Save up to 70% off: This app turns surplus food into 'Surprise Bags'

Shiraz would then meet Iñigo Raymundo, Mabu’s CGRO & Co-Founder, whose family’s farm in Bicol also struggled with food waste and spoilage.  

“I told him I thought we could start at the other end of the chain, with the bakeries and restaurants in Metro Manila, build the rails there, and work our way back toward farms like his family’s,” Shiraz said. 

Mabu is also run by Steve Dole, who created the platform, and Leo Albea, who heads the brand.

Nearly 50 establishments turned Mabu down before Max’s Restaurant stepped in to give them their first 'yes.'

That initial leap of faith paid off quickly. Shiraz shared Mabu's experience with its first wave of patrons, saying, “When those first customers picked up their bags and left reviews saying they’d discovered a brand they’d never tried before, I knew this was worth the rejections.” 

How does it work? 

Mabu functions like any other food delivery app. It allows users to share their locations to see nearby deals and search for the type of food of their choosing. Furthermore, the pickup schedules for the bag are displayed. 

The food sold is packaged like that of blind boxes, hence, “Surprise Bags.”

Shiraz explained why they pushed for this type of setup: “Nobody knows at 10 a.m. what will be left at 8 p.m. If a bakery had to list exact items, they’d only be able to commit to surplus they’ve already counted, which means listing late and selling little.” 

He also shared that this way, the partner brands are protected. "A listing that says 'Ensaymada: 60% off' competes with their full-price shelf. A Surprise Bag doesn’t. The regular menu, pricing and customers stay exactly as they are.” 

“And honestly, customers love the surprise. Opening the bag is half the fun, and it’s how people end up trying things they’d never have ordered themselves,” he added.

Patrons with allergies and food restrictions may also inquire with the sellers about the contents of the Surprise Bag. 

After payment through the app, customers may be able to pick up their order at the scheduled time, and all they need to show is their confirmation code. It is non-refundable, so patrons must collect their order at their chosen time only. 

If customers are worried about the quality of the food on the platform, Mabu selectively vets the establishments. “A Surprise Bag is the same food they sold at full price an hour earlier, from the same licensed, inspected kitchen, packed by their own staff.” 

“Before launch, we train each partner’s team on how bags work, and we tell customers that bags are meant to be eaten the same day, with anything perishable refrigerated right away. After that, the reviews do a lot of the work,” he added. 

Customers may also check their personal analytics in the app, including the CO2 they reduced, meals rescued from waste, and the money saved from using the app.

Making a difference

When asked about Mabu’s long-term goal in the long run, Shiraz replied: “[A] Philippines where good food doesn’t get thrown away.” 

“Surprise Bags are how we started, but the bigger goal is to be the infrastructure that surplus food moves through in this country, whether it’s sold, donated, or redirected,” he shared.  

He also announced their ongoing advocacy and partnerships, including Mabu Connect, which "helps food banks and community kitchens take in donations, schedule pickups and report on them." Three percent of what Mabu earns goes to Philippine Food Bank Foundation, Shiraz said.

Additionally, Mabu aims to work with local government units. He said that they already finalizing plans with the Quezon City government, and are in conversations with several other cities such as Bacoor Cavite and Tagaytay.

For Shiraz, the start of their vision of a waste-free country begins with their Surprise Bags. He encouraged customers to “try one bag from a brand you’ve never heard of. It’s the best way to discover what your neighborhood actually bakes and cooks, at a price that makes it easy to say yes.” 

Local businesses are also welcome to reach out to Mabu should they ever find a surplus of food after closing. He said that Surprise Bags are "only ever for your surplus."

"Your regular pricing, your customers and your operations don’t change. There are no minimums, you choose what goes in every bag and when to list.”