The budget supermarket is rolling out the surplus food bags at all 990 UK stores in a bid to tackle food waste.

The ‘Magic Bags’ contain a range of grocery products that are approaching their sell-by or use-by dates at less than a third of the price.

Aldi confirmed the bags cost £3.30 each but contain at least £10 worth of food.

To get a Magic Bag, shoppers need to download the free Too Good To Go app and search for their nearby Aldi store, before reserving a bag to collect from the store at an allotted time.

The nationwide roll out follows a successful trial last year. It is expected to save a further 4,000 tonnes of food annually from going to waste and forms a key part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to cut food waste.

In addition, all of Aldi’s UK stores will continue to donate surplus food to local causes. Since 2019, the supermarket has donated more than 30 million meals via its successful partnership with Neighbourly.

Tackle food waste and help shoppers save money

Liz Fox, corporate responsibility director at Aldi UK, said: “Rolling out our partnership with Too Good To Go is another way of allowing us to cut down on food waste, while also offering customers the opportunity to pick up our food at even lower prices.

“With the rising cost of living impacting so many, Too Good To Go offers a simple and accessible way for consumers to save money and reduce waste.”

Sophie Trueman, managing director of Too Good To Go UK and Ireland, said: “We’re thrilled to be rolling out our partnership with Aldi nationally. Having already had fantastic feedback during a successful trial period, I know our Too Good To Go community is going to jump at the chance to save Magic Bags from their local Aldi and prevent even more good food from going to waste.”

Food inflation accelerated to 13.8% in January, up from 13.3% in December, according to the British Retail Consortium, with fresh food inflation increasing to 15.7% in January, up from 15% in December.

Earlier this week the Office for National Statistics revealed that one in five Brits had resorted to eating out of date food amid the rising cost of living.

Meanwhile, consumer research company Kantar revealed shoppers face paying £800 more a year on their groceries due to record food price inflation of 16.7% in January 2023.

Too Good To Go was launched in 2016 after the founders witnessed restaurant staff throw away fresh food which hadn’t sold in time. The app lists businesses’ unsold food, including from supermarkets, restaurants, bakeries and manufacturers so “locals can find, buy and enjoy it”.