Surprise Packages: Aโ Reviewโค of Orlen‘s discounted Food Offer
Orlen petrol stations areโค piloting a program to โฃreduce food waste, offering “surpriseโ packages” of unsold food at discounted prices through their mobile application. The initiative, framed as rescuing โ”stillโข quality foods” from potential landfill or biogas conversion, promises critically important savings – a salty package for 79 crowns or a sweet packageโข for 49 crowns – roughly a third ofโ the original price.
Currently available only atโฃ select stations in Prague and Brno, the process involves downloading the โapp, locating participating stations wiht available โpackages, โขand paying within the application. Purchases must be collected between 1pm and 4pm on the day of order.
During a recent test, a โcombined salty andโ sweet package โคwas purchased from an Orlen station in Prague’s Barrandov district. Contrary to expectations of retrieving hidden, near-expiry items, the packages were assembledโ on demand from โthe station’s current offerings. Customers were even given a choice – a ham or mozzarella baguette for the salty package. The sweet โpackageโ contained โtwo pistachio croissants, one butter croissant, a strawberry-filled leaf grid, and a nougat-filled mini-roll. the salty package included the chosen ham baguette, โฃa ham and cheese croissant sandwich, and a Schiacciata with โMortadel โฃand โขbasilโ pesto.
The total original price of theโ contentsโข would have been 390 crowns, but โฃthe discounted price paid through the app โฃwas 128 crowns.
Taste tests yieldedโฃ positive results. An self-reliant tester, โa schoolgirl named Birgit, declared the croissant sandwich “really good” and refused to share. The ham baguette โขwas also noted as superior to pre-packaged โoptions found in vending machines. Theโ editorial jury found the basil pesto in theโ Schiacciata to be overly intense, overpowering the flavor of the mortadel. All sweet pastries were deemed very tasty, particularly theโ fillings.
While the program is presented asโค a way toโ prevent food waste, the experience suggests the offered items are โfresh from the counter,โฃ rather than on the verge of disposal. โฃQuestions remain aboutโ whether all โdisplayed food ultimately ends up in the discounted packages, as Orlen’s press release suggests a 50% discount is applied to unsold โขitems at 5pm.
Irrespective of the underlying motivation, theโข “surprise packages” offer motorists a cost-effective chance to enjoy aโค variety of food items.
