Too Good To Go in Denmark: How to Save Money on Food

Denmark is an expensive country to live in. Food costs are manageable if you shop at Lidl and Netto, but eating well without a large budget still takes effort. Too Good To Go solves a specific part of that problem: end-of-day surplus from bakeries, cafes, and supermarkets that would otherwise go to waste — sold to you at half of retail or less through a ten-second app reservation.

Denmark is the home country of Too Good To Go: it started in Copenhagen, launched its app in 2016 and still has its headquarters there.

How Too Good To Go Works

The concept is simple:

1. A bakery bakes 200 loaves. By 18:00, 30 are unsold.
2. Rather than bin them, they list a Magic Bag (the English app calls it a Surprise Bag; in Danish it's a lykkepose) on Too Good To Go at a reduced price.
3. You see the listing, reserve it in the app, and collect between 19:00–19:30.
4. You receive a bag with whatever surplus they have — you don't choose the contents.

The app uses a GPS-based map to show available sellers near you. Each listing shows:

• The pickup window (e.g. 19:00–19:30)
• The price
• Number of bags remaining (limited — popular listings sell out fast)

You confirm the purchase in the app to reserve the bag, then collect it from the seller at the scheduled time — done.

Getting Started: Download and Sign Up

Download Too Good To Go and get started with a referral bonus

Using the referral link above gives you a head start — you'll get credits or a discount on your first Magic Bag depending on the current promotion.

Signing up is quick:

1. Download the app (iOS or Android)
2. Create an account with your email address
3. Set your location (any Danish address or just allow location access)
4. Browse available Magic Bags nearby

No CPR number, no Danish phone number, no local bank account required. Any international card works for payment.

What You Actually Get

Magic Bags are surprise bags — the contents vary every day based on what the seller has left over. This is the model by design, because sellers don't know what will be unsold until closing time.

In practice, bags from each type of seller are predictable:

Lagkagehuset, Meyers Bageri, and local independent bakeries are the most popular sellers. Compare a few listings before you reserve.

Which Stores Participate in Denmark

Supermarket chains:

• Netto — widespread participation; often produce and chilled goods near best-before
• Lidl — worked with Too Good To Go from 2019, but in May 2025 it launched its own in-store "Madspildsposen" scheme to replace its old food-waste concept, so check the app before counting on Lidl bags

Bakery chains:

• Lagkagehuset — one of the most reliable and popular on the platform in Denmark
• Meyers Bageri — high-value bags, often sells out within minutes of listing
• Local independent bakeries — vary by area; check your neighbourhood

Restaurant categories:

• Sushi restaurants (listings typically appear 20:30–22:00)
• Pizza and Italian
• Thai, Indian, and other takeaway restaurants
• Cafés and lunch spots (lunch service bags appear around 14:00–15:00)

Coverage is densest in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, and Aarhus. Odense, Aalborg, Roskilde, and Helsingør all have solid coverage. Smaller towns have fewer sellers but usually some.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of It

Enable notifications. Popular sellers (especially good bakeries) sell out in under a minute after listing. Turn on push notifications so you see new listings the moment they appear.

Favourite your regular sellers. Once you find a bakery or supermarket with reliable bags, add them to favourites. The app notifies you when your favourites list new bags.

Check lunch bags. Many people only think to use the app in the evening. Cafés and lunch restaurants often list bags between 13:00–15:00, which are less competitive because fewer people are looking.

Sushi bags in the evening. Sushi restaurants are among the highest-value bags on the platform. Most list between 20:30–21:30 for same-evening collection. Reserve immediately when you see them — they disappear fast.

Plan your meals loosely. Since you don't choose the contents, Too Good To Go works best when you treat the bag as a base ingredient rather than a specific planned meal. Bread bags → make open-faced sandwiches (smørrebrød). Supermarket bags → cook around whatever protein or produce you receive.

Use it to discover local spots. Many small bakeries and restaurants you'd never find otherwise show up as Too Good To Go sellers. It's a cheap way to try somewhere new.

Common Problems and Fixes

"There's nothing available near me." This usually means you're looking at the wrong time. Most bags appear in the evening (18:00–21:00). Bakery bags often appear 30–60 minutes before closing. Try browsing at 17:30–18:00 and check again at 20:00 if nothing showed up earlier.

"The bag I wanted sold out before I could reserve it." Enable notifications and favourite the seller. Popular sellers in Copenhagen often sell out within 30–90 seconds of listing. Speed matters — have your payment method saved so checkout is one tap.

"I couldn't make the pickup window." Contact the seller through the app before the window closes. Many will hold a bag briefly if you message ahead. If you miss the window without contact, Too Good To Go's policy is that you forfeit the bag (no refund) — but reaching out usually gets a resolution.

"The bag contents were disappointing." It happens occasionally. The app has a rating system — rate honestly, and avoid sellers with consistently poor ratings. Most sellers have strong incentive to give good bags because their rating affects visibility on the platform.

Download Too Good To Go

Get the app and your first Magic Bag discount →

Install, allow location access, and browse what's available near you tonight. It takes a few minutes to set up.

For more on keeping food costs down in Denmark, read the supermarkets and grocery shopping guide and the cost of living breakdown for 2026.