Lucky Dip Bags

What is a Lucky Dip bag?

A Lucky Dip bag is a selection of delicious items that haven’t sold in time, which Olio users can buy for up to 80% off! 

Why is Olio launching Lucky Dip bags?

Our mission at Olio is simple: to make sure that good food gets eaten, not wasted. To do that, we need to work closely with businesses, and here’s what they’ve told us:

1. They want to sell as much of their surplus food as they can - before donating the rest.
2. They want fewer partners, not more, to make things extra simple in-store and for staff.

That’s why Lucky Dip exists. Now, we can offer businesses a way to do all of the above - and redistribute any food left through Olio's volunteers.

Lucky Dip (alongside our Reduced Food section, which features 'reduced to clear' items in the app) means we can offer businesses a simple, all-in-one solution. 

Most importantly, it helps us fulfil our mission: to save as much food as possible and put a stop to food waste.

And for our community, that means you can save money on your weekly shop, and get quality groceries at a fraction of the price. 

Does this mean that there will be less free food available on the app?

This will vary on a location by location basis - in some locations, there will be more free food available, and in others, there will be less. However, overall, there will be significantly more free food available on the Olio app. There are two main reasons for this:

1. Many businesses that have historically refused to work with Olio have now expressed interest in working with us because Lucky Dip offers them the ability to generate revenues from their surplus food - and of course, the Food Waste Heroes Programme offers them the ability to get to zero edible food waste.
2. Our trials have shown that Lucky Dip bags have, in many instances, increased the amount of free food that participating stores donate. That’s because in order to post Lucky Dip bags, store staff must use Olio’s system - and that reminds them to confirm when free food is ready for collection by our volunteers. Without that nudge, it's all too easy for staff to forget to confirm Food Waste Hero collections. 

For example, one of our pilot volunteers told us:

So whilst we can’t guarantee every store will donate more food, overall, across Olio’s current and prospective partners, we know that Lucky Dip leads to more free food being shared, not less.

Where can I find Lucky Dip bags on the app?

Finding Lucky Dip bags is easy:

1. On the Home page: You’ll see a dedicated Lucky Dip carousel, making it super simple to spot the latest surprise bags near you.
2. In the Explore feed: Head to the ‘Explore’ tab and use the filter at the top to show only Lucky Dip bags

Is there a limit on how many Lucky Dip bags I can purchase?

You can reserve one Lucky Dip bag per store per day.

There’s no limit across different stores, so feel free to explore and bag surprises from as many places as you like in a day. The more food saved, the better! 🙌

Can I pay for the Lucky Dip bag on the Olio app?

No, to keep things simple (and fee-free!) for you, payment happens directly at the store when you pick up your Lucky Dip bag. Easy peasy — and no hidden charges! 

How do I collect my Lucky Dip bag in store?

It’s very simple! When you arrive at the store, just ask a member of staff and let them know you're there to collect a Lucky Dip bag. Show them your confirmation in the Olio app, then head to the till to pay as you would for any regular shop.

Can I know in advance the content of the Lucky Dip bag?

Not quite — and that’s part of the magic! ✨ Lucky Dip bags are designed to be a surprise, which means you won’t know exactly what’s inside until you collect it. 

This is because these bags are filled with delicious, unsold food that may otherwise go to waste — so what’s included depends on what’s left at the end of the day. It’s a fun and planet-friendly way to help businesses reduce food waste while discovering something new.

Can I buy other items when I go to Iceland to collect my Lucky Dip bag? 

Of course! You can purchase any other discounted or full price item in the store and pay for it at the till along with your Lucky Dip bag 

Is the Lucky Dip bag tailored for dietary restrictions?

Unfortunately, at this stage, our partners are not able to tailor the bags for dietary restrictions. If you purchase a bag and find a couple of items you don’t or can’t consume, why not share them on the app? 

Can I request a refund if I’m not satisfied with the content of the bag?

