Vivian Zheng/staff reporter
In the bustling world of the food industry, managing inventory and minimizing waste is a constant challenge for restaurants. There is one innovative solution that has emerged to solve this issue —- “leftover blind box”.
What is the leftover blind box
The so-called leftovers blind box is not really the leftovers. It refers to the fact that the store will sell the stock that is not sold out before the closing of the store on the same day, and sell it on the software at a low discount in the way of “blind box”. These leftovers often result from overproduction, overestimate demand, unpopular items, economic downturns, market saturation .
On leftovers blind box platform, consumer is in order when doesn’t know how they will receive food, It’s all depended on what’s today’s leftover. The “blind box” can only be picked up at a specified time, usually in the evening, when the restaurant is closing and can determine the day’s leftover inventory.
Why leftover blind box appear
Leftovers are inevitable in every restaurant, it’s due to the varying daily customer flow and the unpredictability of customer preferences. To ensure every guest has a good experience, restaurants will always prepare all the items on their menu, but of the unpredictability, some foods are not being sold. Since these unsold items cannot be stored for long periods, then leftover blind boxes emerges as a solution to minimize waste.
Too good to go
It originated from a software called Too Good To Go, founded in Denmark in 2015, which connects merchants and consumers by building a discount food trading platform, selling the food that is not sold out before the store closes, while reducing the food waste of merchants, it can also bring help to consumers in need. It is a social impact company on a mission to inspire and empower everyone to fight food waste together. The app is the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food. They want to help users rescue good food from going to waste, offering great value for money at local stores, cafes and restaurants.
Benefits for merchants
- Extra revenue
Selling leftover food items through Too Good to Go generates extra revenue from products that would otherwise be discarded.
- Reduce of food waste
Nowadays, instead of discarding unsold items, restaurants can offer them at discounted prices, allowing them to recoup some costs and reduce waste. This approach not only helps minimize food waste but also provides affordable options for consumers, creating a 2-win situation for both the business and the environment.
- Knows what’s customer like
They can gauge customer preferences by analyzing the types of leftovers. If certain items consistently remain unsold, it indicates that these items are unpopular. Consequently, the restaurant can adjust by preparing less of these items or making changes to the menu. This feedback helps to change the menu to better align with customer preferences, reducing waste and improving overall efficiency.
Benefits for customers
- They can pick up meals and supplies for less than full price
Because these are leftovers, merchants sell them at very low prices, allowing customers to receive more value than they pay for. For example, a woman using Too Good To Go managed to get meals’ worth of food at a fraction of the original price, receiving several extra items for the same cost. This not only offers savings but also provides customers with the opportunity to enjoy a variety of meals。
- Getting surprise
Using Too Good To Go offers an element of surprise, the customers never know what they will receive. This let them making it feel like unwrapping a gift each time. This surprise factor, combined with the satisfaction of saving money ,makes Too Good To Go be unique .
Conclusion
By offering these unsold items at a discount through innovative solutions like leftover blind boxes, restaurants can minimize waste and generate some revenue from food that would otherwise be discarded. This not only helps in reducing the environmental impact of food waste but also provides customers with affordable and convenient meal options.
The cost performance represented by the “leftovers” and the novelty brought by the “blind box” may be a fresh experience that can not be replaced by other promotion methods for the time being,If you haven’t tried the leftover blind box yet, I highly recommend give it a whirl. Hope you enjoy it!
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