How a mobile app can become a catalyst for sustainable social business: The case of Too Good To Go

Information and communication technology (ICT) plays a vital role in sustaining social businesses. However, little is known about how a mobile app can be a catalyst for sustainable social business. Guided by the technology affordance theory and service-dominant (S-D) logic, the present study aims to address this research gap by examining both the perspectives of providers and users, using the Too Good To Go (TGTG) app – the largest social movement in Europe – as a case study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the congruence/gap between customer value proposition (CVP) and value-in-use (VIU). The findings highlight that social, functional, and emotional values are the success factors for the TGTG app to accomplish its social missions of reducing food waste and CO₂ emissions and allowing everyone to access quality food at an affordable price. The theoretical and practical implications of this study and directions for future research are also presented.