Co-op Launches £3 Second Chance Saver Bags on Deliveroo

Everything You Need To Know About Co-op's New £3 Saver Bags

Co-op is testing a new way to help shoppers save money on groceries while reducing food waste, but there is one important catch.

At this stage, the retailer's new £3 Second Chance Saver Bags are only available as a trial in 20 Co-op stores across the UK through Deliveroo. If shoppers respond positively, Co-op says the scheme could be expanded to more locations in the future.

The bags contain surplus fruit and vegetables that are still perfectly good to eat but might otherwise go to waste. Each £3 mystery bag contains between six and eight items and could include anything from strawberries and tomatoes to broccoli, potatoes and bananas.

For anyone trying to cut grocery costs, it's another interesting development in the growing battle against food waste.

What Are Co-op Second Chance Saver Bags?

Co-op's Second Chance Saver Bags are £3 mystery bags filled with surplus fruit and vegetables that might otherwise be thrown away despite remaining perfectly good to eat.

According to Co-op, each bag will contain between six and eight different fruit and vegetable items. The retailer says some bags could contain produce with an original value of up to £32, although this will vary depending on what is included on the day.

Examples of products that may appear include:

• Irresistible Best of British Tomatoes

• Fairtrade Organic Bananas

• Irresistible Strawberries

• Tenderstem Broccoli

• Baking Potatoes

• Sweet and Crunchy Salad

As with any mystery bag, the contents will vary depending on what stock each store has available.

How Much Can You Save?

The maximum bag value being mentioned is a potential £32 value, but it's worth looking a little deeper.

Not every bag will contain the most expensive items, so shoppers shouldn't expect to receive £32 worth of produce every time. What Co-op has guaranteed is that each £3 bag will contain more than £5 worth of produce based on its reduced-to-clear pricing.

That means shoppers should save at least £2 compared with buying the same reduced items individually, while some bags could offer considerably more value.

Part of the attraction is the surprise. Some shoppers may receive a bag packed with premium produce, while others may find it contains more everyday fruit and vegetables.

Available Through Deliveroo

One of the more unusual aspects of this scheme is that it's launching exclusively through Deliveroo.

That means shoppers can potentially add a Saver Bag to a grocery order and have it delivered directly to their door.

For busy households, this could be a major advantage. Many food waste initiatives require shoppers to visit stores at specific times and hope there are bargains available. This approach brings the savings directly to the customer.

Of course, delivery and service fees should be considered when working out the overall value.

How Does It Compare With Too Good To Go?

Too Good To Go has become one of the UK's most popular food waste apps.

The service allows supermarkets, bakeries, coffee shops and restaurants to sell surplus food at heavily discounted prices instead of throwing it away.

While both schemes share the same goal, they work slightly differently.

Feature	Co-op Saver Bags	Too Good To Go
Price	£3	Varies by retailer
Contents	Fruit and vegetables only	Mixed surplus food
Ordering	Deliveroo	Too Good To Go app
Collection	Delivery available	Usually collection only
Surprise element	Yes	Yes

For shoppers looking specifically for discounted fruit and vegetables, Co-op's bags may be appealing.

For those seeking sandwiches, pastries, bakery products, ready meals or a wider variety of food, Too Good To Go is likely to remain the stronger option.

How Does It Compare With Olio?

Olio takes a completely different approach.

Instead of selling surplus food, the platform allows local people, volunteers and businesses to share food with others in their community, often completely free of charge.

Feature	Co-op Saver Bags	Olio
Cost	£3	Usually free
Delivery	Via Deliveroo	Usually collection
Availability	Trial locations only	Depends on local activity
Food Type	Fruit and vegetables	Wide variety

If you're looking for completely free food, Olio remains difficult to beat. It's also worth checking whether your local supermarket participates in food redistribution schemes.

We've previously covered how some Tesco and One Stop stores give away surplus food every day, which can be another useful way to cut grocery costs while helping prevent food waste.

The main challenge with Olio is availability. Some areas have lots of active users and regular listings, while others may have very little available.

Which Option Offers The Best Value?

The truth is that all three options serve slightly different purposes.

Olio is hard to beat if your goal is finding free food.

Too Good To Go remains one of the best ways to access discounted surplus food from a wide variety of retailers.

Co-op's new Saver Bags sit somewhere in the middle. They offer a low fixed price, focus specifically on fruit and vegetables and can be delivered through Deliveroo.

Rather than choosing one over another, many savvy shoppers may find themselves using all three depending on what is available locally.

Where Is The Trial Available?

The trial currently covers 20 Co-op stores across the UK.

The confirmed trial stores are:

• Brighton: Lewes Road

• Brighton: London Road

• Brighton: Southwick - Southwick Square

• Chelmsford: New Street

• Crawley: Langley Green - Langley Parade

• Fareham: Stubbington - The Green

• Goole: Howden - Charles Briggs Avenue

• Hockley: Hullbridge - 1-9 Ferry Road

• Horsham: Southwater - Worthing Road

• Huddersfield: Marsh - Westbourne Road

• London: 383-387 Mile End Road

• London: Battersea Bridge Road

• London: Canary Wharf - Harbour Exchange Square

• London: Ealing - South Ealing Road

• Loughborough: Barrow Upon Soar - High Street

• Manchester: Ladybarn - Mauldeth Road

• Newbury: Thatcham - The Broadway

• Sheffield: 196-198 Crookes

• Wakefield: Horbury - High Stree

• Worcester: 46 Ombersley Road

If the trial proves successful, Co-op says it could expand the initiative to more stores in the future.

Can You Earn Cashback?

Because the bags are purchased through Deliveroo, some shoppers may be able to earn cashback through cashback through traditional cashback services such as TopCashback, Quidco, Rakuten, Complete Savings, or gift card cashback services such as JamDoughnut; cashback rates vary depending on what promotions are available at the time.

As always, it's worth checking current offers before placing an order.

Why This Matters

Food waste remains a major issue across the UK, while grocery costs continue to put pressure on household budgets.

What makes this trial particularly interesting is that it attempts to address both challenges at the same time. Instead of perfectly edible fruit and vegetables being discarded, shoppers can buy them at a heavily discounted price.

Whether the scheme becomes as popular as Too Good To Go remains to be seen. If shoppers embrace it, there is every chance Co-op could roll it out to hundreds more stores across the country.

FAQ

What is a Co-op Second Chance Saver Bag?

It is a £3 mystery bag containing surplus fruit and vegetables that would otherwise be at risk of going to waste. Each bag contains between six and eight items.

How much does a Co-op Saver Bag cost?

Each bag costs £3 through Deliveroo.

Are Co-op Saver Bags available nationwide?

No. The scheme is currently being trialled in 20 Co-op stores across the UK.

Is Co-op Saver Bags better than Too Good To Go?

They offer different benefits. Co-op focuses on fruit and vegetables, while Too Good To Go provides a wider range of surplus food from multiple retailers.

Is Olio still the cheapest option?

In many cases, yes. Most food listed on Olio is available free of charge, although availability depends on your local area and community activity.

For shoppers who already use Too Good To Go or Olio, Co-op's new trial offers another way to save money on groceries while helping reduce food waste. If the trial proves successful, it could become a useful addition to the growing number of tools available to budget-conscious shoppers.