How Surplus Food Apps Turn Waste into Restaurant Revenue

Restaurant Business with Fexingo: Food Service, Hospitality, and Independent Operators · Jul 30, 2026 · 8m · transcript

Food waste costs the U.S. restaurant industry an estimated $25 billion annually. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how apps like Too Good To Go help independent operators and chains sell surplus meals at a discount, turning a cost center into a revenue stream. They break down the economics for a typical restaurant: recovering 5 to 10 percent of food cost, generating new customer traffic, and reducing disposal fees. A case study of a Denver fast-casual location that recouped $8,000 in six months illustrates the potential. They also discuss how these apps work, the consumer appeal, and…