Everyone loves a Greggs - especially those of us who live in the North East.
But with bills set to rise by 54% in spring amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, many people are looking at ways they can save some money on bills and food. And to help with cutting costs and alleviating food wastage, an app called The Too Good To Go was set up which is creating waves in the food industry.
It has more than half a million followers on Facebook alone. And it has also collaborated with celebrities including Bake Off winner, Candice Brown and sandwich connoisseur, Max Halley.
Go here for the latest news on the cost of living and money-saving tips
Writer Dayna Farrington tried the Too Good To Go app to get a 'magic bag' from Toby Carvery. This time she's using it to get a Greggs' 'magic bag', reports Birmingham Live.
Here's what she had to say:
After the great success from my first ever Too Good To Go 'magic bag' from Toby Carvery - I got myself back on the app in search of another bag of goodies. Was it too good to be true or a stroke of luck for my first go?
We would soon find out. Too Good To Go is where supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and shops sell their leftovers for significantly less than you would pay for them in their prime.
The food that you can collect is inside ‘magic bags’ and can be found on the app. You just search for what's available near you.
After an hour or so of browsing and trying to find some good deals from big named brands, I happened across two bags that spiked my interest. Greggs and Starbucks. Both were from stores around a 15 minute drive from my house at a service station in Worcestershire.
There were two left of each bag - so a decision had to be made quickly. I must admit, I was more tempted by the thought of pastries and sweet treats aplenty from Greggs. Plus it was the cheaper option of £2.95.
So that Monday lunchtime I nabbed one - ready to be collected between 5.15pm and 5.30pm that evening. And spent the rest of the daydreaming of what delights I would be collecting.
The time came and I packed myself off into my car to make the quick drive and arrived at the Greggs just ahead of my collection time. There was no one to be seen - but I could spy five or six white bags behind the counter.
After a few minutes, an orderly queue formed behind me as others came to the store in anticipation for their magic bags. I was greeted by a member of staff, who checked the app and code I had been sent - and got me my white bag with the Greggs logo on the side.
I quickly got back into my car and took a sneak peek in the bag, which I must admit was heavy - and saw two white packets, four doughnuts, and two baguettes. This looks good I thought, as I drove off home.
I opened the bag up on our dining room table at home to find a mixture of sweet and savoury items - a sausage roll, a sticky toffee muffin, four jam doughnuts, a ham salad baguette, and a roast chicken mayonnaise salad baguette. All for £2.95!
A sausage roll alone costs you £1.30 to take out now, while a baguette can cost between £2.85 and £3.05. While a four doughnuts in a pack is £2.10.
I was gobsmacked once more. It could fill us both up for our evening meal - as well as a doughnut each for the children too!
First up was the sausage roll. Which we will admit, we warmed up briefly in the microwave.
But then again, it wouldn't be Greggs if it was piping hot now, would it? But this was still as delicious as when you pick them up fresh from the counter.
The pastry was still nice and flaky, while the sausage inside was succulent. There was a slight hint of the sausage roll being slightly moist and soft, but that could have been the reheating in the microwave, or that it had been left in the counter ahead of being packed up for us.
But all in all, it was good. We were off to a flying start.
Next up were the baguettes. We received a roast chicken mayonnaise baguette, which should cost £2.85, as well as a honey roast ham salad baguette normally costing around £3.05.
Both were nearly, if not more, than the cost of the entire magic bag. Incredible right?
They also both tasted delicious. And tasted really fresh.
Both had been freshly made that day with clear allergen and ingredients lists, so need to worry if you have any food allergies. And the packaging was all sealed.
The roast chicken was tasty and the mayonnaise was creamy, while the salad in both was crunchy. There were nice big slices of ham in the other baguette too.
I don't often order a baguette from Greggs, so was surprised at how much filling was in both. Top marks all round from us.
Moving swiftly onto the sweet treats. First up was the sticky toffee muffins - one of my personal favourites to pick up as a treat from Greggs, so I was over the moon to find it in the bag.
These normally cost you around £1.10 from the stores. It is a tasty flavour combination that can do no wrong!
It was soft, spongey, and gooey. The toffee and caramel flavours were beautifully delicious.
It was the best by far out of the bag. It could satisfy any sweet tooth.
And to satisfy the sweet tooth even further, step forward a bag of four jam doughnuts. Normally £2.10 for a pack of four - it was close to the cost of the whole bag.
While it wasn't awful, it wasn't the best part of the bag at all. The sugar had really soaked into the doughnut, making it very soggy and the taste wasn't as sweet.
But the doughnut itself was still very edible and the dough still felt fresh. The jam centre made up for the soggy outer.
And it didn't stop us demolishing all four in the house. I don't think the kids batted an eyelid either.
We were delighted with the contents of our Greggs magic bag. The amount of food we received was amazing, and the price was really just something else.
Where else can you get two baguettes, a sausage roll, four doughnuts, and a muffin for £2.95? I'm open to suggestions!
You really can't deny the appeal of this app at all. It is a great idea and makes a lot of sense.
And with how quickly they sell out - people obviously agree. The food is better given out at a discounted price than going straight in the bin.
We would definitely look at picking up a Greggs' magic bag in the future. And I will continue keeping my eyes peeled for other bargains too.
It is really worth testing in your local area to see what discounts you can pick up. Search for the 'Too Good To Go' app on your phone.