At this stage, our partners aren’t offering refunds for Lucky Dip bags.  Since the contents are a surprise (and depend on what’s left unsold in-store), we’re not able to guarantee specific items or preferences.

That said, both we and our partners are focused on making your experience as smooth and positive as possible. We’ll collect feedback and share any issues or concerns directly with the business to help improve the process and content over time. 

Where can I provide feedback on my experience with Lucky Dip bags on Olio?

We love hearing your thoughts!  After you reserve a Lucky Dip bag, the app will automatically prompt you to give feedback at key moments.

The easiest way to do it yourself? Just head to 'My Lucky Dip bags' in the menu, select the bag you want to review, and confirm whether or not you collected it. You’ll then be prompted to share your experience — quick, easy, and super helpful for us and our partners to keep improving!

Are there other businesses besides Iceland selling Lucky Dip bags?

We are already in conversation with other partners about Lucky Dip bags, so stay tuned for more communications about future launches and check the app regularly for new bags popping up. 

🦸‍♀️ Food Waste Hero specific questions

My store sells Lucky Dip bags. Does it mean FWH collections will no longer take place?

Not at all! Food Waste Hero collections will continue just as they always have. Lucky Dip bags are simply a new way to help reduce food waste even earlier in the day. Any food that’s not sold through Lucky Dip bags will still be collected by our amazing FWH volunteers afterwards, so together, we’re making sure nothing good goes to waste!

Will Lucky Dip bags impact the frequency or quantity of my FWH collections?

It’s possible — but it depends on the store. 

In some locations, you may notice no change at all to your collections. In others, you could even see an increase in food or more consistent confirmations, thanks to the regular use of Olio’s system by store staff when posting Lucky Dip bags. On the flip side, some stores may have slightly less surplus available for FWH collections, as some of it may have been sold through Lucky Dip earlier in the day.

That said, the big picture is really exciting: overall, there will be significantly more food shared on the Olio app — including both sold and free food. Lucky Dip is already helping to bring new business partners on board who previously wouldn’t work with us, and in many cases, it’s also nudging staff to confirm FWH collections more reliably.

Will this affect the timing of our collections?

As a Food Waste Hero, you should continue to refer to the collection time listed in the Volunteer Hub, as this is the most up-to-date and reliable source. Since Lucky Dip bags are sold earlier in the day, we may occasionally adjust FWH collection times in agreement with our partners to help avoid any overlap or confusion in-store.

If there are any changes, don’t worry — they’ll be clearly communicated to you in advance, and updated in the Volunteer Hub so you can decide whether the new time still works for you.

Will the store colleagues give my collection to users purchasing Lucky Dip bags?

Nope, there’s no mix-up here! Users who purchase a Lucky Dip bag will have reserved it through the Olio app, and they’ll need to show their confirmation and pay for it in-store to receive their bag.

Anything that’s left over for the FWH collection will be kept aside as usual. When you arrive for your collection, just let the store team know you're a Food Waste Hero and show your FWH ID,  they’ll make sure you get the right food that’s been saved just for the collection. 

Can I buy a Lucky Dip bag at the same time as I do my FWH collection?

Absolutely - Food Waste Heroes can purchase Lucky Dip bags too! Just like everyone else, you’ll need to reserve your bag on the app earlier in the day (they’re not available to buy on the spot in-store). Then, make sure to arrive at the time scheduled for the your FWH collection, and you can pay for your Lucky Dip bag at the checkout and collect any FWH surplus at the same time. Two birds, one stone! 🙌

Which stores are launching Lucky Dip bags on May 6th?

• Norbury
• Streatham
• West Norwood
• Fulham
• Clapham

• Cheetham Hill
• Eccles Food Warehouse
• Harpurhey
• Leigh
• Leigh Food Warehouse
• Old Trafford
• Trafford Food Warehouse
• Urmston
• White City Food Warehouse