Refreshi
Refreshi operates a digital marketplace connecting consumers with surplus meals and groceries from local restaurants, retailers, and hospitality businesses at discounted prices. Users discover and purchase "surprise bags" through the Refreshi app or WhatsApp communities, helping businesses recover revenue from unsold food while reducing waste. The platform includes food safety guidance and partners with organizations like Food Forward SA to expand its impact across South African metros.
- Commerce & Shopping
- Food Technology
- Clean Technology
- Software Only
Funding
Founders
Founder details are not available yet.
Product
Problem
Every day, restaurants, grocery stores, and other food businesses discard surplus meals and groceries that are still perfectly safe to eat, contributing to significant food waste and lost revenue. At the same time, many consumers face high food costs and lack access to affordable, quality food options. This disconnect between surplus supply and consumer demand creates economic and environmental losses for businesses and communities.
Solution
Refreshi operates a digital marketplace that connects people with surplus meals and groceries from local businesses, allowing them to purchase this food at discounted prices. The platform enables businesses to list surplus food in the form of "surprise bags," which users can discover and buy through the Refreshi app or via WhatsApp communities. By giving unsold food a home, Refreshi helps businesses recover a portion of their losses while offering consumers a more affordable way to access quality food. The service also supports a broader mission of reducing food waste and its associated environmental impact, as highlighted by their blog content on carbon footprints and sustainability. Refreshi provides food safety guidance for both users and stores to ensure proper handling of surplus food, and partners with organizations like Food Forward SA to expand its impact.
Target Audience
Cost-conscious consumers in major South African cities who want to save money on food, as well as local businesses such as restaurants, retailers, and hospitality providers looking to reduce waste and recover revenue from unsold inventory.
Features
- A mobile app and WhatsApp community integration for discovering and ordering surplus food from local businesses
- "Surprise bags" as a core product format, allowing businesses to package unsold food without revealing exact contents
- Food safety guidance and resources for both users and stores to ensure proper handling of surplus food
- Partnerships with food-focused organizations like Food Forward SA to expand their impact
- Dedicated guides and content for key South African metros including Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and Stellenbosch
- Case studies and impact reports that track the platform's environmental and social contributions