A new app allowing customers to purchase discount food is gaining popularity in Perth.

The initiative was started by Perth-based entrepreneur Stuart Kidd who founded Foody Bag.

Customers who use the app will get a random bag of food sourced from local businesses such as bakeries, cafes and restaurants.

Following success in Perth, Mr Kidd is hoping to expand the app to Victoria and New South Wales. 

“It has been extremely popular in Perth as we’ve sold over 40,000 Foody Bags so far,” he says.

The aim of the app is to save food from being thrown away at the end of the day.

According to the Australia Institute more than seven million tonnes of food is wasted each year, costing households over $19 billion.

“We have saved about 150,000 items of food, so it is clear food waste is a huge problem in Australia,” Mr Kidd says.

Miller and Baker, a popular bakery and café in Perth, has been using Foody Bag for more than two years.

Employee Patrick Connell says the app is easy to use and a great way to reduce food waste.

“A lot of the time we have leftover bread, pastries, and sandwiches, and instead of throwing them away we put them in a lucky dip bag and sell it for a discounted price,” Mr Connell says.

Mr Connell says he has seen a rise in the number of people coming into the store and using the app. 

“It definitely has its own niche as some people only come in for their Foody Bag, but some are regulars who live really close by,” Mr Connell says.

However, some businesses in Perth that tried the app have stopped using it.

Marlene Smedley is the owner of Glory Box Cakes in North Perth which sells cakes, bread, and pastries.

Ms Smedley recently gave the Foody Bag app a go to see what it was all about. 

“It was a great idea, and it probably works well for a lot of places, but for us we found most people using it were just looking for a cheap deal,” she says.

“We hoped it would get our name out there but none of the new customers have ever set foot in our store again.

“We now donate our leftover goods to a local women’s refuge and this reduces a lot of our food waste.”

Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University Peter Newman say the app is a great initiative.

“Food waste is a major problem for Australia and this app will prevent good food from being thrown away,” he says.