Poppy's (retail value: $27.48) and a half-dozen doughnuts from B.A.D. (retail value: $27).
My thought bubble: For about the cost of a cocktail with tip, I got a full dinner, a box of doughnuts and enough bagels to last a couple of weeks (though I took the latter two to the office, where they were happily received).
- While you need to be flexible with what you receive, it's a fun way to support local businesses and stay budget-conscious.
Zoom out: Similar platforms, such as Too Good to Go, have recently garnered attention. TGTG's model is comparable and includes some local businesses but primarily focuses on large chains, like Whole Foods and Circle K.
What's next: The Goodie Bag team says they're working to branch out into surrounding suburbs and cities, like Ballantyne and Gastonia and college campuses, like UNC Charlotte.