Refreshi is a South African platform that connects consumers with surplus meals and groceries from local businesses, letting them purchase quality food at reduced prices while reducing waste. The service operates through an app and WhatsApp communities, offering "surprise bags" of unsold food from restaurants, retailers, and other partners. It aims to make food rescue accessible and affordable while helping businesses recover revenue from stock that would otherwise be discarded.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
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.
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