Anecdotal, but from what I've seen from the few stores I know about, they either have a donation program set up where somebody picks stuff up and takes elsewhere (probably homeless shelters and hospitals?) or managers let employees snatch stuff up before it gets to the trash can. Most employees are pretty fucking sick of the food after working there a few months, but neighbors and workers near the location always appreciate a bag full of free goodies once in a while.

I worked at Starbucks about a decade ago and it was ~a special treat~ when we were allowed to take a very small portion of the marked off goods but we had to make sure to throw most of it out least an internal audit show we were (mind you) not selling enough versus the actual problem of wasting untold amounts of food. Fucking disgusting operation.