SPAR apprentices from across Austria prepared and sold more than 9,300 Too Good To Go bags as part of a two-week initiative to help tackle food waste. The initiative focused not only on saving food, but also on strengthening awareness of sustainable practices and entrepreneurial thinking.

The apprentices managed the full process themselves, from selecting products to preparing attractive surprise bags for customers.

Apprentice Armin Özdemir, who is in his second year of training, said: “The Too Good To Go initiative showed me how much planning goes into the products on the shelves and how important it is to use food responsibly. I especially liked that we were able to put the bags together ourselves. It feels good to make a difference and to see how many customers are using the offer.”

Learning sustainability through practice

By taking part in the initiative, the apprentices gained valuable experience for their future careers. Acting responsibly is an important skill for the future workplace. As part of their training, SPAR apprentices gain broad knowledge from the start,  developing an early understanding of how to use resources responsibly. This applies to all areas of day-to-day store operations, from efficient order planning to careful stock management. Initiatives such as the partnership with Too Good To Go bring this knowledge to life. The apprentices independently implement sustainable measures in stores, helping to shape a responsible future for retail.

“Our systems are designed to plan demand in stores as accurately as possible. However, even with the greatest care, it is not always possible to avoid products being left over. This makes it all the more important to embed sustainable practices firmly in our apprentices’ training from the start. In this way, they learn early on to take responsibility, actively help tackle food waste, and make a tangible contribution through their commitment,” said SPAR CEO Hans K. Reisch.

Diverse food waste reduction strategy

The partnership with Too Good To Go has been in place since 2021 and is one of many initiatives through which SPAR, together with team members, customers, and partners, is committed to reducing resource waste. The collaboration aims to give unsold food a second chance while placing greater emphasis on product value.

SPAR Austria also follows a comprehensive food rescue strategy. This includes precise stock ordering plus AI-supported demand forecasting, selling products at reduced prices shortly before their best-before date, and donating surplus food to charitable organisations. These measures are proving effective as only around 1% of the food on offer in SPAR Austria stores remains unsold.

Source: SPAR Austria

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About SPAR Austria

The origins of the SPAR brand in Austria date back to 1954. The current SPAR AG was created in 1970 when the original founding families joined other regional wholesalers to form SPAR Austria AG – a 100% privately owned Austrian company. Company-owned stores operate throughout the country in the multi-format retail strategy developed since the 1960’s whilst independent retailers operate under sub-licence from SPAR Austria and continue building the brand’s presence.